TonyK
CibbuanoThompson to be rested
July 30th 2008 04:23
NORTH MELBOURNE will rest key forward Nathan Thompson in a bid to have him fresh for the remainder of the run-in to the finals.
Thompson, who was dropped following the round 15 win over Port Adelaide, had struggled in three matches back from a knee injury, booting just two goals after starting the season with 24 majors in the first nine games
The 30-year-old responded in the best possible fashion, booting six goals in the VFL during roudnd 16.
He did not play at reserves level last week due to a bye and the Roos have opted to rest him from both its AFL and VFL sides this week.
Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley said he was aiming to have the Roos' two-time leading goalkicker back in the side for the round 19 clash against the Western Bulldogs.
"He won't play this week," Laidley said of Thompson.
"He is not injured per se, he has just lost a lot of strength in his legs because backing up week after week - coming off the knee (injury) - he hasn't been able to put the strength work in his legs so he has lost that spark to be able to get off his opponent."
"So for the last three weeks we have just put him through a strengthening program and we would like to think by early next week he is right to go."
"His touch and fitness is good, it's just that strength in his legs we are looking for."
In some good news for the Kangaroos, Laidley said number one ruckman Hamish McIntosh, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since round 12 will resume in the VFL in a fortnight while forward Aaron Edwards, who has been sidelined since round six with a broken leg will play in the VFL next week.
Laidley also said he expected that this weekend's clash against Brisbane would be the club's last on the Gold Coast despite the Roos having a contract to play four more 'home' games there in 2009.
"Yeah it's going to be the end of it, I'd imagine that will be the case," Laidley said.
"We have enjoyed going up there and it's been great but obviously it's a good place for a holiday but Melbourne is a great place to live."
"I just missed out last week and so (I) still have a few more boxes to tick in terms of training sessions ... but very confident.
"I've been able to run pretty much close to full pace so as long as I get through training today and Friday I'll be right."
Thompson, who was dropped following the round 15 win over Port Adelaide, had struggled in three matches back from a knee injury, booting just two goals after starting the season with 24 majors in the first nine games
The 30-year-old responded in the best possible fashion, booting six goals in the VFL during roudnd 16.
He did not play at reserves level last week due to a bye and the Roos have opted to rest him from both its AFL and VFL sides this week.
Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley said he was aiming to have the Roos' two-time leading goalkicker back in the side for the round 19 clash against the Western Bulldogs.
"He won't play this week," Laidley said of Thompson.
"He is not injured per se, he has just lost a lot of strength in his legs because backing up week after week - coming off the knee (injury) - he hasn't been able to put the strength work in his legs so he has lost that spark to be able to get off his opponent."
"So for the last three weeks we have just put him through a strengthening program and we would like to think by early next week he is right to go."
"His touch and fitness is good, it's just that strength in his legs we are looking for."
In some good news for the Kangaroos, Laidley said number one ruckman Hamish McIntosh, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since round 12 will resume in the VFL in a fortnight while forward Aaron Edwards, who has been sidelined since round six with a broken leg will play in the VFL next week.
Laidley also said he expected that this weekend's clash against Brisbane would be the club's last on the Gold Coast despite the Roos having a contract to play four more 'home' games there in 2009.
"Yeah it's going to be the end of it, I'd imagine that will be the case," Laidley said.
"We have enjoyed going up there and it's been great but obviously it's a good place for a holiday but Melbourne is a great place to live."
"I just missed out last week and so (I) still have a few more boxes to tick in terms of training sessions ... but very confident.
"I've been able to run pretty much close to full pace so as long as I get through training today and Friday I'll be right."
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