Paul Roos Tees Off On Jordan Lewis And Jesse Hogan

Paul Roos has spoken about his frustration at suspended Melbourne pair Jordan Lewis and Jesse Hogan.

Speaking on the Sunday Rub today, the ex-Dees coach said that Lewis and Hogan cost their side dearly by missing yesterday’s match against Fremantle.

The Dees were leading late in the last quarter but lost to a Cam McCarthy goal.

“I went there live just as a supporter yesterday,” Roos said.

“While I was watching, there’s goals that Jesse Hogan would have kicked yesterday… from a technical point of view he’s got elite endurance and he knows the game plan.

“He gets up the ground really well but he can also get back inside forward 50… I probably would have thought there would have been four or five genuine opportunities that Jesse would have created.”

Roos said that young tall forward Sam Weideman - who copped a corkie yesterday and struggled - is a good talent but not yet capable of getting to the same level that Hogan consistently shows.

“Just watching Sam play compared to Jesse, Sam’s not yet capable, with the injury as well, of getting up and back inside 50,” Roos said.

“So there’s no doubt that Jesse would have generated four or five scoring shots and another four or five goals.

”Clearly it’s frustrating, an injury to Max Gawn is unavoidable, a suspension to Jesse Hogan and Jordan Lewis is not unavoidable.

“That’s something that both players can control… it’s a big difference 3-1 rather than 2-2.”

Roos expected that Hogan and Lewis would have apologised to the playing group.

“I certainly read that Jordan apologised or spoke to the group, and I suspect Jesse would as well,” Roosy said.

“But I mean you can’t get those games back, that’s where it’s extremely frustrating.

“Full credit to Freo, I think they’re a way better team, and I think what we’re seeing now is the evenness of the competition.

“What’s gonna come down to the eight is the injury, is the suspension, is the 13 goals 20 instead of the 20 goals 13.

“They’re the things at the end of the year that are gonna make a big difference, and the last two weeks we’ve seen Melbourne should have won here but for poor kicking and the suspensions.

“There’s no doubt the suspensions cost them yesterday, definitely.”

Listen to the full chat here: