LRT, it's time to use him.

[Nico]

The glaring weakness coming from the Port game was the thrashing we got out of the centre.

It is time we used LRT at the centre bounces a heck of a lot more. By mixing it around and getting more of the taps forward we must start to win more possessions.We are getting belted week in week out at centre bounces, and stats show that we are close to the worst at clearances. Port fairs badly in this area also, but caned us.

By putting LRT into the action with a lot more game time, instead of short bursts in the second half, you free up Goodes and Ball whom it is very obvious, are required to give a bit of height across back. Other teams will see how Port exploited us for height up front, and will no doubt try to emulate them.

LRT has shown that he is capable of mixing it at centre bounces and takes a good contested mark around the ground. Hang this business of using him sparingly and giving him time to develop. He looks OK to me, looks ready to step up and has hardly been overused.

We are well into finals contention so we need to find a few more tricks with Roosey's wand, to make sure we stay up there.

Bring him on.

[liz]

I guess you have to trust Roosey to know the limits of his players' bodies, but I agree that from what we have seen of LRT thus far he looks capable of contributing for longer periods of the game. He looked very assured in that final quarter even though the game was lost. I've been particularly impressed by his work at ground level and how he does everything he can to keep a contest going until support arrives. And when it does he seems to have the knack of moving the ball onto a team mate creatively.

I almost wish Roos would throw the ladder away and forget where we are. If finals are meant to happen this year they will. I want to see more of LRT and Sunny, and for Powell to be given another go, and for O'Keefe to be given extended time on the ground to really get involved. And if Malceski or Thewlis is ready, I wanna see them as well.

We ain't gonna win the flag this year but the guys have probably done enough already to finish top 8 and at least get one final - there are enough very winnable games left to finish with at least 12 wins. We shouldn't lose sight of the fact that the number one goal is to develop the next tier of stars and second tier players. And whatever one feels about bagging players or not, Warfe and Nicks simply aren't it.

[RogueSwan]

I was immediately impressed with LRT in the ruck during that last quarter and wondered why he wasn't given a good run earlier. His tapping skills seem quite developed and had a good leap. Maybe it was because the result was aleady decided and his opponent was tired, but he looked good and I'm not talking about the haircut.

[boroboy]

I thought Roos was caught napping tactically on Saturday - players didn't seem to know where they were playing.

As for LRT - playing him at full forward once the game was lost was a complete and utter waste of time - it served no purpose and his time would have been better spent in the ruck gaining experience. A poor, poor decision by our coach....

[scurrilous]

Funny, I could have sworn he was playing on the wing?

[Nico]

Agree Scurra. I could have sworn that the only tall blond player in our team took at least one centre bounce in the last quarter, then took a fine mark across half back.

[boroboy]

Unless my eyesight is giving up on me (I was sat about 50 metres from the goal square) - then LRT played alongside BBB for a period in the 3rd quarter....

[floppinab]

Surely LRT is up to handle at least 3 full quarters. In fact a I would be starting to worry about his fitness in spending so much time on the bench in recent weeks. He's proven he's a good contested mark (could certainly teach a Hall a thing or two in that department) and with Saddo back in the side could easily play a strong role all over the ground.

I've been particularly impressed by his work at ground level and how he does everything he can to keep a contest going until support arrives.

Needs to be a bit careful with this though. He is a tall and to a certain extent needs to keep his feet and let the little guys take care of this stuff and concentrate he is in the right place at the right time for the high ball.

[scurrilous]

Originally posted by boroboy
Unless my eyesight is giving up on me (I was sat about 50 metres from the goal square) - then LRT played alongside BBB for a period in the 3rd quarter....

Oh you're talking about the last quarter! You see, that's the difference between you and me (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, sniff, sniff, ICMP, gotcha!), I never gave up hope at such an early stage of the game. Not until halfway through the last quarter did I concede defeat.

On the other hand, if its the third quarter you are talking about, yes he did spend some time down the forward line. Most ruckmen do have a spell down there at times during their game. But he definitely played on the wing last quarter. Goodesy was rucking, LRT was staying down (as they say IIRC).

[Rod_]

On a wet day and the need to use the interchange bench to the maximum we choose to leave LRT on the bench for nearly 3/4 ...... Why was goodsy at full forward for so long......

We use the young guns in the centre late in the quarter and got a lift - IMO we should have tried this earlier......

Agree that if this kid is going to be any good he has to have more time on the ground.... When cornes started to get on top of Bolts we could have use the extra height and weight in the backline and given LRT a go....... Isn't he suppose to be a key position player

Rod_

[TheHood]

I almost wish Roos would throw the ladder away and forget where we are. If finals are meant to happen this year they will. I want to see more of LRT and Sunny, and for Powell to be given another go, and for O'Keefe to be given extended time on the ground to really get involved. And if Malceski or Thewlis is ready, I wanna see them as well.

Thanks Lizz, I have been thinking along these lines too. The greater our depth becomes this year, the stronger we will be next.

There is certainly a core group, at the moment, that we need to make sure continue to develop significantly; Jude, Fossy, Goodesy, Kirky, Schneides etc. I think that we can't tamper with trying to get them to the elite level.

There are old warriors that I would like to see hit the pine for the young brigade, for example, Cress ain't going to be around in 2004, so why not rotate him more? Schaubes on the bench for Powelly? Warfe relegated to the Macquarie Uni Kookaburras? (woops, wrong thread).

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by boroboy
I thought Roos was caught napping tactically on Saturday - players didn't seem to know where they were playing.

Interesting you say that, as I was screaming for about 10 minutes at our defenders, as Gavin Wanganeen ran around the forward line WITHOUT anyone obviously manning him.

RE LRT, I think the thing you have to take into account is his age. Whilst from a game perspective it may have been good to put him in the ruck against Port, I think Roosey is more concerned about how that would affect his young and dare I say it, scrawy-looking, body.

I agree with Lizz. LRT and Schneids have shown they can play. Why not give Powell and Fanta more game time, as well as blooding Thewlis and Malcevski?

We should be aiming to be a force next year and the year after. Thinking about a possible short-term gain could prove prohibative to our long-term growth as a unit.

JF

[penga]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
We should be aiming to be a force next year and the year after. Thinking about a possible short-term gain could prove prohibative to our long-term growth as a unit.

considering that theory what if we lost the rest of the games this year and got higher draft picks, would anyone be opposed to that? as in the long run we would benefit... we know we r not genuine premiership contenders this year, so y go for a mid finals drop out when u can get high draft picks??? id almost be willing for that... ok, maybe not