A previously winless Fremantle blew the Swans away in the first half on Saturday night, streaking to a 42-point half-time lead that proved too much for the visitors to overhaul.
Roos said Geelong, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs were the only teams that boasted significant experience across every line and it had shown in the season’s results to date.
“Maybe two or three teams up the top can play at 80 or 90 per cent intensity but for everyone else in the competition, unless you bring your ‘A’ game to the weekend, it’s very hard to win,” Roos said on Monday.
“Most of the other teams are either very young or experienced and trying to get young guys into the side.
“I’ve got no doubt that every team is going to go through their ups and downs during the year and the quicker we can get our younger guys experienced – it mightn’t help us this year but it will definitely help us next year.”
Roos conceded that his young players had been “shellshocked” by Fremantle’s intensity in the first half and he chalked the result up to a learning experience for the likes of Brett Meredith, Jesse White and Kristin Thornton.
But he confessed to some disappointment that the club’s senior players couldn’t produce a better result for co-captain Brett Kirk in his 200th game.
“Two hundred [games] is a significant milestone so you’d like to think that the players would have been able to get themselves up for that,” Roos said.
“Brett’s made such a big effort for the other guys during their milestones and he made a really big effort the other day as well.”
Looking towards this Sunday’s game against Richmond at the SCG, Roos said forward Barry Hall was a “90 to 95 per cent chance” of returning from a groin injury but he rated fellow sharpshooter Michael O’Loughlin slightly less likely to play.
“Mick played about 90 minutes in the reserves. He’s a big chance to play this week… he’s probably 70-30, depending on how he’s pulled up,” he said.
“Mick and Hally will make us a completely different team when they’re up and running, so we’ll monitor them closely and hope they get across the line this week.”
Luke Ablett (shoulder) and Craig Bird (bruised back) will also be monitored closely, while Roos said Kristin Thornton and Nick Malceski were both sore after colliding heavily with each other late in Saturday night’s game.
