Player Watch #15: Jayden Laverde - Available again following ankle injury - 16/4

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Towno78

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Snide remarks aside how is it not disastrous to lose almost a whole year from a player whose development this year directly impacts on our ability to assess the quality of our midfield and list generally?

Yes, the coaches, bless them, decided that Laverde ought to play forward but that was before our midfield was the worst at winning contested ball in the competition.

There is a lot of uncertainty about our ruck stocks, a key defender, the half back line and the midfield. That we don't have one of our most talented players available makes it that little bit harder to assess our list.
It's football, injuries happen all too often. Many worse than Lav's. To be fair to Lav, his injury is unlikely to have a great influence on our fortunes for this year. As for Lav himself, he has oodles of time on his side.
It is extremely disappointing, was looking forward to watching him play as much as anyone on our list. But labelling it disastrous is being very melodramatic.
 

Kakkle

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It looks like Laverde is going to miss his third season after already missing large portions of his first and second. Bit of a difference.

How did he miss large portions of his first season? Played 10 VFL games, and 9 AFL games, was also emergency for 2 games as well.
 

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Killer_Mike

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You would think its Laverde for Watson at years end.
If anyone is going to displace Green, it would be Langford.
I personally think that Laverde is tracking a year behind Langford so if thats the case he's either going to have to continue to play half forward with rotations through midfield, or remain in VFL like Langford has and hone his craft there!

Some people look at Langford going back to VFL as a slight on his game but I'm sure that the coaches are looking at it as an opportunity! I feel if Laverde is going to be a midfielder then he to will have to get his minutes up.

The remainder of this year and all next year will continue to be development years for Laverde I feel.
 

eth-dog

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He'll be a midfielder eventually. We'll need him to be, without him it's scarily small with Merrett, Parish, McGrath and Billings (hehe). McKenna and Walla I think will transition there as well. Him, Langford, Francis (probably not full time, due to his tank) and hopefully Setterfield will balance that out a bit.
 

citizen-erased

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Happy with both Laverde and Langford to replace Watson and Stanton at years end.
seems about right, though with Stanton out as it is, the current 22 doesn't have a spot for one of them

The way i see it moving forward:
Ambrose -> Dea
McNiece -> Baguley
Laverde -> Watson
Langford -> Kelly*
*And we re-jig the lineup

I personally think that Laverde is tracking a year behind Langford so if thats the case he's either going to have to continue to play half forward with rotations through midfield, or remain in VFL like Langford has and hone his craft there!

Some people look at Langford going back to VFL as a slight on his game but I'm sure that the coaches are looking at it as an opportunity! I feel if Laverde is going to be a midfielder then he to will have to get his minutes up.

The remainder of this year and all next year will continue to be development years for Laverde I feel.
Agree.
Langford should be in the 22 now. I think he naturally vies with Green as a HF/mid type.
i would be surprised if we see Laverde in the side this year now.
Get him right, play him in VFL to build some continuity. Maybe a handful of games at years end, but not sure who we'd drop short of injury.
 

TheGrizz

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He'll be a midfielder eventually. We'll need him to be, without him it's scarily small with Merrett, Parish, McGrath and Billings (hehe). McKenna and Walla I think will transition there as well. Him, Langford, Francis (probably not full time, due to his tank) and hopefully Setterfield will balance that out a bit.
Man, I hope so.

Although with his form of late he would probably demand a first rounder come years end. If hopper is available the it becomes an interesting discussion.

Re Laverde; if he turns into a mid, that's great. However if I was to look at him as he is, I reckon you could turn him into a great high half forward ala Ryan o'keefe.
Has a similar size and skill set to a young o'keefe I reckon.
 
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It the one easy call for mine. As soon as he's back in, Green can go back to the VFL where he belongs

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What the hell is all the hate for green. I think he has been progressing nicely and offers plenty to the team up forward including being able to hit between the sticks regularly
 

Zach Package

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What the hell is all the hate for green. I think he has been progressing nicely and offers plenty to the team up forward including being able to hit between the sticks regularly
If you're not thinking of potentially upgrading on Green we may as well give up now
 

blitzer

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It will be great to see Laverde back playing footy again. His long term injury has probably been the biggest disappointment this year. Hopefully he can get back as scheduled, get a few VFL games under his belt and make it into our seniors team a few rounds before finals (fingers crossed).

We really do need at least one of Laverde, Langford to make it as a midfielder in the medium term. If they don't we will be left with a fairly short midfield composition - which is not the end of the world but it can be exploited by opposition teams.
 
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