The Swans and Eagles meet again on Saturday night at ANZ Stadium, but Roos said the series of epic clashes between the two clubs that culminated in successive grand finals in 2005-06 was becoming less relevant as the years passed.
“It’s different personnel now. We wouldn’t be talking too much about our grand finals and great finals. We’ve got young guys coming into the team, and I suspect 'Woosha' (Eagles coach John Worsfold) is the same,” he said.
“It’s probably one of those games that it doesn’t matter where you play, it’s going to be a reminder of something special – a special period in their history and certainly a special period in our history.
“We’re both trying to do different things now as footy clubs, and hopefully we can get back up the top as quickly as we possibly can, but I think both clubs now are in similar positions.”
Illustrating the difference between his premiership-winning Swans and the current incarnation, Roos said the Swans’ lack of experienced midfielders was a key factor in their 51-point loss to the league’s benchmark side Geelong at Skilled Stadium.
The Swans broke even with the Cats in a dour first quarter and drew to within three goals during the third term, but Geelong’s strength at the stoppages eventually proved irresistible.
“'Kirky' (Brett Kirk) and Jude [Bolton], as you can tell, they just get beaten through weight of numbers at times,” Roos said.
“Jimmy Bartel said it on the weekend – he played half-back at times because he’s got another 11 blokes who can go through the midfield. They’ve got that many, they can’t get them all in at the one time.
“We just haven’t got the luxury of playing so many guys through the midfield at the moment to make us a team that is able to compete with Geelong’s best.”
Roos pointed to the improved form of Adam Goodes and half-forward Ryan O’Keefe, who pushed into the centre at stages, as encouraging signs for his side.
“Our best is still very good. At times against Geelong, we moved the ball probably as well as we’ve done for a long time from some of the defensive stoppages,” he said.
“But just our consistency to be able to do it over and over again for 120 minutes is just not good enough to compete with Geelong, who were spot-on.”
