Ben Ronke won’t have any problem dealing with rival attention, says Paul Roos
PAUL Roos believes Sydney’s overnight sensation Ben Ronke will have no problem with extra attention from rivals after his sensational seven goals in Friday night’s win over Hawthorn.
Sydney
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PAUL Roos believes Sydney’s overnight sensation Ben Ronke will have no problem handling the extra attention created by his sensational seven-goal performance in last Friday night’s win over Hawthorn.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon is sure to put the microscope on the 20-year-old match-winner ahead of Saturday night’s clash with the Dockers at the SCG.
But Roos said Ronke’s approach to his footy was spot on.
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“I loved Ben’s attitude after the game,” Roos said.
“You could tell he was just a kid who was aware of the moment but equally he knew it wasn’t going to happen every week.
“He talked about tackling, chasing and putting pressure on. He’s got a really good understanding of the Swans’ system and what he needs to do. He knows next week things are going to be different and if he does what the coach asks him to do he’ll be fine.”
The rise of Ronke and the form of Will Hayward have eased the pressure on Lance Franklin to return from a bruised heel.
Sydney have now beaten Geelong and Hawthorn away and lost to North Melbourne by two points in the three matches he has missed.
Opposition teams, like the Hawks on Friday night, have struggled to deal with a forward line without Franklin.
“The Swans’ forward line threw Hawthorn out because when there is no Buddy they are in a bit of disarray,” Roos said.
“There is no one to play on and you have all these medium-small players rolling through there. It looked like there was no one on Ronke, which isn’t unusual in modern footy.
“But the confusion that is created because Buddy isn’t there can be an advantage in the short term.
“When he’s not there it puts a lot of doubt in the opposition because suddenly you’re not sure where the ball is going. You have to defend the width of the ground and the length of the ground. You have so many variations which makes it less predictable.”
A rain softened SCG could aid Franklin’s chances of a return to action, but regardless of whether coach John Longmire wants to risk him against the 12th-placed Dockers, in the mean time he can enjoy the development of his young forward line until he does.
Ronke’s 10 tackles was a record for any player who has kicked seven goals. Roos says the young forward will have no expectation for more goals but plenty from his coach to maintain his pressure acts
“Ben Ronke knows the Swans system,” Roos said.
“That stuff that came up with on Friday night was driven a lot by his defensive pressure and that is demanded by leaders. If you want to get a game that’s what you have to do and you have to have a good system.”
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