Roos: Hall considering leadership position
Barry Hall may step down from the Swans' leadership group
“Barry spoke to me yesterday and said he might step down from the leadership group. And that's come from him,” Roos said on Thursday.
“He felt as an individual he put his position in the leadership group in jeopardy. But again, really at this stage I don't have time to talk this through with Barry as we're preparing for a game with Geelong.
“I said [to him] 'think about it'. And like any player who's injured, he's asked to go away. He'll be away for a week. So we won't be even talking to Barry Hall or seeing him for a week. That was his comment, he felt that he'd put his place in the group in jeopardy.
“One thing I did say to him yesterday was to challenge him to work out why he did it. I think that's a really important step for him as an individual and as a player. It was out of character for him, we do believe.
"He wanted to find out himself so we can put steps in place so it doesn't happen again.”
Roos, while disappointed in his full-forward, who scored 44 goals last season despite being troubled by injury, was also frustrated by some of the reporting of Hall's seven-week suspension for striking Brent Staker last Saturday night.
“It's a bit disappointing to see a report last night with a heading basically saying that the leadership will fine Barry. I read the report and Craig Bolton basically said we haven't discussed it.
“So there's a fair difference between saying we haven't discussed it and saying you'll fine him. So those things can become a little disappointing. And Craig was quite honest. It was unacceptable to the leadership group.
“And the leadership group won't be fining Barry Hall, I guarantee you that. Because they've never fined another player for anything else. So, talk of a fine is ridiculous.
“He'll meet with the leadership group in due course. He's treated like anyone else at this footy club, but any talk of further sanctions is quite frankly ridiculous.”
Hall is expected to start bike riding next Thursday as he looks to maintain fitness as he recovers from a wrist injury sustained after crashing into an advertising hoarding at ANZ Stadium last Saturday night.
Roos was decidedly unimpressed with how Hall injured himself after the hoarding gave way when Hall ran into it on Saturday night.
"It's around the eight-week mark before Barry will be able to play again,” Roos said.
Looking ahead to the Geelong game on Saturday, and pending training today, small forward Nick Davis will come in for Hall. Davis scored eight goals in the reserves last week despite suffering from a bout of flu.
And midfielder Nick Smith, 19, will make his Swans debut. He replaces Luke Brennan who pulled up stiff after last week's match against West Coast. Smith was recently elevated off the Swans' rookie list for the long-term injured Brett Meredith.
Roos added: “Whilst everyone else has been speculating all week on Barry Hall, I can assure you our focus is on preparing the side for Geelong on the weekend. Not on sanctions for Barry Hall.
“The media have been all over it all week. Some our players wouldn't have even discussed it. The leadership group had a five-minute chat about it on Monday. We're obviously preparing for a game of footy. There are bigger issues. It's a minor issue in terms of the bigger scheme of things [at the footy club].
“Probably one per cent of my time this week has been taken on Barry Hall.”