Richmond assistant coach Andrew McQualter provides ‘Roar Vision’ with an insight into the valuable versatility of clever Tiger Sam Lloyd.
Training with the midfield group pre-season
“We just thought there might be some more opportunity for ‘Lloydy’ to play through the midfield. So he moved there through the pre-season and he was excellent. Played a fair bit of it at the end of last year at the VFL level . . . He’s got himself really fit, he’s learned the role really well, and he’s done a good job.”
Importance of him boosting his fitness levels to play midfield
Lloydy has been building that every year (his fitness levels) since he’s been at the Club. He’s just got fitter and fitter and he’s got his body composition better and better. So he’s in great nick at the moment. He’s fit and he’s strong. That’s the biggest challenge coming into the midfield, I think.”
Victim of the Club’s playing depth
“I feel really sorry for Lloydy at times because the reality is he’d probably be playing a lot of footy at other clubs. He’s done everything right and everything we’ve asked of him. It’s never been a form issue that he’s gone out of the team, it’s just been a bit of a squeeze at times because we haven’t had many injuries. There’s not much we can fault him on, which is tough.”
His performance at VFL level v Werribee last Saturday
“He did a great job, especially in the first half. He was coming off a four-day break and he looked dominant there in the first half. He maybe ran out a little bit of legs in the second half, and especially the last quarter, but I think the team did a little bit as well.”
Most impressive feature of his game against Werribee
“I think it was just the ability to go back and impact the game. He looked fast, he looked strong in the contest, and was able to win the ball, which is one of his greatest strengths . . . He just has a really good balance of his game now, inside and outside . . . I think we’ve seen over the last couple of years Lloydy is above the level of VFL footy. He is just too good for it. He’s just got to keep turning up and executing what he does. It’s good to see him go back after being dropped, which would have been disappointing, and do that.”
Always ready to step up
“We’ve got a lot of trust in Lloydy. He’s played mainly wing at AFL level this year, but we’ve got a lot of trust in him to play a few different roles . . . He’s certainly willing and able to come in and do that.”
