Laycock

[Lotch]

More Laycock News:

New setback for Laycock| March 10, 2009 02:15pm

ESSENDON ruckman Jason Laycock has received a further blow, undergoing new surgery on his foot.

The 201cm ruckman had arguably his best year last season as back-up to David Hille after coming under fire for his sometimes lackadasical approach.

But coach Matthew Knights recently told the Herald Sun that Laycock's position in the team was under threat from Tom Bellchambers.

Laycock had been battling stress fractures in his foot throughout the pre-season.

Link

 

[Big Blow Hard]

Like him or not, this is terrible news. It leaves us agonisingly thin in the ruck stocks once again, and heaven forbid David Hille get injured. Bellchambers will learn a lot but he is not ready to carry the ruck with only Ryder in support. I'm not a fan, but it's crucial he is available.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Won't be a massive concern. We're not ready to challenge for the flag anyway. Time to get some gametime into a less experienced ruck who has arguably shown more than Laycock ever has throughout his career.*
* May have gone a little over the top. But you get my point.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

All Bellchambers has shown is that there is a lot of potential to work with, but that it is a long way from the surface, and will need a year or two to emerge. At least. He looks lost rucking against more experienced ruckmen, and doesn't offer as much around the ground as Laycock.

Criticise Laycock all you want, for a second ruckman, he wins his share of effective hit-outs, and he gathers his share of possessions. He even kicks his share of goals.

 

[FullFathom5]

The real problem does arise if either of Hille or Bellchambers gets injured. Who on the rookie list is even close to filling either of those shoes?

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Ryder would move to the ruck, and Pears/Hurley would be thrown into the deep-end.

If we lost another, it would be out of Fletcher, Gumbleton and Bock.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

All Bellchambers has shown is that there is a lot of potential to work with, but that it is a long way from the surface, and will need a year or two to emerge. At least.

The same thing could be said about Laycock though. I'm not trying to point out that Bellchambers is better than Laycock at this point by anyones standards. All I'm saying is I think he has the ability to be better and a more consistently rounded ruckman compared to Laycock. Laycock can go forward and kick a goal, or win a few hit-outs, but that's it. Even then he does them two things on an inconsistant basis. He just doesn't move around the ground like a skilled man. I'm probably coming across as a Laycock bagger, but it needs to be said over and over again. Taller players do take longer to develop generally, but no football club can wait half a dozen years!

If he doesn't do anything after 4 or 5 years in the system, you'd think his position on the list would have to be in jeopardy. And lets not forget, AFL players have a small to medium amount of time in the system. Afterall, you could argue that the AFL is a business and if players aren't performing, just like in a job situation, they'd be likely to be given the flick. We can't stand around for too long. If he's not ready now, delist him and send him back to Bendigo for a few years then pick him up when he should be hitting his peak if that's the general thoughts. We can't defend some players for ever! It's cruel, but that's life. Make the tough decisions, move on.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Bellchambers hasn't shown the signs of being able to perform around the ground like Laycock has actually performed.

At this stage we have a potentially very good tap ruckman who struggles around the ground, versus a decent tap ruckman, with the potential to improve who is decent around the ground.

While it's certainly going to be interesting to see Bellchambers have an extended run in the side, he certainly hasn't shown signs of being able to overtake Laycock, for all the flak he cops, in the short to medium term future.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Bellchambers hasn't shown the signs of being able to perform around the ground like Laycock has actually performed.

He has kicked a goal or two in the NAB Cup thus far hasn't he? That's showing us that he isn't as bad as people make out around the ground. He mightn't be the quickest ruckman, but he potentially has the smarts & strong frame to more than make up for it. (Eg. Sandilands, Hudson, etc..)

 

[Ben the Gooner]

But he doesn't get enough of it to be considered anything but a tap ruckman.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Fair enough. I'll leave it on that note...

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Bellchambers >>>> Laycock, even at this early stage of his career.

 

[FullFathom5]

I don't recall David Hille setting the world on fire early in his career either...

 

[warney7]

I see this injury as a blessing in disguise.

Hopefully Bellchambers puts up some good performances.

 

[Big Blow Hard]

Seems a bit harsh to be criticizing Belly for his around the ground work. He is only in his second year and what 19yo? That will all come with experience hopefully.

Im not keen on comparing Belly and Laycock, just for the simple matter we need ALL our ruck stocks available. Be they good or bad or inexperienced.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

I don't recall David Hille setting the world on fire early in his career either...

I recall him being written off on numerous occasions, tbh

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

I was calling for Hille to be traded at the end of 06.....

If I recall correctly my thinking along the line was to get Steven King or another experience guy to help Laycock out and possibly draft a Leunberger.

Now if we got Pick 10 from Collingwood for Hille and used that on Nathan Brown.... hmmm.

We might have had King, Leuy, Brown and if we still drafted Pears and Daniher then we might not have gone for Hurley this year and grabbed a Ziebell or Sidebottom.

We'd possibly be a better side over the next 5 years if we gave up Hille.

 

[dave_27]

I don't recall David Hille setting the world on fire early in his career either...

Certainly wasnt consistent but he showed patches of major talent when he got a decent go of it from 2003, remember him doing very well on the best ruckman of the time in Gardiner and Darcy. He also won us a final the next year against Melbourne. These were in his 4th and 5th years at the club.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

I wasn't saying the Bellchambers is crap, I was disputing GS's claim that he had shown more than Laycock.

I'm quite impressed with Bellchambers for the long term future.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

The same thing could be said about Laycock though. I'm not trying to point out that Bellchambers is better than Laycock at this point by anyones standards.

I wasn't saying the Bellchambers is crap, I was disputing GS's claim that he had shown more than Laycock..

You sure BtG?

 

[loopy_cam]

The same thing could be said about Laycock though. I'm not trying to point out that Bellchambers is better than Laycock at this point by anyones standards. All I'm saying is I think he has the ability to be better and a more consistently rounded ruckman compared to Laycock. Laycock can go forward and kick a goal, or win a few hit-outs, but that's it. Even then he does them two things on an inconsistant basis. He just doesn't move around the ground like a skilled man. I'm probably coming across as a Laycock bagger, but it needs to be said over and over again. Taller players do take longer to develop generally, but no football club can wait half a dozen years!

If he doesn't do anything after 4 or 5 years in the system, you'd think his position on the list would have to be in jeopardy. And lets not forget, AFL players have a small to medium amount of time in the system. Afterall, you could argue that the AFL is a business and if players aren't performing, just like in a job situation, they'd be likely to be given the flick. We can't stand around for too long. If he's not ready now, delist him and send him back to Bendigo for a few years then pick him up when he should be hitting his peak if that's the general thoughts. We can't defend some players for ever! It's cruel, but that's life. Make the tough decisions, move on.

But Laycock has done something during his four or five years. He has shown the potential to be a very good ruckman. And, he has been a capable back-up to Hille. In the few times he has been given the chance to be number one ruck, he has been quite good. You can't give Laycock the flick if there's no-one better to replace him. If you had the choice between Laycock and Bellchambers in the 22 at the moment, laycock would win every time.

Plus, how great would it be to have a ruck combo known as **** and Bock.

 

[Big Blow Hard]

Plus, how great would it be to have a ruck combo known as **** and Bock.

Sounds like a load of **** and Bell to me.

 

[Rack Watts]

The BockandCock Connection

 

[Ben the Gooner]

You sure BtG?

who has arguably shown more than Laycock ever has throughout his career.*
* May have gone a little over the top. But you get my point.

Very.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Very.

Didn't see the '*'?