- Oct 16, 2011
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I watched the replay of the Showdown so it ended just in time for me to watch the Freo game. It was a good way to spend an Easter Saturday
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AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Review Good vs Carlton, R5 2023
- Thread starter Scorpus
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- Jul 22, 2016
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Don't always agree with you on some others but completely on Murphy's smothering efforts, lifting for us, deflating for opposition and sets a standard about effort.
- Jul 22, 2016
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Laird to Dawson to whoever he wants to lace out...
Nice see Izak right up there too.
Nice see Izak right up there too.
Southerntakeover
Too Sweet
Imo there's little doubt we'd win those games with him played in middle.
We were self handicapping ourselves out of a genuinely elite midfielder.
Southerntakeover
Too Sweet
Was thinking they watching the game. He's a much better player when his first instinct is to give to Dawson, rather than one-twos with Matt Crouch before a rain maker bomb in.
- Jul 22, 2016
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Laird is a very good mid himself, especially at finding the ball first but having a seriously elite ball user by foot right there will only help him.
Like many others in our team right now, he’s looking a lot better when he’s not forced to be doing as much
Southerntakeover
Too Sweet
He's fine as a number two, or preferably number three. Forcing him to play as number one was the difficulty. He was trying to do things outside his capabilities.
Letting Dawson, Rachelle et al be the deliverers while he does blue collar work is ideal.
- Jul 22, 2016
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I reckon you are harsh on him to be honest , Laird and Tex in particular carried us to more wins than we'd have achieved otherwise. Bigger issue for Laird was just lack of support, don't think any mid in the comp can carry their team to wins week in week out.
Southerntakeover
Too Sweet
Nah, not really, I just don't think he's a league elite.
He embodies a lot of what our club over prioritised for too long: blue collar trying over talent. Those players are fine, often they can be very good. But their best use is to support the real stars.
The problem is when the player, and the club, starts thinking that they are the stars. Because then you don't look to upgrade and do crazy things like play Dawson in a back pocket.
His field kicking has been a lot better, looks more for the low pass instead of the moon kick which makes him involve in these scoring chain. If he can continue to do this he will definitely go from a solid B+ to A grader and if Dawson can continue his trajectory he will go from A grader to elite.
TheRankineFile
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- Apr 9, 2023
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I'm not sure how official those ratings are. Will take two B+. Much like my shitty report card.
Doubling down I see....SMH. Like I said, Laird was rated as a top 50 players in the AFL (hardly a "C grader"
) and overwhelming underrated, I guess you know more than them.....lol.You just need to know some basic football knowledge.....
Yeah, he’s incredible at the blue collar stuff, has neat disposal in space, and has even started to push forward more in recent times. He needs to consistently be the #1 in the clearance chain though, giving it out to our elite users in Dawson and Rash. In the past, he’s either had to give it out to Keays or Crouch, or do the job all by himself
He’s an A grade player for what he provides, not what I’d call an elite midfielder but a very, very good one. Most importantly, his player type is much, much needed for a talented midfield to succeed
TheRankineFile
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- Apr 9, 2023
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You just need to know some basic football knowledge.....
Yes, not everyone on here can have a scientician's degree in footyball.
Southerntakeover
Too Sweet
You weren't prepared to call him an a grader, so shut up coward.Doubling down I see....SMH. Like I said, Laird was rated as a top 50 players in the AFL (hardly a "C grader"
What? I've always said he was a B+ grader but will go to A grader if he can continue to show those effective kicking he did in the preseason.
Southerntakeover
Too Sweet
You're calling him a b grader but having tantrums about others not rating him. YOU don't rate him.
Pluses aren't real. Your teachers were just trying to make you feel better about not coming up to standard. 'Nearly there this time dumb dumb'.
B+ grader means very close to being an A grader (just need to work on less moon kicks)
Southerntakeover
Too Sweet
The difficulty in the whole grade things is people are often discussing different things. A grade means kind of good, not one of the leagues very best etc.
He's good in this role. He's just not the guy you should build your midfield around.
The difference between A Graders and not is the contrast that Dawson shows us. It's obvious he's on another level and has elevated the whole team. There's nothing wrong or offensive about understanding that, or understanding that it's those guys you should build your premiership assaults around. Laird can be very useful to us if his job is to help the potential elites shine. I've no issue with that- but to do that you need to understand that he's not one.
Southerntakeover
Too Sweet
B+ grader means very close to being an A grader (just need to work on less moon kicks)
Imagine thinking Rory Laird isn't an A grader.
TheRankineFile
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- Apr 9, 2023
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Well, he certainly isn't a C grader. A few posters have admitted they've made wrong calls in the pass few weeks but you seem to double down which says more about you as a "supporter" I guess but then you did create that infamous thread which attracted all the Port Power and GCS nuffties lol. Anyway, Sholl has worked on his toughness around the contest and Laird on his moon kicks so are you now seeing Nicks can also coach like I've been telling you......
If Doedee decides to sleep on Danger's spare bed, does Worrell take his place? Is Tom keeping him out, and what does this Redmond guy from the bombers give us that Tom or Worrell doesn't?
