Paul Roos expects Barry Hall to play footy, not box, in 2009

Amidst speculation that Barry Hall will be hanging up the boots for the gloves next year, Paul Roos has stepped forward to state he expects Barry to be back in the red and white for 2009:

“That’s been discussed over the past couple of years, and every time I’ve spoken to Hally about it, he’s said, ‘I’m keen on footy and I want to play footy, and maybe at the end of the footy career,” Roos told SEN on Thursday.

“I haven’t touched base with him this week, I haven’t spoken to him yet, but I expect it’s just an extension of what’s been happening over the past couple of years.

“He was a junior boxer, and he said so himself that it was a long time ago that he boxed, and I’m sure he’s more than capable of stepping back up, but it is a long time ago.

“He’s a footballer now and we just expect him to turn up on the 17th of November when we start training.”

As usual you can never be quite sure with Roosy, a master at manipulation through the media, could this be a ploy in pressuring Barry Hall to return? Or is he just telling the truth?

On a side note, based on last year I’d say Hall is keen for a bit of both; Boxing and Football, just ask Brent Staker.