Brown vs Laird

[Cleric]

Next year one of these guys needs to become a regular in the backline for us, and while we paid more for Brown I think on SANFL form this year Rory could well step up before Brown. I was surprised that Rory didnt get a game this year but that may have cost extra money as he is a rookie (not sure how the upgrade rookie thing works).
Who do you think will come up better next year?

 

[ManInTheArena]

Laird only just scraped into last years draft by 2 days. He's been a bit overshadowed by Crouch at Westies but he ought to be a gun. If he was born 3 days later I reckon he'd go top 20 in this years draft quite easily considering he's had a better year than some players touted as top 10 material. Another Rendell special

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Laird only just scraped into last years draft by 2 days. He's been a bit overshadowed by Crouch at Westies but he ought to be a gun. If he was born 3 days later I reckon he'd go top 20 in this years draft quite easily considering he's had a better year than some players touted as top 10 material. Another Rendell special

A rising star winner and a runner up.... Can he get us another one out of his short time at Adelaide...?

 

[1990crow]

Any conspiracy theories involving Eddie McGuire/Andrew Dem/That Fallure bloke?
Make the crows sack Rendell then Collingwood can get him

Wouldn't put it past them. Can't have them inbred South Australians winning the football!

 

[ManInTheArena]

To a answer the question, I think Laird. Only because of the dramatic improvement over the 2012 season. If he has another AFL pre-season and improves the same amount again then he'll be almost too good for SANFL by the end of next year.

Maybe I'm getting a bit carried away but I really rate his improvement and potential considering he was so young when selected.

Brown has been good but Laird has been outstanding considering where he's come from in 12 months.

 

[Vader]

Next year one of these guys needs to become a regular in the backline for us, and while we paid more for Brown I think on SANFL form this year Rory could well step up before Brown. I was surprised that Rory didnt get a game this year but that may have cost extra money as he is a rookie (not sure how the upgrade rookie thing works).
Who do you think will come up better next year?

One reason he didn't get a go is because we didn't have any long term injuries, hence no way of elevating him to the senior list.

The only rookie positions available were the "nominated rookie" and "mid-season freebie". Callinan was the nominated rookie from Day 1 and only an idiot would suggest that his promotion was a bad move. Laird was never in the running for this position, as his qualities only really became appreciated as the season progressed. McIntyre was the mid-season freebie, coming in at a time when one or two of our small forward were out with injury (Callinan or Porps from memory). I suppose Laird could have been considered for this position, but was probably never in the running given that Lyons only had 3 games despite ripping it up in the SANFL.

 

[OrdinaryJoel]

I'd love to see Rory Laird in action, and it is close pegging between the two for next year that is for sure!

 

[ManInTheArena]

Rory Laird - 30d (15k 15h) 7m 3t 1c 2i50

Did anyone watch this today that can report on him?

 

[Cleric]

Bump. Looks like Laird is the one atm lol.

 

[Kickin_Goals]

Rory Laird - 30d (15k 15h) 7m 3t 1c 2i50

Did anyone watch this today that can report on him?

BOG of both teams easily. Freo supporters even commenting on his outstanding play today.

 

[hugecannon]

Laird is clearly ahead of Brown right now, and just looks like a veteran already. Brown I think as been okay so far, defensively I think he's stood up pretty well, offensively he's been very inconsistent which is understandable. IMO Laird has far better composure, skills, and decision making than all of our small defenders bar Brodie Smith.

 

[Schulzycrow]

Lairdy has been one of the finds of the year. Small defender sewn up. Brown has been good and will be a good player for us, but you can't have too many Rory's in your team.

 

[Geoffa32]

Is Laird a chance for Rising Star nom this week?

 

[Bicks]

The more I see Laird the more I reckon he has in and under midfielder written all over him, he's as hard as a cat's head, calm in traffic and above average skills.

 

[Cleric]

His nickname should be velcro, as his tackles normally stick.

 

[Bob Neil]

Simply outstanding today - great game by a young kid.

 

[FR0GGY]

Loved his face smother - no fear

 

[Cleric]

And to think Rowie the other week thought Laird should make way for Johncock to come back into the side.lol

 

[crowsarethebest]

His nickname should be velcro, as his tackles normally stick.

Yeah that's what I've noticed, everyone else seems to be laced in soap which his tackles stick. He's only small but he's very strong and seems to keep his feet more often than not compared to other youngsters.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Bump. Looks like Laird is the one atm lol.

Yes, looks like you made a good call.

Laird appears to have adapted well to AFL. Brown still struggling with consistency/less convincing, but hopefully will make it too.

 

[Glenno23]

BOG of both teams easily. Freo supporters even commenting on his outstanding play today.

That post you quoted was from 2012

 

[Kickin_Goals]

That post you quoted was from 2012

awesome.

 

[OrdinaryJoel]

Laird had a RS nomination type game, but Sydney's Tom Mitchell will get the nomination.

 

[mcday]

Another gem from Rendell

 

[Mismatched]

Yes, looks like you made a good call.

Laird appears to have adapted well to AFL. Brown still struggling with consistency/less convincing, but hopefully will make it too.

I watched the replay on Fox this morning and I reckon Brown played better than many, including myself, have been giving him credit for, a long long way off our worst player IMO. Made a couple of blues but is certainly not on his pat malone there.