Player Watch #9: Luke Davies-Uniacke [Part II] - '24 SBM - re-signed until the end of 2032 [7 year deal]

[zoomba23]

25+ and a goal a game.

It’s absolutely go time.

Some will see this as not enough as he isn’t also laying 8 tackles.

Bro, I would erect an altar if he did this. Thing is, I know he won't

 

[the big lebowski]

Bro, I would erect an altar if he did this. Thing is, I know he won't

He won’t kick half a goal a game more?

Probably not, but his all Aust squad year in 2024 was 27.7 disposals, 0.5 goals per game, 0.6 goal assists per game, and 6.3 clearances.

If he replicates this in 2026 I’ll be happy. Was down to start 2025. We need him firing early to get wins on the board.

 

[zoomba23]

He won’t kick half a goal a game more?

Probably not, but his all Aust squad year in 2024 was 27.7 disposals, 0.5 goals per game, 0.6 goal assists per game, and 6.3 clearances.

If he replicates this in 2026 I’ll be happy. Was down to start 2025. We need him firing early to get wins on the board.

Half a goal a game more is a lot. It's the equivalent of asking one of our forwards to go from 35 to 46.

He needed to be the alpha and he isn't. He just isn't. I bet he's the alpha surfer though.

Maybe Colby could kick the goals Luke should be kicking

 

[shinboner magic]

Half a goal a game more is a lot. It's the equivalent of asking one of our forwards to go from 35 to 46.

He needed to be the alpha and he isn't. He just isn't. I bet he's the alpha surfer though.

Maybe Colby could kick the goals Luke should be kicking

Yep unfortunately he isn’t the man but gets paid like he is.

If side is going well - he’ll excel but when we need him to lead , he disappears.

 

[CaptainObvious23]

Yep unfortunately he isn’t the man but gets paid like he is.

If side is going well - he’ll excel but when we need him to lead , he disappears.

FOS will be the alpha. Give him time.

 

[Makeshift Park]

He needed to be the alpha and he isn't. He just isn't. I bet he's the alpha surfer though.

A rising tide lifts all surfers and all that.

I don't think he's going to miraculously become a carrying-the-team-on-his-shoulders type.

But I reckon Sheezel could be that, maybe Wardlaw too if he just gets continuity.

Once the team lifts, he will too.

 

[the big lebowski]

Half a goal a game more is a lot. It's the equivalent of asking one of our forwards to go from 35 to 46.

He needed to be the alpha and he isn't. He just isn't. I bet he's the alpha surfer though.

Maybe Colby could kick the goals Luke should be kicking

Oh I agree that 1 goal per game from a fulltime mid is a lot to ask. I’m not really sure why that is the expectation for LDU.

2 time Brownlow medal winner lachie Neale has averaged at best 0.7 goals per game but not since 2020.

Patrick Cripps has never averaged a goal per game despite spending time forward.

Daicos, Merrett (not even close), Oliver (not even close), Brayshaw, Serong. I could go on and on.

But end of the day, only a guy like bontempelli or petracca, who do spend time forward, would be 25+ possessions and a goal per game.

So LDU, who I agree could go up another level, is being held to a seriously high standard here

 

[zoomba23]

Oh I agree that 1 goal per game from a fulltime mid is a lot to ask. I’m not really sure why that is the expectation for LDU.

2 time Brownlow medal winner lachie Neale has averaged at best 0.7 goals per game but not since 2020.

Patrick Cripps has never averaged a goal per game despite spending time forward.

Daicos, Merrett (not even close), Oliver (not even close), Brayshaw, Serong. I could go on and on.

But end of the day, only a guy like bontempelli or petracca, who do spend time forward, would be 25+ possessions and a goal per game.

So LDU, who I agree could go up another level, is being held to a seriously high standard here

A lot of the guys you've mentioned are defensively sound contested distributors or outside runners. LDU is neither; he's a prototypical midfield game breaker in the Petracca/Dangerfield mould. He's powerful, big, goes on barnstorming runs through half forward, and is a penetrating kick when he identifies an explicit target.

He deserves to cop ridiculously high expectations because he has rarely seen talent. Unfortunately, that talent requires an accompanying flame of desire to really flourish, something which to date he hasn't shown

 

[zoomba23]

I don't think he's going to miraculously become a carrying-the-team-on-his-shoulders type.

That's his issue; he should've. Anyway, I've said my piece. Sheezel and Colby are the two prospective shoulder carriers to my eye, so let's hope for productive preseasons and a good injury run for the pair of them

 

[Makeshift Park]

That's his issue; he should've. Anyway, I've said my piece. Sheezel and Colby are the two prospective shoulder carriers to my eye, so let's hope for productive preseasons and a good injury run for the pair of them

I think if we're talking burden-bearers FOS has to be in the frame too. Just on a delayed time-frame.

Any 18 year old who can be dropped into our sticky-taped-together 2025 backline and flourish has got some resilience.

 

[zoomba23]

I think if we're talking burden-bearers FOS has to be in the frame too. Just on a delayed time-frame.

Any 18 year old who can be dropped into our sticky-taped-together 2025 backline and flourish has got some resilience.

I just see FOS as a quiet assassin; going about whatever assignment he's given with a minimum of fuss and fanfare. But you make a salient point about how well he adapted. Tracking Naughton back in his first game because his teammates were too lazy. Ah, good times

 

[BrownPaperBag]

A lot of the guys you've mentioned are defensively sound contested distributors or outside runners. LDU is neither; he's a prototypical midfield game breaker in the Petracca/Dangerfield mould. He's powerful, big, goes on barnstorming runs through half forward, and is a penetrating kick when he identifies an explicit target.

He deserves to cop ridiculously high expectations because he has rarely seen talent. Unfortunately, that talent requires an accompanying flame of desire to really flourish, something which to date he hasn't shown

He deserves to cop ridiculously high expectations because of his pay packet.

Sounds harsh but it’s true.

Had overall a down yr last yr

 

[Chip Scab1]

He deserves to cop ridiculously high expectations because of his pay packet.

Sounds harsh but it’s true.

Had overall a down yr last yr

Agree with all this.

He needs to play the whole year like he did the second half of 2025. He wasn't good, but he did enough team-things to not be hateful (small wins).

I think he's good enough for a starting spot on the interchange bench. There's 5 spots available, and I'd have CZ ahead of Simpkins, Dyldo Daggins and "Claiming 13" for starters. At least he's big and strong.

 

[Ura]

LDU had a down year this year for me aswell. Back end of the year improved but didn’t start amazing. I think that was true in 2024 aswell.

He has the ability to be an absolute monster for our list and midfield. His defensive work is good enough sometimes he disposal is poor but game breaking through the middle elite.

Would love to see him tidy up his kicking abit this year to become that A grader. Most year with the exception of last 2 he has improved on form.

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

Far out I know we are a miserable club but looking at ldu as a problem is ridiculous

 

[JZTIME!]

Far out I know we are a miserable club but looking at ldu as a problem is ridiculous

Yeah i usually jump on around trade and draft times. Years on end i tend to forget how negative this place is, for about 5 mins.
What will they complain about when we start winning 12 games a year

 

[shintemaster]

Far out I know we are a miserable club but looking at ldu as a problem is ridiculous

Not a probelm for me, but yeah. A bit like Larkey winning the Coleman and us being upset because his accuracy dipped slightly.

 

[marklovesbeer]

LDU had a down year this year for me aswell. Back end of the year improved but didn’t start amazing. I think that was true in 2024 aswell.

He has the ability to be an absolute monster for our list and midfield. His defensive work is good enough sometimes he disposal is poor but game breaking through the middle elite.

Would love to see him tidy up his kicking abit this year to become that A grader. Most year with the exception of last 2 he has improved on form.

Pretty sure he was averaging about 28 possessions across the first five weeks. Plenty of others that started 2024 worse than LDU.

 

[FlyHigh18]

my very high and ridiculous standards for LDU are:

• stop disappearing in games
• stop shanking the ball

 

[Roos1991]

Half a goal a game more is a lot. It's the equivalent of asking one of our forwards to go from 35 to 46.

He needed to be the alpha and he isn't. He just isn't. I bet he's the alpha surfer though.

Maybe Colby could kick the goals Luke should be kicking

Alpha? The bloke is the only alpha player on our list the way he monsters other mids. He just can't do it by himself for entire games. If our other mids gave him some support, he'd be able to do it for longer.

 

[Ura]

I think what I would like to see from LDU for the season in terms of numbers is 28 disposals and a goal a game. That would be a fantastic return. He is very capable of it: would like him to tidy up his disposals alittle and he will be an AFL elite.
With Wardlaw, Sheezel and Parker running through for good chunks of the season I could see that return.

But don’t want it to get confused. He is definitely a top 3 player on our list. My frustration comes because we see flashes of him being a top 10 player in the league

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

I think what I would like to see from LDU for the season in terms of numbers is 28 disposals and a goal a game. That would be a fantastic return. He is very capable of it: would like him to tidy up his disposals alittle and he will be an AFL elite.
With Wardlaw, Sheezel and Parker running through for good chunks of the season I could see that return.

But don’t want it to get confused. He is definitely a top 3 player on our list. My frustration comes because we see flashes of him being a top 10 player in the league

For what we are paying LDU for the next 7 years I would like to see these 'flashes' of being a top 10 player in the league become a permanent feature......or at least the next 3-4 years when he is at his peak.

However it would be a million to 1 for LDU to get even close to being a top 10 AFL player given the way he currently plays, his poor foot skills and his nonchalant attitude to training.

 

[Shermanator]

I’ve been a critic of LDU’s defensive game, but when he’s locked in offensively he’s a flat out weapon.

He was having an AA worthy start to the 2022 season before the fat sniper W Rioli pinned both his arms, caved his head deep into Marvel Stadium’s turf, knocked him out and avoided suspension (for the second straight week mind you flipping corrupt AFL). PC got 3 weeks for a softer and much cleaner tackle..

 

[RooInNorthLondon]

Zero Hangar has listed LDU as one of the ten veterans across AFL under most pressure to improve this coming season. I think that is pretty fair. Jy was not in the ten as some context despite the failed trade and shifted position. For them to single LDU out above Jy tells us all something of how LDU is now perceived by other fans.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

Zero Hangar has listed LDU as one of the ten veterans across AFL under most pressure to improve this coming season. I think that is pretty fair. Jy was not in the ten as some context despite the failed trade and shifted position. For them to single LDU out above Jy tells us all something of how LDU is now perceived by other fans.

LDU rightfully in there after his 2024 year and incredibly generous contract he signed. The concussion mid season would not have helped. If he can get back to 2024 form again, and the other U 22’s all lift 10% then the march up the ladder is a given.