LRT needs his own thread

[NMWBloods]

"As for the backline structure, I'd still like another sizeable key backman (say Vogels, Grundy, Campbell or similar) so that Barry can play on a midsized player and give us run, plus be an option if we need to change around."

I also mentioned trying one of these guys during the week.

[Newbie]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
But does keeping him prolong them?

How? It is clear that our list is not good enough to win a flag and unless we find a decent key position backman, it will still be the case. If LRT does not come up good, it will take us back at least 3 years to find another decent KP backman given we have none with promise in the list (LRT is now in his fourth year of development). By then most of our better players in our list would have technically gone (Maxfield, Williams, Ball, Kirk, O'Longlin, Schaubles, Crouch, Mathews and Barry are all within 3 years of getting 30 or older). There would be an awful lot of replacements to do.

Basically we have two options. Sticking with LRT and see if he could fill our needs before this group of players getting to their use-by-date or dropping him and starting the re build process straight away. A half-baked solution would mean mediocrity for the next 5-7 years.

Like it or not, he is critical for us in lauching any challenge for a flag in short to medium term.

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by barry
As usual the ones calling for LRT to be dropped, have no replacement in mind (Heaven forbid if we "try" saddington again).

Vogels, and then next year Grundy (unless another injury or retirement let him be elevated this year).

Both are better marks, kicks, are as tall and heavy, and have much better football brains than LRT. Both have experience playing in country leagues much stronger than the Canberra League, and are further along on the learning curve, so really deserve a go in the seniors ahead of him.

I dont advocate dropping LRT altogether, but he needs to develop in an environment where his mistakes aren't as critical. There is a fine line between blooding the lad, and costing the side both in terms of points in a game and development time for better players.

[motorace_182]

Originally posted by barry
A typical spiteful attack, with no replacement plan.
motorace_182 contribution to team balance: zero.

Contribution? To what cause? To satisfy your need t have the kid in the team? He can NOT play top flight footy.
If you want what I really think... He should play the remainder of the season in the ressies id we are serious about 'developing' him. He needs to learn the game, not necissaily a position. Just look at the way he lumbers around the field, there is no real reason or cause to his movements. What is best for his development is a long stay in the reserves to learn a few things, because he has shown time and time again that he is not up to the standard of AFL football. Yeah he tries hard, but give me a gernsey and i will too, so will thousands of others out there. Dont use his determination as a way to keep him in the team, Monty has a harder crack and was dropped til Maxy pulled out.
He does not deserve a place in an AFL team on current form. Project player? Let him develop in the magoos, not in top flight footy. He doesnt have the natural ability to read the game like someone who has grown up with a Sherrin in the hands. SO let him grasp it, but not in our best 22 every week.

[i'm-uninformed2]

Ummmm . . . this poll should be recast to include a third option.

"c) is he worse than Stefan Carey?"

[dimelb]

LRT has been a project player since he joined and although he is probably the least AFL-savvy player in the team I think he is worth persevering with.
The raw material is good - courage, determination, speed and willingness to mix it with anyone he plays on. Give him more time - he's starting from further back than anyone else in the list.

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by motorace_182
SO let him grasp it, but not in our best 22 every week.

Especially now that the one and only true reason for keeping him in the side, HEIGHT, has now been removed.

With Saddo, Vogels and Jolly in the side, plus Ball to come, I think we can afford to pick someone else instead of LRT. SKILL is the new buzzword.

[Newbie]

Originally posted by Schneiderman

I dont advocate dropping LRT altogether, but he needs to develop in an environment where his mistakes aren't as critical. There is a fine line between blooding the lad, and costing the side both in terms of points in a game and development time for better players.

He needs to be thrown into the deep end. His major lacking at the moment is confidence. He needs to find that he could compete with the best so that he could move out of his shelf and play his normal game (which were what we saw in the Wiz cup). Once he realises that he could match with competent forwards such as Lucas in one-to-one duel, he would start playing a very different kind of game. His juniority in the team does not help. Due to his juniority, he got to comfort to other set-ups, not the other ways around. For a tall, it is very inconvenience in doing that. It has always been the other way. The shorts would set up their games around the talls. This is the reason why he tends to keep himself out of the others' ways that the moment.

Roos is playing him quite soundly at the moment. I noticed that for the first three quarters he is always playing in the defence. Then he is thrown up forward or in the bench for the last. It must have been some kind of pre-game plan. It happesn every single week. Younger bodies and minds get tired much easily which might lead to more errors in decision makings. LRT is not mentally fit yet to play a Key Defensive Post for the whole game. Three quarters per game is about right level of education for him.

I notice that when they moved Bolton to Lucas in the last few minutes of third quarter, LRT ends up with Rioli and his spoilings become real assuring.

Certainly he is incapable of setting up play for a foreseenable future but as a tall negator in the team, he is progressing well enough to me.

[Young Blood]

Originally posted by motorace_182
Yeah he tries hard, but give me a gernsey and i will too, so will thousands of others out there.

The difference between him and the thousand others is that he's 195cm, solidly built for his age and extremely athletic.

There's no doubt he's struggled so far this year. But he's also been fighting up a class, helping to fill the breach for Schauble and then the 3 ruckmen. Roos should give him at least a couple more chances, playing as the 3rd or 4th tall back on a lesser opponent (appropriate matchups permitting). His development will be significantly accelerated if he can stay in the senior side.

[SXP]

I don't understand why he has to play in the seniors. Shouldn't he played in reservers? He gets too much game time for my liking. Drop him for a couple of games. I know he's tall and all that, but not talented enough to play senior football.

[liz]

LRT provides a perfect example of the dilemma of the Swans' reserves competition. Every time I've seen him play in the Canberra competition he has looked a class above almost everyone else out there, and certainly better than the opposition.

His problem isn't the basic skills. He can mark the ball well, including in contested situations, his tackling is strong, his kicking is probably good enough and he rarely gives anything other than a full effort.

Sure, he still has a fair bit to learn about the game but IMHO his main problem is that he doesn't yet believe that he belongs at AFL level. Will he get that playing in Canberra? Probably not. And yet I agree with those who say he's not really justifying his place in the team at the moment, especially with Jolly and Ball soon to return to the team.

I'd be inclined to drop him back this week for Jolly. If there is a spot for a young tall in the team next week I'd like to see Vogels get another chance, simply because he showed a bit on Saturday and it would be good to see if he can do better second time around.

For as long as the Swans think they are in with a chance not just of scraping into the finals but of winning at least one, he has to win his position on merit. The moment the season is "gone", assuming he is playing well in Canberra (or doing OK if he is back in the seniors) I hope Roos sticks with him for the rest of the year to see if it finally "clicks".

Patience may be rewarded. I think his problem of self-belief is the same that has troubled Ablett up until now but he finally looks at home at senior level and hopefully will continue to get better.

I wonder if there is an athletic "tall" somewhere at the club who can mentor him in the way that Willo and Maxfield have been doing with the likes of Ablett, Buchanan, Bevan and Schneider.

[ScottH]

Re: LRT needs his own thread

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
LRT: Yes or No?

Well, is it yes or no, ROK???? don't sit on the fence.


I want him out!!! There is no "tall" excuse with Jolly and probably ball back this week.

Or maybe he can play on Tredrea this week, and keep him quiet.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by liz
I wonder if there is an athletic "tall" somewhere at the club who can mentor him in the way that Willo and Maxfield have been doing with the likes of Ablett, Buchanan, Bevan and Schneider.

Goodes???

[giant]

I admit that I've felt the "Dump LRT" campaign on this forum to have been premature but there were times on Sat when he looked like he stumbled on to Telstra Stadium by accident.

We know he has some skill and he can play - but right now, the question is can he play AFL? As always, Liz provides a voice of reason - think we can afford to persevere to see to what extent it's a confidence thing. But right now it's agonising to watch - maybe there's somewhere else he can find that confidence?

[dendol]

Originally posted by liz
I wonder if there is an athletic "tall" somewhere at the club who can mentor him in the way that Willo and Maxfield have been doing with the likes of Ablett, Buchanan, Bevan and Schneider.

Roos himself!