Player Watch #9: Luke Davies-Uniacke - signs until end 2025! Runner up in the 2022 Syd Barker Medal Award

[czero]

Too hard to judge for me without seeing more than stat sheets and a few clips. Scouts love him. Highlights packages isn't as worthy of what people/scouts/journos are saying in my opinion. But its just a highlights package. Surely can't be a flop at pick 4, and surely the weight of opinion here is justified.

I'm very tired of taking injured players though. With players/player development being better every year, the competition evening up so much, and with the modern game style suiting more athletic and perhaps younger players, the effect of injuries on your playing list seems even more pronounced on how the season will play out.

Was almost certain we wouldn't go down the route of going with a player with injuries this year. Hope he is what everyone is saying, cannot wait for feb.

 

[giantroo]

 

[Pykie]

Almost teared up at work watching that, must be getting old.

****ing sensational Spitta.

Chairman in waiting.....

 

[giantroo]

 

[king rising]

Almost teared up at work watching that, must be getting old.

******* sensational Spitta.

Chairman in waiting.....

is this sarcasm? would hope so. Least inspiring captain nearly ever

 

[Shermanator]

is this sarcasm? would hope so. Least inspiring captain nearly ever

FFS are you serious?..

If you don't think diving head first into a pack of 7 or 8 blokes all weighing 90kgs between 20 to 30 times a game over a career spanning 220 games isn't inspiring then you need to go and support Melbourne, you would fit right in there..

 

[The Filth Wizard]

is this sarcasm? would hope so. Least inspiring captain nearly ever

Lol, no.

I have him in front of our current captain in that regard.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Lol, no.

I have him in front of our current captain in that regard.

Spitta only lost the edge on his onfield leadership abilities post injury, before that he was a shining beacon. He always led more by action than by word.

Even post injury he gave his all even when he couldn't keep up from a technical standpoint, put his body on the line more than any onfield.

Fantastic leader, such a shame he was crueled by such a bizarre twist of fate.

 

[kangaspurs]

There was a game, I can't remember now if it was against West Coast or Adelaide, but it was a few years ago and we were up by **** all with not long remaining. From memory the ball was at a boundary throw in deep in our defensive 50. Swallow proceeded to win 3 or 4 clearances in a row and single handedly forced the ball towards our half forward flank and we won the game. His efforts had my mates texting me in awe of his sheer will to win the contest and his leadership in seeing out the win.

In a career that was full of many excellent performances that one, apart from the opponent it would seem, has always stuck in my mind as the perfect illustration of Spitta's leadership, courage, work rate and no small amount of quality in the contest. Sure, he might not have been the greatest media performer, but he was always a shining example of leading by his actions, which he did every single time he captained North Melbourne.

If LDU inherits even a fraction of all that from Swallow to go along with his natural abilities then we'll have a very fine footballer take up the mantle of the number 9.

 

[ozzyoslo]

is this sarcasm? would hope so. Least inspiring captain nearly ever

Inspiring > yes !!
Media savvy and verbally direct > No.

 

[ozzyoslo]

There was a game, I can't remember now if it was against West Coast or Adelaide, but it was a few years ago and we were up by **** all with not long remaining. From memory the ball was at a boundary throw in deep in our defensive 50. Swallow proceeded to win 3 or 4 clearances in a row and single handedly forced the ball towards our half forward flank and we won the game. His efforts had my mates texting me in awe of his sheer will to win the contest and his leadership in seeing out the win.

In a career that was full of many excellent performances that one, apart from the opponent it would seem, has always stuck in my mind as the perfect illustration of Spitta's leadership, courage, work rate and no small amount of quality in the contest. Sure, he might not have been the greatest media performer, but he was always a shining example of leading by his actions, which he did every single time he captained North Melbourne.

If LDU inherits even a fraction of all that from Swallow to go along with his natural abilities then we'll have a very fine footballer take up the mantle of the number 9.

Adelaide.......the game Turner knocked out the opposition player (Laird ?) by his shear attack on the player.

 

[boneofshin]

Adelaide.......the game Turner knocked out the opposition player (Laird ?) by his shear attack on the player.

Didn’t he clean up Dangerfield?

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Didn’t he clean up Dangerfield?

Dangerfield was in the AO game, the laird one was in tassie.

 

[Mav]

Dangerfield was in the AO game, the laird one was in tassie.

His nickname should be Farmer. Loves killing crows.

 

[Phillyroo]

Almost teared up at work watching that, must be getting old.

******* sensational Spitta.

Chairman in waiting.....

What did I miss? He seemed disinterested and totally without emotion.

 

[tazaa]

What did I miss? He seemed disinterested and totally without emotion.

Felt obligatory rather than heart felt tbh

 

[Heaps of fun]

There was a game, I can't remember now if it was against West Coast or Adelaide, but it was a few years ago and we were up by **** all with not long remaining. From memory the ball was at a boundary throw in deep in our defensive 50. Swallow proceeded to win 3 or 4 clearances in a row and single handedly forced the ball towards our half forward flank and we won the game. His efforts had my mates texting me in awe of his sheer will to win the contest and his leadership in seeing out the win.

In a career that was full of many excellent performances that one, apart from the opponent it would seem, has always stuck in my mind as the perfect illustration of Spitta's leadership, courage, work rate and no small amount of quality in the contest. Sure, he might not have been the greatest media performer, but he was always a shining example of leading by his actions, which he did every single time he captained North Melbourne.

If LDU inherits even a fraction of all that from Swallow to go along with his natural abilities then we'll have a very fine footballer take up the mantle of the number 9.

Jack showed why he would be future captain that game too having 9 shots at goal and crashing innumerable packs. We've played some classics (from both perspectives) against Adelaide in the Scott era.

 

[The Brady Bunch]

What did I miss? He seemed disinterested and totally without emotion.

I think that's just Andrew Swallow. He doesn't have a great range in his verbal expression or oratory skills and he doesn't have command of a diverse and eloquent vocabulary, particularly when he is improvising. Might have been best to prepare a speech but I think we get the point that he was making.

 

[Skiparoo]

Its poor form by the club, Spitta gave his all for our club and to bring the guy back 2 weeks after the draft (where coincidently Luke was handed the no 9 jumper - cause we all saw the video) to hand over his no 9 indicates to me that somebody has said something to someone, and the club has stuffed up and is now covering its butt, by having the cameras there to capture it.

 

[kangaspurs]

Jack showed why he would be future captain that game too having 9 shots at goal and crashing innumerable packs. We've played some classics (from both perspectives) against Adelaide in the Scott era.

Haha agreed in regards to his leadership, but I also find it quite frustrating that we haven't seen him play forward far more often since then. He was ****ing incredible that game and when you think about his second half against Collingwood(?) this year as a forward it makes you wonder why it has not happened more often. I really hope it does this year because he's a genuine 40 goal+ medium forward and a nightmare matchup.

 

[Heaps of fun]

Haha agreed in regards to his leadership, but I also find it quite frustrating that we haven't seen him play forward far more often since then. He was ******* incredible that game and when you think about his second half against Collingwood(?) this year as a forward it makes you wonder why it has not happened more often. I really hope it does this year because he's a genuine 40 goal+ medium forward and a nightmare matchup.

We haven't really had that many inside mids to play with since Levi and Basti, had a lot of tall, slow forwards to fit in though. Looking like he'll spend more time forward next year but he's great making space in the middle for smoother players the way he throws his body around too.

 

[Rockstar6]

Its poor form by the club, Spitta gave his all for our club and to bring the guy back 2 weeks after the draft (where coincidently Luke was handed the no 9 jumper - cause we all saw the video) to hand over his no 9 indicates to me that somebody has said something to someone, and the club has stuffed up and is now covering its butt, by having the cameras there to capture it.

Spitta did give his all and then some but the club did everything in it's power to make Andrew's request of moving up to QLD possible. We were willing to release him from his contract like we did with L.Thomas but Gold Coast wouldn't even part with a late, late pick or even commit to putting him on the rookie list. As for the presentation/passing of the #9, if Spitta wasn't happy with the club, why would he agree to come to the club and personally pass it on?

 

[RobZombie]

There was a game, I can't remember now if it was against West Coast or Adelaide, but it was a few years ago and we were up by **** all with not long remaining. From memory the ball was at a boundary throw in deep in our defensive 50. Swallow proceeded to win 3 or 4 clearances in a row and single handedly forced the ball towards our half forward flank and we won the game. His efforts had my mates texting me in awe of his sheer will to win the contest and his leadership in seeing out the win.

In a career that was full of many excellent performances that one, apart from the opponent it would seem, has always stuck in my mind as the perfect illustration of Spitta's leadership, courage, work rate and no small amount of quality in the contest. Sure, he might not have been the greatest media performer, but he was always a shining example of leading by his actions, which he did every single time he captained North Melbourne.

If LDU inherits even a fraction of all that from Swallow to go along with his natural abilities then we'll have a very fine footballer take up the mantle of the number 9.

Round 22 2014 vs Adelaide in Hobart. Either won or halved with first hands on the pill at 6 of the 8 stoppages in the last 2:30 after Turner cleaned up Laird. Started on our HBF, ended at our HFF. The last of the 8 was one he didn't win but was on our HFF with about 4 seconds on the clock, so it was really 6 of 7 important stoppages.

I just remember thinking as we tossed away that 1/2 time lead vs Collingwood at the G in the rain while he was out with his achilles and the pies just waltzed out of stoppage after stoppage, Spitta wouldn't have let that happen.

 

[kangaspurs]

Round 22 2014 vs Adelaide in Hobart. Either won or halved with first hands on the pill at 6 of the 8 stoppages in the last 2:30 after Turner cleaned up Laird. Started on our HBF, ended at our HFF. The last of the 8 was one he didn't win but was on our HFF with about 4 seconds on the clock, so it was really 6 of 7 important stoppages.

I just remember thinking as we tossed away that 1/2 time lead vs Collingwood at the G in the rain while he was out with his achilles and the pies just waltzed out of stoppage after stoppage, Spitta wouldn't have let that happen.

That's the one. It seems you have a far better memory than I, RZ.

He was immense in that game. As I said, I had mates texting me in complete awe of what he was doing. Obviously it takes guts, toughness, and outstanding leadership to do that, but I genuinely think his prodigious talent in the contest was underrated. Before his injury he had elite agility and a wonderful ability to read the ball off hands.

 

[Deleted member 98541]

Spitta did give his all and then some but the club did everything in it's power to make Andrew's request of moving up to QLD possible. We were willing to release him from his contract like we did with L.Thomas but Gold Coast wouldn't even part with a late, late pick or even commit to putting him on the rookie list. As for the presentation/passing of the #9, if Spitta wasn't happy with the club, why would he agree to come to the club and personally pass it on?

He wasn't happy at the club, like all that've gone before him.

Noone is ever happy to be moved on.

I'm glad to see him back at the joint so soon.