Recommitted Rory Laird [signed 5 year deal]

Julia#13

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If he has a good year, makes the all aus 40 squad, can easily see a side offering him 600k 4 year deal. If Adelaide are in full rebuild mode, they probably shouldn't keep him. Plays in a position that isn't a premium and will be 29/30 before they're potentially challenging again.
 
Feel like that would annoy most players shifting around. Ideally you commit to one spot be it mid or back and stay there all year to build continuity
Doubt we will shift him around much.

Expect Laird will continue to play mostly in the midfield, particularly with Brouch leaving.
 
If he has a good year, makes the all aus 40 squad, can easily see a side offering him 600k 4 year deal. If Adelaide are in full rebuild mode, they probably shouldn't keep him. Plays in a position that isn't a premium and will be 29/30 before they're potentially challenging again.
We still need to keep some experienced players around as already have the youngest list if you exclude Gibbs who isn't really on our list in a practical sense.
 
May 3, 2007
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Midfield.
It's partly because him and Broadie Smith played in the middle when your team won those 3 games on a row?

He is a handy player on the back flank or in the middle.

Still..... The crows are slowly gathering a group of 190cm mids. They got seedman and Kelly.

They got hinge from Brisbane who is a 190cm tall back flanker and winger and got Jackson Hately from GWS who is a 190cm inside mid
 
It's partly because him and Broadie Smith played in the middle when your team won those 3 games on a row?

He is a handy player on the back flank or in tyeehe middle.

Still..... The crows are slowly gathering a group of 190cm mids. They got seedman and Kelly.

They got hinge from Brisbane who is a 190cm tall back flanker and winger and got Jackson Hately from GWS who is a 190cm inside mid
Yes, we looked better balanced with Laird in the midfield as he added pace & he is a ball hunter around packs.

Smith has spent some minutes in the middle, but is probably best suited on the outside... ideally off a wing, particularly with Milera returning to play off half back to give drive.

I rate Seedsman as a wingman, but was inconsistent last season & was dropped. Important season for him to regain his place or risk being moved on with the likes of Sholl, Hamilll & Jones breaking into the side.

Kelly is more a lockdown defender with limited ball use, so expect he will be eased out of the side with Doedee returning from injury & McPherson who is a better ball user. Also, Worell looks a better talent.
 
May 3, 2007
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Yes, we looked better balanced with Laird in the midfield as he added pace & he is a ball hunter around packs.

Smith has spent some minutes in the middle, but is probably best suited on the outside... ideally off a wing, particularly with Milera returning to play off half back to give drive.

I rate Seedsman as a wingman, but was inconsistent last season & was dropped. Important season for him to regain his place or risk being moved on with the likes of Sholl, Hamilll & Jones breaking into the side.

Kelly is more a lockdown defender with limited ball use, so expect he will be eased out of the side with Doedee returning from injury & McPherson who is a better ball user. Also, Worell looks a better talent.
I have posted this on other threads.

If Talia gets injured during the season, you can get away with Dodee playing as a CHB even though he is 188-190 cm.

McAsey and Butts can rotate that full back spot and play 8-12 games each.

Yes Laird has played most of his career as a defender on a back flank.

The crows do have a lot of medium sized and small defenders.

Seedman is a weird one as he can play on a forward flank too. So I think losing Tom lynch to retirement in 2021 wont be a body blow to the crows.

I do rate Milera. Yes he does play on a Wing and forward flanks too. He too would make sure there's competition for a wing and forward flank spot. Brayden cook and Stengle and Shane McAdam are similar players as well.


But with Laird. He needs to think about his career. Is he willing to see the crows finish 2-3 years in the bottom 6 or look at a Victorian club and play finals?

Daniel Talia will be thinking the same thing too.

Saying that...... Even if Talia and Laird are not at the crows in 2022, I still don't see the crows getting the spoon.
 

The Rocks

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Laird formed an on-ball starting 3 with Matt, Brad and Sloane when the last two missed chunks of the year. Lairdy now becomes a full time onballer imo. Especially with McPherson looking good and Smith needs to stay HB. He won't be a FA come October but I think M Crouch might

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Laird formed an on-ball starting 3 with Matt, Brad and Sloane when the last two missed chunks of the year. Lairdy now becomes a full time onballer imo. Especially with McPherson looking good and Smith needs to stay HB. He won't be a FA come October but I think M Crouch might

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Matt Crouch is currently negotiating a contract extension...
 
Seems like a reasonable chance to leave given his age and Adelaide's current status.

He'll be 28 come R1 2022. Surely four or five years elsewhere would appeal.
Loves the club, so think he would prefer to stay... but has a Melbourne girlfriend....
 
Dec 20, 2014
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Who's going to offer Laird 5 years at 28?
It would mean he is 32 for his last year of the deal. Is that really so outlandish?

If he finishes playing across HB, guys can be AA in that position at that age. Shannon Hurn, for example.

Four years may be more likely but five years is hardly out of the question if someone wants him and the fourth and fifth years are on a lower wage than the first three years. It depends if he wants the extra year for security or more money per season in a shorter deal.

If someone is willing to offer $3 million over four years, it's not that much of a leap to offer $3.5 million over five. Or something like that.

Loves the club, so think he would prefer to stay... but has a Melbourne girlfriend....
Are Adelaide going to contend before he retires?
 
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It would mean he is 32 for his last year of the deal. Is that really so outlandish?

If he finishes playing across HB, guys can be AA in that position at that age. Shannon Hurn, for example.

Four years may be more likely but five years is hardly out of the question if someone wants him and the fourth and fifth years are on a lower wage than the first three years. It depends if he wants the extra year for security or more money per season in a shorter deal.

Are Adelaide going to contend before he retires?
Hopefully.

He is only 26.
 
Dec 20, 2014
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Hopefully.

He is only 26.
He turns 27 today actually, which means he'll be 28 by the time he plays a game under any new deal.

If Adelaide have a rough 2021, surely he'd be weighing the options for where he wants to spend the last years of his career.

What would you consider a reasonable compensation/trade for Laird at the end of next year? Bearing in mind he'll be 28 come R1 2022. Band 2 compensation as a FA or slightly better in a trade?
 
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Jul 6, 2017
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He turns 27 today actually, which means he'll be 28 by the time he plays a game under any new deal.

If Adelaide have a rough 2021, surely he'd be weighing the options for where he wants to spend the last years of his career.

What would you consider a reasonable compensation/trade for Laird at the end of next year? Bearing in mind he'll be 28 come R1 2022. Band 2 compensation as a FA or slightly better in a trade?
If he plays midfield all year and gets AA then a top end return but id rather keep him for his whole career as jettisoning all your better end mature age players can stuff the rebuild up
 
If he plays midfield all year and gets AA then a top end return but id rather keep him for his whole career as jettisoning all your better end mature age players can stuff the rebuild up
Rebuilds don't usually work if you jetsen all your players over 26.

Crows already effectively have the youngest list if you exclude Gibbs.

It's important we keep quality mid age to older players to lead the way.
 
Dec 20, 2014
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If he plays midfield all year and gets AA then a top end return but id rather keep him for his whole career as jettisoning all your better end mature age players can stuff the rebuild up
If he's an AA midfielder next year? What about if that wildly optimistic scenario doesn't occur?

That aside, if he wants out, it probably won't be your call whether he stays. Hence the question.

Ideally, you'd want Band 1 compensation but that may be unlikely given his age. Short of that, you're probably looking at Band 2 or slightly better via trade.
 
Dec 20, 2014
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Rebuilds don't usually work if you jetsen all your players over 26.

Crows already effectively have the youngest list if you exclude Gibbs.

It's important we keep quality mid age to older players to lead the way.
Tell it to free agency. Guys who are 27-28 at clubs down the bottom are duty-bound to consider their options.
 
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