LRT at the Gabba

[NMWBloods]

LRT's defensive efforts remind me a little of a young Dustin Fletcher. Wild gangly flailing arms, that put off a forward and sometimes make contact with the ball and sometimes with the opponent. We'll see if he can turn into an accomplished defender as he develops like Fletcher did.

[Gary]

Watched the game & kept hearing how well LRT was playing...& he did do a good job in the Brown duel...but please don't try & compare him with a young Fletcher. It was fascinating to me that at no time did the commentators pick up his problem area(s).
We obviously notice the situations where his slow / poor decision making is like watching the Titanic about to hit the iceberg. I keep asking myself how he managed that Grand Final game without finding himself in those situations (thank you Lord!).
Good suggestion about having someone close...but you get the impression no one is guiding him in the area of decision making e.g. to twice find himself on the left foot near the boundary line & make the same mistake is pretty weak. How bad is his left foot kicking?

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
LRT's defensive efforts remind me a little of a young Dustin Fletcher. Wild gangly flailing arms, that put off a forward and sometimes make contact with the ball and sometimes with the opponent. We'll see if he can turn into an accomplished defender as he develops like Fletcher did.

I had forgotten that, yes in terms of looks there is/was a considerable similarity. Hopefully LRT won't turn clumsiness into an excuse for sneaky cheap shots as Fletcher (and Greg Stafford) did/have.

[stellation]

I thought Lewis was pretty good on Sunday. I appreciate Brown isn't exactly dominating the comp at the moment, but he is still a tough matchup and Lewis didn't look to be thrown around easily by him.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by giant
it's incidents like the spoil when there was no one within 10m of him (which lead to a goal)

Yeah, but if he takes a mark he has to kick and then he goes into freeze mode.

I still think he sucks and should not be in the team. I think he gets lost too often and that his mental processing is pedestrian, but I do think that his skills, in particular his kicking skills, have improved considerably (notwithstanding his OOBOTF). Back yourself Lewie...

[Schneiderman]

I think the team has to do more to help out Lewie when he gains possession. When we are playing well he always seems to have Dempster, Willo, Tadhg or Leo streaming past him for that handball receive.

I suspect that playing Richards down back has confused things a little, as LRT is not yet used to having another tall defender down there. It will improve with time, but that is because he is learning things every game that he should have learnt five years ago.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
I still think he sucks and should not be in the team.

In this world of change and uncertainty it's always nice to find something constant and unchanging.

[barry]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
LRT's defensive efforts remind me a little of a young Dustin Fletcher. Wild gangly flailing arms, that put off a forward and sometimes make contact with the ball and sometimes with the opponent. We'll see if he can turn into an accomplished defender as he develops like Fletcher did.

Was fletcher ever best player for a premiership side in a grand final ?

[stellation]

Originally posted by barry
Was fletcher ever best player for a premiership side in a grand final ?

Nope, but Nic Fosdike was once.

[cruiser]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
LRT's defensive efforts remind me a little of a young Dustin Fletcher. Wild gangly flailing arms, that put off a forward and sometimes make contact with the ball and sometimes with the opponent. We'll see if he can turn into an accomplished defender as he develops like Fletcher did.

(choking on my risotto) We wish.

[NMWBloods]

Let's not confuse my comments with suggesting I think LRT is as good as a young Fletcher. Rather the flailing arms are reminiscent.

[Go Swannies]

Let's look forward to this weekend. We know how Richo can be thrown off his game. Imagine when he's faced with LRT's own, distinctive style. Rather like a snake and a mongoose fight, I suspect.

[Old Royboy]

I could not fault Lewie's attack on the ball, but unless there is an obvious short lead he remains totally clueless once the ball is in his hands. Then if forced to kick to a contest hiis poor kick penetration is a worry. Perhaps the team should support Lewie as they did for Dunks - when he had a free or mark there was always a running defender around to take the handball.

Just hope that Lewie's lousy footy brain improves over the years.

[giant]

Originally posted by Old Royboy
I could not fault Lewie's attack on the ball, but unless there is an obvious short lead he remains totally clueless once the ball is in his hands. Then if forced to kick to a contest hiis poor kick penetration is a worry. Perhaps the team should support Lewie as they did for Dunks - when he had a free or mark there was always a running defender around to take the handball.

Just hope that Lewie's lousy footy brain improves over the years.

Groundhog day.

The thread is only 3 pages long - is it too much to expect that you might at least flick thru the first few pages?

[Swanner]

LRT is going ok

I think he is going OK. I can't think of a game that he has really let us down.

Remember when we used to play Saddo on Brown and he would kick three in a quarter.

The fact is he is a big body option for the backline. If he doesn't work we have three or four options, Leo, C Bolton, Ted even goodesy.

In fact upon reflection this must be the most balanced and flexible backline the swans have had in the dozen years i have been a member. No wonder we won the Premiership!