LRT in 2005 GF

[alt_mattr]

Seeing LRT at the ground on Sunday reminded me of something I have been meaning to ask you guys. I watched the 2005 grand final on the day and I have always been a huge LRT fan but I don't recall what was so great about his game that day. I have heard time and again about his performance but am still none the wiser as to what he did. I am not disputing that he was robbed of the Norm Smith, I just wish there was a YouTube compilation or something to show me what I missed on first viewing.

Can anyone expand upon his role that day?

[ScottH]

He played a loose man across the half back and marked everything stopped many an eagles fwd foray.
His first 1/4 was his best.

Fosdike was probably the man robbed of the NS medal.

Grab a copy of the game and see it for yourself

[barry]

To be fair it was a time when teams would let the perceived weaker player get the ball, by not marking him up, on the assumption hes likely to turn it over.

Problem was, lrt wasnt turning it over. They tightened up in the second half.

[stellation]

Fosdike was probably the man robbed of the NS medal.

Absolutely.

[i'm-uninformed2]

He played a loose man across the half back and marked everything stopped many an eagles fwd foray.
His first 1/4 was his best.

Fosdike was probably the man robbed of the NS medal.

Grab a copy of the game and see it for yourself

Double absolutely

[Triple B]

Fosdike was probably the man robbed of the NS medal.

Absolutely.

Funny, I thought Buchanan was robbed. One thing we can all agree on, Judd winning it was a @@@@ing joke.

The big thing about LRT in that GF was most of us had our hearts in our mouths whenever he went near it. The fact that he performed above and beyond probably fooled us into thinking he played better then he did. He was mighty for sure, but not near the other 2 (Monty and Fossie) for Norm Smith honours, imho.

[Doctor J.]

Funny, I thought Buchanan was robbed. One thing we can all agree on, Judd winning it was a @@@@ing joke.

The big thing about LRT in that GF was most of us had our hearts in our mouths whenever he went near it. The fact that he performed above and beyond probably fooled us into thinking he played better then he did. He was mighty for sure, but not near the other 2 (Monty and Fossie) for Norm Smith honours, imho.

But well ahead of Judd

The most disgraceful act ever perpetrated by the Judd lovers in the media in a long while

[dimelb]

Funny, I thought Buchanan was robbed. One thing we can all agree on, Judd winning it was a @@@@ing joke.

The big thing about LRT in that GF was most of us had our hearts in our mouths whenever he went near it. The fact that he performed above and beyond probably fooled us into thinking he played better then he did. He was mighty for sure, but not near the other 2 (Monty and Fossie) for Norm Smith honours, imho.

Absolutely agree about Buchanan: solid for three quarters + brilliant final quarter.

[ShockOfHair]

I'd say he was our best player in the first quarter, when he had eight possessions including four or five marks. He was OK for the other three quarters but what made it memorable was the heat was really on in the first half of the first quarter and he was singlehandedly repelling them. Good times!

[Swansongster]

I miss LRT. Do you reckon he has played his last game?

[ScottH]

I miss LRT. Do you reckon he has played his last game?

for 2013 maybe, but not for the Swans.

[stellation]

I miss LRT. Do you reckon he has played his last game?

I don't know what his contract status is (if only there was some kind of, I don't know... wiki... for Swans info... that we could maintain ourselves...), but I would be surprised if he isn't around next year.

[dimelb]

The Viking warrior will return to lay waste the opposition.

[Sandridge]

Absolutely agree about Buchanan: solid for three quarters + brilliant final quarter.

I agree too. In fact, Amon had a magnificent 2005. Watch the 2005 highlights DVD and see how great he was throughout the whole year. Unfortunately, never regained that season's form but he'll always be remembered and loved for THAT goal!

LRT was great in the GF too, though. He was supposed to be the weak link that the Eagles would be able to exploit but he proved them wrong!

[stellation]

Funny, I thought Buchanan was robbed. One thing we can all agree on, Judd winning it was a @@@@ing joke.

The big thing about LRT in that GF was most of us had our hearts in our mouths whenever he went near it. The fact that he performed above and beyond probably fooled us into thinking he played better then he did. He was mighty for sure, but not near the other 2 (Monty and Fossie) for Norm Smith honours, imho.

I've always thought that Nic was slightly ahead of Amon; his outside run was at its best and I recall his use of the ball as excellent (I can't find DE% for the game, but can see he had 26 disposals and 0 Clangers... what that's worth I don't know because Judd's disposal was woeful but he only is credited with the 3), but something that I think gets forgotten is Nic actually grabbed the most clearances for us (7) and was equal for most tackles (7, with Kirk) in the game as well. I should add, I'm not channeling the great NMWBloods- I had to look those stats up, they're here for anyone that wants to relive the numbers.

I don't think Judd was as laughably bad as we all recall (he won 11 clearances, that's a hell of a workload in any game) but obviously should not have won the Norm Smith; he wasn't even the best player on his side, I always remembered Cox as being the standout Eagle. Ignoring the memory of how he played and just looking at those stats now he had a HELL of a game for a Grand Final; 19 disposals, 29 hitouts, 4 clearances and kicked 2.2 in 78% of game time. Wowee! Has any ruckman put up those sort of numbers in a Grand Final since then?

Edit: didn't have to look too far, some guy named Dean Cox had 20 disposals, 34 hitouts the next year!