Lewis Roberts-Thomson

Lewis Roberts-Thomson (born 8 September 1983 in Sydney) is a former Australian Rules Football player, who played for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League. He has been colloquially known to fans and commentators as either "LRT" or the "Hyphenator".[1]

Lewis Roberts-Thomson
Roberts-Thomson says farewell after announcing his retirement
Personal information
Full name Lewis Roberts-Thomson
Nickname(s) L.R.T.
Date of birth (1983-09-08) 8 September 1983
Original team(s) NSW/ACT Rams (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 29, 2001 National Draft
Height 194 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 92 kg (203 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2003–2014 Sydney 179 (54)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2014.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Roberts-Thomson was drafted by the Swans from the NSW-ACT U18s with the 29th selection in the 2001 AFL Draft.

AFL career

After being injured for most of the 2002 season,[1] he was awarded an AFL Rising Star nomination in his tenth game in 2003, after making his debut in Round 8.[2] He was then injured again for most of the 2004 season with thumb and achilles injuries.[3]

His performance as a key defender in 2005,[4] including his performance in that year's Grand Final against the West Coast Eagles, secured a permanent position in the Swans' backline.[1]

After an injury riddled 2008 season, Roberts-Thomson not only re-solidified his place at CHB in the Swans' defence in 2009, he improved vastly through the season playing on some of the best forwards in the AFL.

In 2010, Roberts-Thomson continued his strong form and with Craig Bolton suffering a serious Achilles tendon injury early in the year, he and Heath Grundy stepped up manfully to take on the brunt of the defensive work. He injured his hamstring about halfway through the year and was forced to sit out the rest of the season.

For Roberts-Thomson, 2011 was an up and down year as injury and the rapid improvement from Ted Richards and Alex Johnson didn't allow for him to take up his normal position as a tall defender. Consequently, he was used mostly as a 2nd ruckman and tall forward when in the senior side. Illness to Grundy allowed Roberts-Thomson to take up a position in the backline late in the year however, a role that he would fill well for the Swans' run into the finals.

In Round 2 of the 2012 season, Roberts-Thomson reached life membership of the Swans in 2012 after playing his 150th game.[5] He would go on to play in the Swans 2012 Premiership side who were victorious over Hawthorn.[6]

After managing only nine appearances across the 2013 and 2014 seasons, Roberts-Thomson announced his retirement from AFL football in August 2014.[7]

Personal life

Roberts-Thomson is a rarity in AFL as he grew up playing rugby union as a contemporary of Wallaby Phil Waugh at Sydney Church of England Grammar School.[4][8] Having only taken up Australian rules football at age 14, he had played less than 40 Aussie rules matches when he was drafted in 2001,[9] although he had already been named in the 2001 under-18 All-Australian team.

Statistics
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2003 Sydney 30165446449029120.30.32.92.85.61.80.8
2004 Sydney 30701122234740.00.11.73.14.91.00.6
2005 Sydney 3025039510319858370.00.13.84.17.92.31.5
2006 Sydney 30243112911624587300.10.05.44.810.23.61.3
2007 Sydney 302001415291330.00.07.07.514.56.51.5
2008 Sydney 302441152134286108480.20.06.35.611.94.52.0
2009 Sydney 302120175156331144280.10.08.37.415.86.91.3
2010 Sydney 3014021148019487340.00.18.15.713.96.22.4
2011 Sydney 3015125714411542390.80.34.72.97.72.82.6
2012 Sydney 302225101259822376471.10.55.74.510.13.52.1
2013 Sydney 30411221436760.30.35.53.59.01.81.5
2014 Sydney 305212112331390.40.24.22.46.62.61.8
Career 179 54 29 976 838 1814 671 297 0.3 0.2 5.5 4.7 10.1 3.7 1.7

References
  1. Sygall, David (9 April 2006). "Hyphen joins big names". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  2. "Roberts-Thomson earns nomination". The Age. Melbourne: Fairfax Media. 4 August 2003. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  3. Lovett, Michael, ed. (2005). AFL Record Guide to Season 2005. Melbourne: AFL Publishing. pp. 284–285. ISBN 0-9580300-6-5.
  4. Cowley, Michael (2 July 2005). "Roberts-Thomson climbs AFL's stairway to heaven". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  5. "Life Members honoured". www.sydneyswans.com.au. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  6. "Swans snatch victory in classic grand final". ABC News. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  7. "Roberts-Thomson retires". www.sydneyswans.com.au. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  8. Brown, Alex (15 May 2003). "Joining Swans spells success for The Hyphen". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  9. Tugwell, Nikki (31 August 2007). "Welcome return for LRT". Fox Sports Australia. News Corp. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
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