Lewis Roberts Thomson

[goswannie14]

LRT is one of those unique players where perceptions and reality just don't match up the way they should. He inspires much angst for the obvious clangers - which due to being fullback, will generally be punished much more heavily by opponents than errors which other players make elsewhere on the ground. For those with long enough memories, Dale Lewis used to cop a lot of criticism for how he looked as he went about his business (he too just seemed to lope around throwing out some really awful clangers - "ohhhh Daaaale" used to be heard quite a lot in our part of the O'Reilly!) but his career was one to be proud of and he had a big hand in our successes of that period. Ed Barlow suffers a bit from perceptions too, but still has a bit more to prove to be in the two Lewies class!

Anyway, I reckon LRT is as solid as a rock and has been for a long time now. For some reason, he just seems to attract the ire of people - maybe it's the lumbering style as he gets around, the blond mop, or the toothpaste commercial teeth. Whatever the source, it is not deserved.

When thumbing through the record during the Tigers game (since the game was over at the 12 minute mark of the first quarter, there was time to have a flick) I had to do a double take at the disposal efficiency stats for the club's list.

At the top and better than all others, with an overall disposal efficiency of 84.2% (measured across last season and this one), was Mr Lewis Roberts Thomson. Puts some of the criticisms of him for his clangers into perspective I reckon!

If you surveyed anyone who knew anything about the Swans, I bet not one of them would have picked that!

With the mosquito fleet now amassed around him to carry the ball out, LRT is among the most important players in the team. Think for a minute about who would be ready to go to replace him if he went down, and his importance becomes quickly apparent. The Lions game in a fortnight will give us a pretty good idea of where we're at, with two big forwards that will need to be contained. Happily, along with others here, I reckon we're travelling very nicely and have a better than even chance of knocking them off - if LRT can quell Browny or Fev it will go a long way to racking up a win.

Assuming the eagles are dealt with, if the boys can win 2 out of the next five (and hopefully more - they are entitled to believe they are a chance in all of them) the season will be set up beautifully.

Agree 100%. There appear to be many on here who only go by perceptions. LRT beats his opponent week in week out. Who often gets the praise for this.......B2. Yes they are both blond, they both beat their opponents regularly, but that is where the similarity ends.

[Primmy]

Nothing like a few facts to sweeten the statement. I think Lewies improvement has been such an even upward trend that some critics are still blobbing on about where he was at six years ago and have not taken the trouble to watch where he is now. As for the clangers. .... since when is Lewie the only one at the club to ring the occasional clanger!

[Mr Magoo]

Nothing like a few facts to sweeten the statement. I think Lewies improvement has been such an even upward trend that some critics are still blobbing on about where he was at six years ago and have not taken the trouble to watch where he is now. As for the clangers. .... since when is Lewie the only one at the club to ring the occasional clanger!

I agree that LRT is very important stucturally for the team and as for his clangers , he probably has less than many of his peers in the league (ie Brian Lake etc) who are held in much higher regard.

Its ludicrous to expect that he wont make mistakes or wont have goals kicked on him, he is in a position on the ground that is rarely rewarded, rarely given accolades and where he is week in , week out playing on the best forward the other team has to offer. He isnt a fluent athlete but then again games arent won on how pretty you look as a footballer.

[Ardent Swan]

Totally agree. One of our most imprtant defenders.

[Dalai Lama]

If Bullwinkle is still a "project player" is he from the "rosewell project" associated with Unidetified Flying Objects and the rutting moose?

[dimelb]

Nothing like a few facts to sweeten the statement. I think Lewies improvement has been such an even upward trend that some critics are still blobbing on about where he was at six years ago and have not taken the trouble to watch where he is now. As for the clangers. .... since when is Lewie the only one at the club to ring the occasional clanger!

Just so. I've started reading the stats in The Age, paying special attention to the Critical Errors (read Clangers) column. Others regularly finish in front of Lewie, mostly mids, which is what you expect if they see more of the ball. And as people have said, his are more visible.

[ScottH]

He's about half way down the list for total clangers this year.

RedandWhiteOnline (RWO) Messageboard

But then Clangers/possession
Name P Clg/poss
Jesse White 33 18.2%
Ted Richards 11 18.2%
Mark Seaby 52 15.4%
Martin Mattner 54 14.8%
Rhyce Shaw 80 13.8%
Lewis Roberts-Thomson 53 13.2%
Adam Goodes 76 13.2%
Lewis Jetta 61 13.1%
Shane Mumford 46 13.0%
Craig Bolton 48 12.5%
Tadhg Kennelly 91 12.1%
Josh Kennedy 77 11.7%
Heath Grundy 96 11.5%
Jarrad McVeigh 93 10.8%
Daniel Bradshaw 48 10.4%
Jude Bolton 91 9.9%
Kieren Jack 74 9.5%
Ben McGlynn 76 9.2%
Dan Hannebery 68 8.8%
Ryan O'Keefe 102 7.8%
Nick Malceski 83 7.2%
Brett Kirk 71 5.6%
Jarred Moore 64 4.7%

[Margo]

I too agree with SF1972's comments. I am surprised at the disposal efficiency statistics, but pleased. LRT can be nerve-wracking to watch but so could Leo. Many times I found my head in my arms when Leo was in possession. Its just exciting stuff because they are the last line of defence.

[liz]

Agree with the overall tenor that LRT is harshly judged at times.

One thing that is apparent watching him is that his decision making (and subsequent disposal consistency) when he acts instinctively is actually pretty good. His worst bloopers are when he takes uncontested marks in oodles of space in the backline and then has to think about what he's going to do with it. He often takes too long making up his mind and then kicks to an option that would have been great 10 seconds earlier.

But then I've always thought that footy is a very easy game when you're sitting up in the stands with you're feet up and a full panoramic view of the playing field!

[dimelb]

He's about half way down the list for total clangers this year.

RedandWhiteOnline (RWO) Messageboard

But then Clangers/possession
Name P Clg/poss
Jesse White 33 18.2%
Ted Richards 11 18.2%
Mark Seaby 52 15.4%
Martin Mattner 54 14.8%
Rhyce Shaw 80 13.8%
Lewis Roberts-Thomson 53 13.2%
Adam Goodes 76 13.2%
Lewis Jetta 61 13.1%
Shane Mumford 46 13.0%
Craig Bolton 48 12.5%
Tadhg Kennelly 91 12.1%
Josh Kennedy 77 11.7%
Heath Grundy 96 11.5%
Jarrad McVeigh 93 10.8%
Daniel Bradshaw 48 10.4%
Jude Bolton 91 9.9%
Kieren Jack 74 9.5%
Ben McGlynn 76 9.2%
Dan Hannebery 68 8.8%
Ryan O'Keefe 102 7.8%
Nick Malceski 83 7.2%
Brett Kirk 71 5.6%
Jarred Moore 64 4.7%

Interesting stats Scott. And many of those with more clangers are team icons with noticeably fewer possessions.

[Lucky Knickers]

Robert Walls orchestrated a campaign against him during commentary for Channel 10 ably assisted by Tony Shaw.
I can still remember his "analysis" of coaches directing play specifically to his opponent. The reality being our midfield were being smashed in clearances our defensive play nothing more than a whimper. It wouldn't have mattered if we'd had Rantall, Heriot, Belcher, Faul, Clegg, Carroll plus Scarlet, Silvagni, Dunkley, Leppitsche, Ashcroft, White etc on the interchange bench.

LRT is the bomb!

[BeeEmmAre]

The rumour that circulated in trade week that three or four clubs had a nibble before we resigned him says it all. LRT never looks like much, all my (no-Swans) mates reckon he's the worst player in the competition with SuperTed second, and I'm always nervous when he gets the ball, but he is absolutely vital to our structure and we can't afford to lose him.

[swanspant12]

lrt makes me very scared some times when hes got the ball with pressure around him, but apart from having two minds and looking like the munster he actually is a very athletic and formidable backman who has stopped the big forwards of having the impact which they can.

[Primmy]

I used to be nervous, now I am not. I like LRT's game. He is game, he is much more assured, he can read the play better, and he can kick the leather off it at times. He also no longer looks embarrassed at having been selected. He's just a relaxed bloke, I like him.

[SwansFan1972]

I used to be nervous, now I am not. I like LRT's game. He is game, he is much more assured, he can read the play better, and he can kick the leather off it at times. He also no longer looks embarrassed at having been selected. He's just a relaxed bloke, I like him.

Very nice Primmy! Leaping Leo used to create nervousness whenever he had the ball too. Thank heavens we had both of em in the Grannie or we might all be worrying about racking up 80 flagless years! Doesn't bear thinking about!

Although this current group might have something special in them - certainly hope so!