Lack Of Form And Fitness Will Keep Davis Out Of Team, Admits Roos

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday July 26, 2006

Michael Cowley

SWANS coach Paul Roos believes Nick Davis is not ready to return to Sydney's senior side, and it now seems unlikely he will be named tomorrow in the team to play Port Adelaide on Saturday night.

Roos said his assessment was based purely on fitness and form and had nothing to do with the fact the 26-year-old gave an interview to the Herald on Monday.

"No, it doesn't bother me," Roos said when asked if he was annoyed Davis had spoken to the media. "It's been an interesting exercise. We haven't banned him from speaking to the media so I presume she [Caroline Wilson] rang him and spoke to him.

"I even read on the weekend where it was said Nick Davis was dropped for disciplinary reasons. It was form and fitness, so even that got mixed up in the whole scenario. Nick was dropped to the seconds prior to him coming out and speaking to the media and prior to the other things that we haven't brought into the public forum.

"Nick's never been out of reckoning for selection. It's really about meeting the criteria. He's one of 48 players on the list and one of 38 on the senior list that are eligible for selection. We'll pick our best 22 again for Saturday night, as we have done over the last couple of weeks.

"If we deem Nick to be in our best 22, he'll play Saturday night, and that's based on all the criteria that the players and the coaching staff agree upon, and that will be based on, first and foremost, form and fitness.

"If we don't think he's in our best 22, he won't get a game. He wasn't in our best 22 last Saturday night and that's why he didn't play. He wasn't in our best 22 the week before and that's why he didn't play.

"Has he regained his form and fitness in two weeks? In my opinion, no, he hasn't. My personal view is he's not fit enough to play AFL football and I haven't really changed my view in watching him play last weekend.

"I thought he showed he's got a long way to go with his fitness. That's only one man's opinion, but certainly in terms of his fitness, he showed to me on the weekend that he does have a fair way to go to regain the fitness necessary to play AFL footy."

If he isn't selected, Davis won't have the opportunity to get any match fitness as the seconds have a bye and don't play this weekend. They will, however, hold a training session in Sydney on Saturday.

Roos and the match committee will meet today to discuss who will make the trip to Adelaide for yet another vital clash for the Swans, who, according to their coach, need to capitalise on the good form of the past couple of weeks and keep the momentum going.

While Roos confirmed that Brett Kirk had recovered well after being knocked out by a stray kick on Saturday night, another midfielder, Nic Fosdike, is in doubt after suffering an injury to his calf against Richmond. While describing it as "more bruise than anything else", Roos said Fosdike was "touch and go" for the clash with Port.

He added that while they are yet to discuss the team, other changes could be made based on Port Adelaide's team rather than injuries to, or the form of, his team.

Meanwhile, Roos said that after training last Thursday, the medical staff decided it was best if Jared Crouch had another weekend off instead of playing against Tuggeranong last Saturday, and he is now expected to make his return in the seconds on August 5.

The coach also confirmed that having suffered a setback with his broken thumb, the season was now over for promising youngster Jarred Moore.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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