LRT the forward: What we expect?

[GongSwan]

Or do we want to keep LRT match fit in case we decide to bring in another midfielder, Parker for instance, when Mummy is 100% up to speed and go with one ruck and a backup? The team will change in some way before the finals, but maybe not the way most think

[Kirkari]

Hmm, he can play anywhere, yes that's true, I'm not going to discount that.
Most peoples beef is with the quality of his performances in each respective position.
A defensive position is the only one I would say LRT is capable at.
He is an extremely average forward and ruckman.
Do we really require a jack of all trades, master of none? Or would we get more mileage from someone playing as a specialist in their position?

Of course it's difficult to change a winning side, and I have nothing against LRT. But I cannot help but think we could do better with a forward playing in the forward line.

Putting aside your underestimation of his skills in every position, clearly we DO need someone as versatile as LRT. It's working, isn't it? Or am I missing something. We ARE number 2 on the ladder, aren't we? As Lucky said, he's EXACTLY the player the Swans need. McGlynn's too short, Jetta's too skinny, Goodes is too old, and we need to replace LRT. Yeah, whatever.

[Chookbilly]

Putting aside your underestimation of his skills in every position, clearly we DO need someone as versatile as LRT. It's working, isn't it? Or am I missing something. We ARE number 2 on the ladder, aren't we? As Lucky said, he's EXACTLY the player the Swans need. McGlynn's too short, Jetta's too skinny, Goodes is too old, and we need to replace LRT. Yeah, whatever.

And I said that it's difficult to change a winning side.

Do you truly believe that because we're second on the ladder we cannot do things better, and strive to be a better side than we currently are?
I would hope the club is always trying to improve regardless of ladder position.

[Kirkari]

And I said that it's difficult to change a winning side.

Do you truly believe that because we're second on the ladder we cannot do things better, and strive to be a better side than we currently are?
I would hope the club is always trying to improve regardless of ladder position.

Of course we should be, and are, always trying to do things better. And every week we need to select the side that is most likely to win. I simply don't accept that LRT is a weak link, and I certainly don't think we have a better option for this team right now. By that, I don't just mean someone who can play forward better than LRT, but I mean someone who can play the whole role that LRT does, with the other players we have, in the form that they're in. TDL for LRT? I don't think so - not enough pressure on the opposition, so our mids HAVE to be having a great day to give him any action. Spangher for LRT? Not at the moment, but maybe at some point this year. Spang needs to improve and Mumford and Goodes need to be back at their peak, because he can't help them out the way Lewis can. Sammy's hitting his straps, partly, I also believe, because LRT's taken some of the pressure off him as (previously) our only target.

(The rest of this is not having a go at you Chookbilly, just a general commentary/rant about the LRT "discussion" in general...)

It's laughable that anyone suggests that LRT is in the side because of sentiment or blackmail (I know, I know, you're all "joking"), or anything other than because Horse et al believe he is the BEST POSSIBLE OPTION available on the day. LAUGHABLE, and not in a laughing with you kind of way, a laughing at you kind of way.

Those who rant about how awful he is and how much better this or that player did in the reserves have a pretty inflated view of their own expertise and a low opinion of the diligence and mental acuity of the Swans selectors. Does anyone think that the selection panel simply forgets who else we have on the list, or what their respective strengths and weaknesses are? Do you think the coaches aren't all sitting up in the stands watching the ressies whenever they can, or studying the footage and feedback from those games? Apparently a lot of people think exactly that.

I get that this is a discussion forum and we're all allowed our opinions. I realise that LRT bashing is just an enjoyable pastime for a lot of posters, which explains why so many posts are so non-sensical. MY opinion is that it's lazy and sheepish - as in "baa baa me too me too". If you didn't watch the game or can't think of anything else to say, just have a whack at LRT... MY opinion is that it gets so OLD!

Anyway, I shall just do my best to avoid these threads and maybe we'll all be happier.

[GongSwan]

You nailed that Kirkari

[Chookbilly]

Good post Kirkari!
You make some very valid points, I don't necessarily agree with them all, but that's the beauty of a healthy debate in a fan forum.

I agree that the so called LRT bashing gets tiresome at times. But so can those who believe the coaching/selection panel can do no wrong.

[barry]

LRT is our ONLY versatile big man. Could you imagine Everitt going back to defence if Ted went down. Could you imagine Ted being shifted to FF to win a final. Not going to happen.

Ask yourself this. Its grand final day. Cloke is having a blinder in the first quarter. Ted cant hold him. Grundy's done a hammy in the first 5 minutes. What are you gunna do ?

LRT.

[Go Swannies]

Ask yourself this. Its grand final day. Cloke is having a blinder in the first quarter. Ted cant hold him. Grundy's done a hammy in the first 5 minutes. What are you gunna do ?

I don't understand this question but that may be because I presume the hypothesis is for next year when we're defending our Premiership (and that's surely after playing the experts' early flag favourites the Blues or Hawks in the 2012 GF?)- and Cloke will have decided to come to Sydney to get away from the hype and to join a winning team. If Cloke is playing a blinder for us (and what a recruiting coup - as he's obviously back to playing his best) why would we have to do anything but let him share some of his goals with Sam, Myke and LRT, the other three pillars of the Swans' forward line?

[ShockOfHair]

Well said Kirkari. I would've thought the biggest problem in the last few weeks was our fadeouts in the midfield, not LRT. Fair enough though - we've lacked a whipping boy in the absence of Bevan, so put that down as yet another role LRT plays.

I watched the replay last week of the Geelong game where he supposedly had a shocker. He set up both of Sam Reid's goals - the first one he got a shout out from Tom Harley for his awareness in palming the ball into Reid's path. Great work by both players. He also helped keep Scarlett and Taylor quiet, both of whom can do a lot of damage on the rebound.

I didn't think his GWS game much better though. He got more of the ball but his field kicking was pretty poor.

WIth the sub rule flexibility is everything, so after Mattner got subbed off LRT was able to play down back. Spangher can play these roles but apart from still finding form after his injury, he's only played 20-odd AFL games and LRT has played 150, so for the time being he's going to get the nod.

[barry]

I conceed if Cloke is playing for us, LRT's place *may* be in jepody.

[Chookbilly]

LRT is our ONLY versatile big man. Could you imagine Everitt going back to defence if Ted went down. Could you imagine Ted being shifted to FF to win a final. Not going to happen.

Ask yourself this. Its grand final day. Cloke is having a blinder in the first quarter. Ted cant hold him. Grundy's done a hammy in the first 5 minutes. What are you gunna do ?

LRT.

You can use that argument for any position.....

Imagine if Goodes went down with injury.... Oh wait that already happened against the crows. We had no forward line and lost the match..... Where was LRT then?

[GongSwan]

You can use that argument for any position.....

Imagine if Goodes went down with injury.... Oh wait that already happened against the crows. We had no forward line and lost the match..... Where was LRT then?

I don't think anyone is suggesting that LRT is a replacement or even in the same postcode as Goodes, he was on fire in that last q and no one could have covered the loss

[Chookbilly]

I don't think anyone is suggesting that LRT is a replacement or even in the same postcode as Goodes, he was on fire in that last q and no one could have covered the loss

That was also my point, LRT was unable to cover the loss of a forward when required, then we were practically 2 forwards short (as LRT is not one himself). It left Reid as the only recognized forward target.

[GongSwan]

That was also my point, LRT was unable to cover the loss of a forward when required, then we were practically 2 forwards short (as LRT is not one himself). It left Reid as the only recognized forward target.

Harsh call, no one expects LRT to magically transform into Goodes, he's put out there to do a job, which he usually does with no fuss or carry on. The bagging of any player who gets Knocked out early and comes back on to run out the game is harsh, yd expect his skills to be down a bit, but LRT's pass to Benny inside 50 was a pretty fair disposal

[jono2707]

Well said Kirkari - also note that some of us don't necessarily believe the coaches and selection committee know everything or make correct decision every time. We just figure that posting our disbelief or outrage here isn't going to do anything to change the way the club goes about things.