Roos to change forward line
Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos has revealed he will change up his forward line this weekend, but he won't be shifting Adam Goodes out of the firing line.
Early season pacesetter Sydney have struggled to kick big scores in recent weeks while their prize recruit, full forward Daniel Bradshaw has been sidelined with a knee injury.
Former Brisbane premiership player Bradshaw was a late withdrawal from the team that lost their AFL clash with Collingwood last Saturday.
Roos told AAP on Monday Bradshaw's knee was improving, and along with Irishman Tadhg Kennelly, would be checked after running at training on Wednesday.
Irrespective of whether Bradshaw plays against Richmond at the MCG on Sunday, Roos flagged changes to his forward line.
Strong marking but inconsistent youngster Jesse White will be heading back to the reserves.
However, Goodes, who has drifted in and out of games while playing up forward this year, is expected to retain his attacking role for the clash with the Tigers.
Among the contenders for promotion are rookie Trent Dennis-Lane - who kicked seven goals in the reserves last weekend - and Henry Playfair, who landed five majors.
"In a general sense without being specific about who might come in, we do need to do something different with our forward line," Roos told reporters on Monday.
"It worked well against Port Adelaide and Essendon, so it's certainly not panic time, but specifically with Jesse, he's probably struggled for a little while now.
"It certainly helps him when Daniel Bradshaw is in as well, because he takes a bit of pressure off Jesse.
"I think it will help Jesse to go back and play in the seconds."
Roos did switch Goodes to the midfield during the loss to Collingwood, but suggested the dual Brownlow Medalist would start up forward on Sunday.
"This year he's been up and down a little bit and played some good games and good quarters and he's struggled," Roos said.
"I think there's always the opportunity, which we did on the weekend, to try and get him more involved and put him in the midfield."
The Sydney coach said it had certainly been his intention at the start of the year for Goodes to play as a full-time forward.
"That was certainly the plan going into the season, we threw him in the midfield on the weekend, we've done it two or three times during the year," Roos said.
"We will look at the overall team and we will look at Richmond's team and we will work out the right match-ups, but certainly at this stage I couldn't see him playing in the midfield this weekend."
Roos was captured on TV delivering a rare rant to his players, but wasn't keen to dwell on his show of on-field emotion.
"I don't need to see the footage, I don't really care about the footage to be honest," Roos said.
"It's an emotional game. It's a myth to think that you can go through eight years of coaching and not show your emotions."
While Sydney enjoys a long winning streak against Richmond, he's wary of the developing Tiger cubs.
"I think over the course of the next 18 months you are going to see Richmond play some really good footy on a consistent basis," Roos said.
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