If Tippett comes, and Reg stays, where does LRT fit in?

[Gezball]

If Tippett comes, and Reg stays, where does LRT fit in?

Ok, firstly I'm a big fan of LRT, so this is not an anti LRT thread.

Chatting to my friends about this, we're just unsure where LRT fits post Tippett? If he stays forward, are we not too top heavy? Reid, Tip, LRT and a resting ruckman down forward seems too much. So what happens? Where do people see him fitting?

[R-1]

I guess the question becomes whether we can fit Reg, Teddy and LRT in the same backline. Not sure we can, unless there's some serious structural change with one of the smaller guys getting a much more attacking role.

Pyke's spot could also be under threat, depending on whether we want the two ruckman setup.

[Plugger46]

Not sure but it'll be a nice problem to have.

[Jewels]

Not sure but it'll be a nice problem to have.

This.

I'm sure Coach Longmire will work it out, he did OK this year :wink:

[Nich]

Should be fine for the 1st half of the year while Tippett plays in the Magoos :)

[Industrial Fan]

Anywhere he likes.

BLT is king.

[iigrover]

Anywhere he likes.

This.

[dimelb]

I hope we keep the two ruckmen set-up. It worked very well for us this year, and I think there is an advantage in having two (versatile) ruckmen over one plus one-and-a-half.
As for LRT, what an attitude, and what a player. He'll become a swingman in his old age, troubling the opposition wherever he appears. After this year's effort, Tippett will be delighted to have him on the same side!

[BillyRayCypress]

Well our backline ( Mattner, Rhys and LRT) is getting very close to footy retirement village age.

So rotate them through the bingo sessions.

[ugg]

LRT is safe. His flexibility offers Longmire the chance to cover a tall defender if one of them goes down. The fact that Tippett can tuck would mean that Pyke is the most likely tall to make way

[Xie Shan]

Mummy missed quite a few games this year, Pyke will still get games in 2013 if his form warrants it, for sure. He might have a reduced role if Tippett comes but he will still be a required player, as a big ask for Mummy to carry the ruck duties all season. Even if Tippett and LRT both help out with the ruck duties, we still need two recognised ruckmen, though Mumford and Pyke may not play together as often.

[TakeTheSaucepan]

The fact that Tippett can ruck would mean that Pyke is the most likely tall to make way

There is no way known that Pyke will be out this team. The only place Tippett will play is at full forward. The only reason Tippett played in the ruck for Adelaide is because they have no one else besides Jacobs.

[ugg]

They had Jenkins who played well when he got a game and was in good form in the SANFL finals but still couldnt break back into the team and McKernan

[Xie Shan]

There is no way known that Pyke will be out this team. The only place Tippett will play is at full forward. The only reason Tippett played in the ruck for Adelaide is because they have no one else besides Jacobs.

Good point, thinking it over again I think there could be times where Reg, Ted and LRT may all be required down back, particularly for teams like the Hawks who have Gunston, Roughead and Buddy. Against teams with smaller forward lines, Reg may be the one to drop out depending on match-ups - could be just my perception but I don't think he's as quick as LRT?

[TakeTheSaucepan]

They had Jenkins who played well when he got a game and was in good form in the SANFL finals but still couldnt break back into the team and McKernan

My point exactly. A team in desperate need of a ruckman, and those 2 still couldn't get a game. Why do you think Adelaide were so keen on Giles.

[TakeTheSaucepan]

Good point, thinking it over again I think there could be times where Reg, Ted and LRT may all be required down back, particularly for teams like the Hawks who have Gunston, Roughead and Buddy. Against teams with smaller forward lines, Reg may be the one to drop out depending on match-ups - could be just my perception but I don't think he's as quick as LRT?

The beauty of LRT is his versatility. I would think he would play in every game he's available and just go where he's needed. The only real issue with our backline is lack of height, but that didn't cause us many issues during the year. It's an awesome problem to have!

[veramex]

I think it will be Pyke that misses out for certain games. For teams with a better ruck man (or ruck combo like the eagles), I can see Pyke playing. But when Mumford and LRT is sufficient, Pyke would miss out.

What about mcglynn and rohan? Man, we have some good depth!

[Xie Shan]

My point exactly. A team in desperate need of a ruckman, and those 2 still couldn't get a game. Why do you think Adelaide were so keen on Giles.

Jenkins has been talked about as a replacement for Tippett in the forward line, so perhaps they see him as more of a forward.

This probably belongs more in the Tippett thread, but this would make pick 22 + White a more likely outcome given they need an extra ruckman. I just get the feeling that the move may be good for Jesse. He's not a superstar, but he has always been a good competitor. Would be ironic if the two Gold Coast boys both switched clubs, but neither to their home state!

[snajik]

There was a suggestion on another thread that alluded to our forward line being at times dysfunctional. That may have been true during earlier parts of the season, but midway through the season it started to gel and the forward line became less dysfunctional and more unpredictable as having a raft of 20+ goalkickers by season's end amply demonstrated, and nor were they all forwards. I'm concerned that with the recruitment of Tippett (a recognised and established full forward) our forward line will become more predictable. Great players that Lockett and Hall were (and I realise we are now talking about different eras) there was a tendency for the mids and backs to seek them out with almost every foray forward, even when it was no longer working. I fear we could revert to being Tippett-centric. I'd much rather pull the plug on Tippett altogether and bring a fit x-factor such as Gary Rohan into the forward half to further confound opposition defences. There would then be room for all of Grundy, LRT, Pyke etc who would be wasted with stints in the twos.

[satchmopugdog]

Should be fine for the 1st half of the year while Tippett plays in the Magoos :)

Learning to be a tagging mid-fielder!!!!

[R-1]

LRT to the wing

[ugg]

My point exactly. A team in desperate need of a ruckman, and those 2 still couldn't get a game. Why do you think Adelaide were so keen on Giles.
I don't agree with that point of view. The way I saw it was Jacobs was rucking for long periods of a game, which meant that the second ruckman in the team would play a lot more forward than ruck, and they obviously went with Tippett and their smalls Callinan, Porplyzia and Petrenko over the taller option in Jenkins.

[bondy]

LRT to the wing

I love this.

[barry]

The reason Pyke got a game to start with was because we had a poor marking forward line, and he's big and quite a good mark. In fact, Mummy and him rotating through the forward line gave us the forward marking target we were lacking.

However, Tippet solves the problem we had. Now we have a tall marking target. A specialist marking target.

So rather than rethink the forward line, Tippets inclusion probably means we need to rethink the ruck division.

[Triple B]

I fear we could revert to being Tippett-centric...

I guess it's possible, but you'd hope not with Sam and possibly Goodes as good marking targets.

Tippett tore the Hawks a new one on PF day because the focus went to Tex and they couldn't afford to double team him. Twin towers of Tippett and Sammy will produce nightmares for opposition defences...

[Primmy]

LRT will play wherever he is needed, with aplomb and panache. He is a rare one. One of the first in the mix I would say. So, what happens to LRT if tippett turns up? I have no qualms in regard to where he fits in, or indeed his status within the team.

[ernie koala]

I think a good point made earlier was how much output will Mummy be able to produce.

He has struggled with back, hamstring and knee issues.

Given the way he plays, if they want to extend his career....then he needs back up...namely Pyke.....an improving ruckmen with his best ahead of him!

LRT remains our swingman....There will always be.... injuries, suspension, poor form.... to cover.

[Nich]

Learning to be a tagging mid-fielder!!!!

Yes! Exactly.

[Nich]

LRT will play wherever he is needed, with aplomb and panache. He is a rare one. One of the first in the mix I would say. So, what happens to LRT if tippett turns up? I have no qualms in regard to where he fits in, or indeed his status within the team.


LRT to cover off for Jude. The Man can do anything.

[crackedactor]

I think a good point made earlier was how much output will Mummy be able to produce.

He has struggled with back, hamstring and knee issues.

Given the way he plays, if they want to extend his career....then he needs back up...namely Pyke.....an improving ruckmen with his best ahead of him!

LRT remains our swingman....There will always be.... injuries, suspension, poor form.... to cover.Very good point! There are question marks over Mummy's on going back and hamstring problems and his inability to train at full pace. I love LRT because he can play forward/back or the ruck and do a great job, which may happen next year, if Mummys fitness does not improve. Therefore in that respect, Tippett will be a good back up for Reid up forward. Just a point on Rohan. When I saw him at grand final day, he was not walking like a gazelle. He was propy at best! I think it will be at least 2014 before Rohan can make a contribution to the seniors.

[Matty10]

So many people keep saying that LRT stays, as does Pyke, as does Grundy, etc. Who then goes out if our squad is fully fit? McGlynn and Rohan still need to come in (who I think would be automatic selections). With Tippet coming in that makes three inclusions to our GF team.

25 does not fit into 22.

[Mel]

So many people keep saying that LRT stays, as does Pyke, as does Grundy, etc. Who then goes out if our squad is fully fit? McGlynn and Rohan still need to come in (who I think would be automatic selections). With Tippet coming in that makes three inclusions to our GF team.

25 does not fit into 22.
Unfortunately there are no guarantees with Gaz. From all the similar injuries, we will be lucky if he plays firsts in the first half of next season.

[GongSwan]

LRT to cover off for Jude. The Man can do anything.

Start him in the centre bounces as a smash em up player, then forward, back or sideways as the situation demands. Is there anything he cannot do?

[goswannies]

Just a point on Rohan. When I saw him at grand final day, he was not walking like a gazelle. He was propy at best! I think it will be at least 2014 before Rohan can make a contribution to the seniors.

Fractured tibias can take a year or more to get over and they don't always come back as well. Cases in point, Nathan Brown (Richmond) & Chad O'Sullivan (Centrals in the SANFL) though theirs were mid-shaft.
Both came back but took a while. Jamie Lawson, no such luck (though he was the teams runner, so could run, but the speed wasn't there).
Gary's was a compound fracture, so comparable to all the above. It's a bit of a stretch to expect him to be walking normally now. Often it's at least a year out of the game & that's not even a full recovery when they return. Still pain, still limping, reduced power, longer recovery post game, reliance on analgesia etc.

[Big Al]

I guess it's possible, but you'd hope not with Sam and possibly Goodes as good marking targets.

Tippett tore the Hawks a new one on PF day because the focus went to Tex and they couldn't afford to double team him. Twin towers of Tippett and Sammy will produce nightmares for opposition defences...

This is exactly why I'm excited by Tippett. Terrific player in his own right but it'll be the effect on Sammy's game that makes my mouth water for next year.

[Big Al]

LRT is so good he could could shark his own tap and then deliver a lace out pass to himself,kick the goal and then to top it off he'd give Chelsea a rest and signal his own goal.

He's close to our most important player simply because the amount of roles he can cover.

[Matty10]

Unfortunately there are no guarantees with Gaz. From all the similar injuries, we will be lucky if he plays firsts in the first half of next season.

Ok, until (or if) Rohan plays next year that still makes 24 into 22 - and this does not include Armstrong or any other players yet to declare their full value to the senior team.

[swanspant12]

Mummy is pretty injury prone and has been this year. Depth is the key to having success. We have depth in abundance.

Pyke will miss out of we get Tippett. Mummy likes the lone hand at ruck and once fit thrives on it. Mummy/Tippett rotate with LRT upforward.

[Cant turn right]

It's hard to dissect a premiership team. I don't think LRT would make way, as has been said he offers so much flexibility. If Tippett and McGlynn come in to the equation then maybe it's Morton, Mumford (fitness) or possibly AJ (as the 3rd tall defender) that are under threat. It's horrible trying to leave someone out.

[Swansongster]

Ok, until (or if) Rohan plays next year that still makes 24 into 22 - and this does not include Armstrong or any other players yet to declare their full value to the senior team.

Mitchell, Lamb, Cunningham, Spangher for starters.

[Nico]

LRT fits in wherever he wants to fit in.

[Melbourne_Blood]

Mummy may perform better on his own ( when fully fit, and that's debatable) but the team performs better with Mummy and Pyke.

[Triple B]

....or possibly AJ (as the 3rd tall defender) that are under threat.

Did you type that with a straight face?

[satchmopugdog]

LRT is so good he could could shark his own tap and then deliver a lace out pass to himself,kick the goal and then to top it off he'd give Chelsea a rest and signal his own goal.

He's close to our most important player simply because the amount of roles he can cover.

Achilles Jones eat your heart out...The Big Men Fly

[Lucky Knickers]

People are forgetting that it's a 25 game season (or 26 if you have to play two elims).
In that time we have had:
1. ROK out with a leg issue at the start of the season
2. Parker with a broken jaw and then collarbone
3. Mumford with injection-gate
4. LRT with a foot
5. Goodes with a suspension and a hip flexor
6. Jude with a knee
7. McGlynn with suspension and a Hammy
8. Sammy Reids but-tock
9. Smooch's middle ear infection
and then a hundred and one other big or little aches and pains that flare up in the squad that can force a rest.

We need a minimum of 25 to 30 players deep who are capable of playing senior footy if we want to seriously challenge for a flag again over the next few years.
Every week that we have Goodes, ROK, Jude, LRT, Shaw and Ted fit is a blessing but it would be naive to expect these players to not continue to show the signs of age and suffer more injury and take longer to recover.

[Matty10]

We need a minimum of 25 to 30 players deep who are capable of playing senior footy if we want to seriously challenge for a flag again over the next few years.
Every week that we have Goodes, ROK, Jude, LRT, Shaw and Ted fit is a blessing but it would be naive to expect these players to not continue to show the signs of age and suffer more injury and take longer to recover.

That is absolutely right. But if you still had to pick a starting 22 from our squad, when all were fit, who would you be leaving out?

[R-1]

Just field our reserves side too. Swans A v Swans B next year in the granny?

[Lucky Knickers]

That is absolutely right. But if you still had to pick a starting 22 from our squad, when all were fit, who would you be leaving out?
Round 1 2013 - I'd start with the fit ones and go from there.

Here is my choices if I was coach as you've asked me to speculate.

If we had Tippett last year I would have dropped Pyke.
If McGlynn was fit I would have dropped Parker.

If Rohan returned magically to full fitness then I would drop McGlynn or Malceski.
I'm not expecting Gaz to be playing seniors for quite a while, altho' I have everything crossed for him.

[Matty10]

Here is my choices if I was coach as you've asked me to speculate.

Thanks for playing along Lucky!

It is a hard choice. I would probably drop Morton, Bird and one of either Pyke, LRT or Grundy (depending on the team we were playing).

[swanspant12]

Why would you drop Morton and Bird?

[Captain]

I'm loving the LRT love :)

It's about bloody time too!

[Captain]

Tippett to replace Goodes in the forward line. LRT to stay put as a forward/utility.

Goodes to be played more on a wing/high half forward or even as a sub. He needs to play as a small not a tall, if that makes sense.

[Matty10]

Why would you drop Morton and Bird?

Because 25 will not fit into 22, and Tippett will be more productive than Morton up forward, McGlynn is better midfielder / forward option and we have enough run-with / checking options if needed (in Jack & Smith) for current football trends, Parker is more productive than Bird - and Rohan's pace makes his inclusion desirable.

Who are you keeping out swanspant12?

[Nico]

Bird plays a vastly different role to Parker. Craig Bird was outstanding in the finals series. Would always be in our starting 22 for mine. His linking up work in the GF was very good. I don't think Hawthorn paid him any respect.

[Gezball]

Bird was in our top 10 in the B and F which I have to admit surprised me.

[Matty10]

Bird plays a vastly different role to Parker. Craig Bird was outstanding in the finals series. Would always be in our starting 22 for mine. His linking up work in the GF was very good. I don't think Hawthorn paid him any respect.

I wasn't suggesting that Parker and Bird play the exact same roles. Bird has been used in a number of roles this season (option up forward, run with / checking player, midfielder, etc), depending on the opposition and players available, which is part of his value. He was good in the finals, as you said, Nico, but he was also used as the sub during the year.

If the containing roles can be filled by others in the side (as I mentioned in my earlier post) then I would be selecting Parker over Bird.

So, if you are keeping Bird and LRT in your preferred 22, Nico, who would you be leaving out if all the squad are fit?

[dimelb]

Bird is, in his own way, nearly as versatile as LRT. That's one good reason why he is also used as the sub from time to time. Andrejs is another.

[swanspant12]

My first 22 if Tippett comes, geez this is very hard we have that much depth it's ridiculous.

FB: Smith Richards Shaw

HB: Johnson Grundy Mattner

C: McVeigh Jack Jetta

HF: McGlynn Reid Parker

F: Rohan Tippett Goodes

R: Mumford Kennedy ROK

B: LRT, Hannebery , Bird, Morton

Very unlucky to miss out: Pyke, Malceski, Armstrong,

[Matty10]

Very unlucky to miss out: Pyke, Malceski, Armstrong,

Plus Bolton and Rohan (if / when fit)

[Auntie.Gerald]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/broncos-winger-jharal-yow-yeh-ready-to-change-his-style-to-help-comeback-bid/story-e6frep5x-1226479440494

a little different but still a broken Tibia

it is a long long road

[Jewels]

Bird was in our top 10 in the B and F which I have to admit surprised me.

Bird is one of those players that you don't truly appreciate till you watch a replay of the game, he does so much more than you see when watching live.

[Nico]

My first 22 if Tippett comes, geez this is very hard we have that much depth it's ridiculous.

FB: Smith Richards Shaw

HB: Johnson Grundy Mattner

C: McVeigh Jack Jetta

HF: McGlynn Reid Parker

F: Rohan Tippett Goodes

R: Mumford Kennedy ROK

B: LRT, Hannebery , Bird, Morton

Very unlucky to miss out: Pyke, Malceski, Armstrong,

I would have Pyke before Morton.

[swanspant12]

I would have Pyke before Morton.

LRT, Pyke and Mumford in the same team? I don't think so. Too tall.

Morton gives us that spark in the forward line and would be a very handy sub. Were not in the business of being nice too please people. I know the whole love story with Pykey and don't get me wrong I really like him as a player but i wouldn't have LRT, him and Mummy in the same team.

[royboy42]

LRT, Pyke and Mumford in the same team? I don't think so. Too tall.

Morton gives us that spark in the forward line and would be a very handy sub. Were not in the business of being nice too please people. I know the whole love story with Pykey and don't get me wrong I really like him as a player but i wouldn't have LRT, him and Mummy in the same team.

Did you actually SEE any of the finals this year?

[Matty10]

I would have Pyke before Morton.

Are you revealing your preferred list through a process of elimination, Nico? So far you have a side with Bird, LRT and Pyke - who is next on your list?

[swanspant12]

Did you actually SEE any of the finals this year?

Was waiting for this post. Yes i did see the finals this year and if Tippett wasn't coming I would have LRT, Pyke and Mumford in. But if Tippett comes we can't accommodate them all. Another sydney supporter thinking of the player's feelings rather than the benefit for the team.

[aardvark]

We used 30-31? players this year. Isn't it great we have so many quality players to help us go back to back because we will need them.