Player Watch Riley Thilthorpe - Signed to End of 2028

[1970crow]

It's not a Rob thread but yep if he isn't in the ruck then he needs to be off the ground/out of the team preferably. His marking has gone to s**t and we all know about his kicking

I think RT should be playing a fair chunk of gametime in the ruck. His hands are so clean and his ruck work is so far ahead of RoBs it isn't funny.

At this stage of his career perhaps he could have a few weeks leading the ruck?

He seems pretty fit and he won't go cold up forward. We've seen with Fog that it took a LONG time for consistent impact up forward so whilst we have Tex/Fog/Mcadam as the main targets, lets try something else.

I still see him as a forward/ruck (a far superior Kurt Tippett) but for now it does him no good to sit up forward all game not finding the ball if we are struggling.

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I noticed TT without knee strapping for the first time in ages about 3(?) weeks ago. Looks to be running on top of the ground these days. That said, I probably didn't notice strapping had returned yesterday, so everything I just said can be ignored. He's definitely playing with more freedom at the moment, looking awesome.

 

[1970crow]

I actually can’t argue with any of that. May as well get Grundy for the sheer sake of being marginally better during these dark times. RT and Grundy would be good to see before we rebuild the rebuild.

I'd move on Smith and ROB even if it's just to shake up the senior group who seem happy to ease down over the last 2-3 years of their final long term contract. As great as Tex has been the last 2 years, I'll concede them both being contract years is a coincidence because he actually has some mongrel and will to win and make others around him be the same. But he can't be used as an exception to the rule because the difference has been so stark. We don't get anywhere near enough from our senior players because they know their position at the club and in the 22 is secure, except in the rarest of cases.

 

[hugecannon]

ROB should be playing like an old school Ruckman a kick behind the play helping out the defenders and clogging up space leaving TT to roam and float through the middle and pushing forward as well.

Could also help relieve Dawson from playing as a defensive wing/HB and utilise him him more as an attacking weapon

 

[thebirdman 24]

ROB should be playing like an old school Ruckman a kick behind the play helping out the defenders and clogging up space leaving TT to roam and float through the middle and pushing forward as well.

Could also help relieve Dawson from playing as a defensive wing/HB and utilise him him more as an attacking weapon

Yuck, Rob getting the ball is a bad result.

Just drop him and let Riley roam.

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[StickerMan]

Yuck, Rob getting the ball is a bad result.

Just drop him and let Riley roam.

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I agree. We all would love to see RT become a generation KPF, but I honestly think he could become the next Dean Cox.

For those that don't remember, Dean Cox was like Max Gawn but 10 x better.

RT's ability to tap to advantage is amazing, then to follow up to become another midfielder is potentially unparalleled at AFL level. His skills beneath the knees are phenomenal for a 200+ cm player.

If Fog comes on, and we can find another AFL capable KPF out of the current crop we have, and someone who can fill Tex's spot, then I think RT becomes the best ruckman in the comp.

 

[Cap]

Agree with RT being a Ruckman.

He's not a pure KPF but you can see what damage he can do as a mobile ruckman

 

[Geoffa32]

I reckon RT could Ruck 60 to 70% and still get 2 or 3 shots on goal.



His I50 kicking is very good too.

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[Mr_Moogle]

I understand why people would be hesitant for Thilthorpe to spend too much time away from the forward line but ROB is so bloody useless, if they made TT first ruck, I doubt it would bother me. Anything to get ROB out of the side.

 

[UcantCme]

If the SANFL last touch rule comes into the AFL it will mean even fewer stoppages and will most certainly change how a ruckman plays

This change would favour a RT style of ruckman, almost playing as an extra midfielder

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[DaKids]

Riley was always going to evolve as he is doing. Not a player to be limited to any one part of the ground or any single role.

 

[cmndstab]

Riley was always going to evolve as he is doing. Not a player to be limited to any one part of the ground or any single role.

Agreed. For now, he splits his time between the two according to his performance.if he looks dangerous up forward, keep him up there. If he isn't getting into the game, then stick him in the guts.

The other rucks can work around him. None of them are playing well enough to demand anything more.

 

[DaKids]

Agreed. For now, he splits his time between the two according to his performance.if he looks dangerous up forward, keep him up there. If he isn't getting into the game, then stick him in the guts.

The other rocks can work around him. None of them are playing well enough to demand anything more.

Yes. Once he’s got to 100 games he’ll be doing what the very good players do - putting himself wherever the game demands.

I don’t think Crows supporters appreciate what they’ve got yet.

 

[moogerfooger]

Agreed. For now, he splits his time between the two according to his performance.if he looks dangerous up forward, keep him up there. If he isn't getting into the game, then stick him in the guts.

The other rucks can work around him. None of them are playing well enough to demand anything more.

Exactly.

You don't use a diamond to plug a dike.

The answer to a poor first ruck is get a better first ruck. RT doesn't play in the guts to cover how shite ROB has become. He plays in there if it gets him in the game. You don't want to bang up a kid who is literally still growing.

 

[Southerntakeover]

The problem with this ruck obsession is that he needs experience as a forward, and needs to learn the position. It is the obviously more valuable place to have a gun player in, and should be the priority.

I don't mind occasionally doing something to get his confidence up, but we can't jeapordise his future as a forward to plug gaps now because its convenient. My other concern is that it's an invitation to injury.

We need to avoid making the same mistake people admit they made with Fogarty and drawing silly conclusions based upon some rough form as a key forward in one of the worst teams in football. Let the kid learn.

 

[Geoffa32]

Thilthorpe in Ruck isn't just as a tap Ruckman.

It is an elite mid who does the tap.

He looks more comfortable up the ground.


More time in the Ruck is helping his forward craft as well. Which is common for developing forwards. But he just looks better in the midfield.


The great thing is the past two weeks we have seen his capabilities in both areas and in both areas he performed.

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[Southerntakeover]

Stop searching for sugar hits now. Thilthorpe needs to be really taking off in about 2024 as a forward- whatever best leads to that outcome is what should be done.

We should really just be trying to make sure that him and Fog have played about 50 games together up forward to build chemistry in the mean time- i.e. what does the team look like when we think we're coming back up, what do we need to do to accommodate that?

 

[Geoffa32]

Stop searching for sugar hits now. Thilthorpe needs to be really taking off in about 2024 as a forward- whatever best leads to that outcome is what should be done.

We should really just be trying to make sure that him and Fog have played about 50 games together up forward to build chemistry in the mean time- i.e. what does the team look like when we think we're coming back up, what do we need to do to accommodate that?

Sugar hit now? Or playing a guy in a role that suits him.

Fog never looked comfortable in the middle. Massive mistake.

Thilthorpe does.

He won't be able to be full time Ruck till RoB is nearing 30, we wont trade him. So the reality is he will play the role he is playing now for the next few years.

Which is a great role for him. Mutineer suggested more of a Nick Riewoldt type roaming forward (modern day CHF), plus stints in Ruck. Essentially what he is doing now.
I see this now.


He showed on Saturday he can Ruck/ midfield for periods and still get enough up forward to have 4 plus shots on goal.


The guy is a freak.

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[NSolis]

Which is a great role for him. Mutineer suggested more of a Nick Riewoldt type roaming forward (modern day CHF), plus stints in Ruck. Essentially what he is doing now.
I see this now.


He showed on Saturday he can Ruck/ midfield for periods and still get enough up forward to have 4 plus shots on goal.

Yeah, and his performance on the weekend is particularly impressive given he had the lowest TOG% on the ground. 12 contested possessions, the most marks and contested marks on the ground and two centre clearances, to go with his decent contribution in the forward line from 53% TOG. I'm definitely interested to see him playing more in the midfield if he can keep building on that.

 

[Anzacpaul]

Don't really want TT as our main ruck ever.

I feel like he's too good of a player to be belted around in ruck for 100+mins every week. Fatigue playing the position will affect his skill level and creativity.

He's much more dangerous as a forward/CHF option with 5-10 mins a quarter in the middle.

 

[jo172]

Just noting his highlights are very similar to early Tippett who spent a reasonable amount of time in the ruck

 

[Betts are off]

Glad too see him having his purple patch in his sophomore season. I wasn't at all worried about him in the long run. But it will be good for the kid's confidence to string a series of good games together heading into the next year.

Fingers crossed he keeps going along this trajectory for the remaining games.

 

[cmndstab]

The problem with this ruck obsession is that he needs experience as a forward, and needs to learn the position. It is the obviously more valuable place to have a gun player in, and should be the priority.

I don't mind occasionally doing something to get his confidence up, but we can't jeapordise his future as a forward to plug gaps now because its convenient. My other concern is that it's an invitation to injury.

We need to avoid making the same mistake people admit they made with Fogarty and drawing silly conclusions based upon some rough form as a key forward in one of the worst teams in football. Let the kid learn.

I agree 100% that the long-term plan for Thilthorpe should be to play primarily as a forward.

The key word in what you said was "confidence". Thilthorpe strikes me as a real confidence player, who can drop his head when things aren't going his way. He'll want to work on that as his career progresses, but for now, if he's struggling up forward then sticking him in the ruck and letting him get his hands on the ball is useful.

 

[WeeBlake]

I agree 100% that the long-term plan for Thilthorpe should be to play primarily as a forward.

The key word in what you said was "confidence". Thilthorpe strikes me as a real confidence player, who can drop his head when things aren't going his way. He'll want to work on that as his career progresses, but for now, if he's struggling up forward then sticking him in the ruck and letting him get his hands on the ball is useful.

The long term plan should be to play him where he’s most effective and best uses his talents

 

[DaKids]

The long term plan should be to play him where he’s most effective and best uses his talents

Exactly.

When he’s got 100 up and there’s a game on the line 30 seconds to go with a centre bounce - I’ll tell you exactly where he’ll put himself ha ha

 

[Geoffa32]

I agree 100% that the long-term plan for Thilthorpe should be to play primarily as a forward.

The key word in what you said was "confidence". Thilthorpe strikes me as a real confidence player, who can drop his head when things aren't going his way. He'll want to work on that as his career progresses, but for now, if he's struggling up forward then sticking him in the ruck and letting him get his hands on the ball is useful.

His midfield/Ruck work gives him confidence. You can see he enjoys it more.

Long term that may change. But his run of form has come from his increased Ruck/Midfield role.

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