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A step ladder will come in handy, but versatile Sydney AFL big man Lewis Roberts-Thomson will have to rely on his Swans’ teammates if he finds himself up against Fremantle’s Aaron Sandilands on Saturday.
While he has pinch-hit competitively in the ruck in the past, 194 cm Roberts-Thomson will give away a whopping 17 cms to Dockers’ giant Sandilands, should their paths collide at the SCG.
Recognised ruckman Mark Seaby might get recalled for Saturday’s game, but Roberts-Thomson was used as a forward and backup ruckman to Shane Mumford in the Swans’ first-round win over Greater Western Sydney.
Roberts-Thomson, who will make his 150th AFL appearance this weekend, said matching up against Sandilands was a daunting task and a matter of damage limitation.
“Try and get some help from my teammates, things like that,” Roberts-Thomson told reporters.
“You’re not going to win too many hits against Aaron, so it’s all about maybe roving his taps and definitely limiting his output.”
It has taken just over nine seasons for Roberts-Thomson to notch 150 games, due to injuries and trying to cement a niche in the side after some early struggles.
“I think the journey that I’ve had has certainly had some ups and downs and some highs and lows,” said Roberts-Thomson, who also played rugby union during his schooldays in Sydney.
“But I think playing in two grand finals, winning a premiership, I’ve been very fortunate, very lucky.
“I think prior to the 2005 season, there was a fair bit of inconsistency in my game.
“In 2005, Roosy (former Sydney coach Paul Roos) put me down back and and really gave me a crack at playing as a key defender and, from week to week, I was able to build.”
While he has established his reputation primarily as a defender, Roberts-Thomson believes his versatility has consolidated his place in the team.
“Players these days need to be versatile with the new interchange rule,” Roberts-Thomson said.
One of the few Sydney-raised players to reach the 150-game tally for the Swans, Roberts-Thomson was confident more harbour city natives would follow in his footsteps.
“You’d like to think there would have been more Sydney players play 150 games but I think definitely – over the next few years – that will certainly change, with a few guys coming through like Kieren Jack,” Roberts-Thomson said.
“But I think what the club has in place in terms of development programs, we’ll definitely see a lot of benefits there.”
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