AFL Player #15: Jayden Laverde - Married in February & November - 4/11

[Beerfish]

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent 2025
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 7, Nuggs Bunny

 

[Hak94]

Strange that there would be a trigger which is for such a low amount of games.

I wouldn't have thought that at the end of 2020 we'd have been that keen to commit a list spot in way that was a bit beyond our control.

Makes sense for him, considering how plagued with injuries he has been. The club really wanted him to show him faith/give him a chance to prove he was worth what they saw in him when they drafted him. The fact he is close to hitting his trigger, not just on playing games but actually playing games in a position he has made his own really says something. Truly one of the feel good stories of 2021 for Essendon.

 

[Yoda_]

No surprise to see him play well,

A huge surprise he hasn’t missed a game


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

Essendon full back of the century

 

[BomberFan355]

That mark!

 

[Hak94]

That mark!

That MARK was *chef kiss*

 

[Red Black and Blue]

So bizarre how he never attacked contests like that up forward. He’s a star.

 

[ghostdog]

So bizarre how he never attacked contests like that up forward. He’s a star.

I reckon there were games when he definitely attacked the ball with that intensity forward, but yeah, he's more suited as a backman. Looks very accomplished, arguably better than Ridley recently. Perhaps concussion has played its part, but he's looked powerful and composed none-the-less.

 

[BrunoV]

It probably didn't cost us anything but I thought keeping Ridley on Green was a mistake. You gotta go with Toby for body strength. It should have been Laverde.

As for Laverde, he maintained the same level of defending today. Looks fantastic. Was shithouse by foot and generally hasn't looked to do enough with the ball.

Honeymoon period is over.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

It probably didn't cost us anything but I thought keeping Ridley on Green was a mistake. You gotta go with Toby for body strength. It should have been Laverde.

As for Laverde, he maintained the same level of defending today. Looks fantastic. Was shithouse by foot and generally hasn't looked to do enough with the ball.

Honeymoon period is over.

He was okay by foot. Shit one early where he kicked into Taranto, who the umpire should have been telling to get out of the area.

 

[DeezNuts]

It probably didn't cost us anything but I thought keeping Ridley on Green was a mistake. You gotta go with Toby for body strength. It should have been Laverde.

As for Laverde, he maintained the same level of defending today. Looks fantastic. Was shithouse by foot and generally hasn't looked to do enough with the ball.

Honeymoon period is over.

Yeah Toby killed Ridley today, he seems to struggle on the elite players

Not a knock on him but hes a gun when he doesn’t have to be accountable

 

[Old Campaigner]

anyone have a video of the mark?

 

[Vander18]

It probably didn't cost us anything but I thought keeping Ridley on Green was a mistake. You gotta go with Toby for body strength. It should have been Laverde.

As for Laverde, he maintained the same level of defending today. Looks fantastic. Was shithouse by foot and generally hasn't looked to do enough with the ball.

Honeymoon period is over.

Lav was the right match up but wonder if they are trying to develop this part of Ridley’s game. If that was the idea then I’m ok with it.

If it wasn’t then they got it all sorts of wrong.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Has been great in defence this year. Just about saved his career. Needs to tidy up his disposal but I can't knock him for effort or physicality. Good stuff.

 

[citizen-erased]

forget the extra year trigger.
give him 3.
quality defender.

 

[ant555]

It probably didn't cost us anything but I thought keeping Ridley on Green was a mistake. You gotta go with Toby for body strength. It should have been Laverde.

As for Laverde, he maintained the same level of defending today. Looks fantastic. Was shithouse by foot and generally hasn't looked to do enough with the ball.

Honeymoon period is over.

Agree 100%. I thought Ridley was not the match for Green as if there is a weakness in Ridley's game it is actual defending. Was thinking Laverde would have been the better match up as he plays a lot tighter and is a bit stronger.

Did manage to butcher a few as you mentioned. Has gone from a player I was happy to delist because of his injury history to be one with what looks like a decent career in defense.

 

[NAB777]

Agree 100%. I thought Ridley was not the match for Green as if there is a weakness in Ridley's game it is actual defending. Was thinking Laverde would have been the better match up as he plays a lot tighter and is a bit stronger.

Did manage to butcher a few as you mentioned. Has gone from a player I was happy to delist because of his injury history to be one with what looks like a decent career in defense.

He's the new Liam Jones

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Another impressive game.

 

[BrunoV]

Dare I suggest he should have a bash in the middle now that Stringer is out? Possibly even to run with Fyfe mainly to follow him into defence (with Perkins to assume the midfield time).

Maybe I can't let go of the dream but I'm also of the view that what we're seeing with Laverde isn't just about being comfortable in defence. He's playing his role to a level that is as good as anyone (give or take a few skill errors).

There is a much less rounded version of what he is doing that would have had everyone just as happy (e.g. just intercepting or just wearing an opponent).

I look at his time in defence as like a recircuiting of his footy brain which had become so muddled from 2017 to 2019 that he struggled to do simple things like taking advantage of his physical gifts.

It's probably a bit early in the resurrection on paper but we should be considering it.

 

[eth-dog]

Dare I suggest he should have a bash in the middle now that Stringer is out? Possibly even to run with Fyfe mainly to follow him into defence (with Perkins to assume the midfield time).

Maybe I can't let go of the dream but I'm also of the view that what we're seeing with Laverde isn't just about being comfortable in defence. He's playing his role to a level that is as good as anyone (give or take a few skill errors).

There is a much less rounded version of what he is doing that would have had everyone just as happy (e.g. just intercepting or just wearing an opponent).

I look at his time in defence as like a recircuiting of his footy brain which had become so muddled from 2017 to 2019 that he struggled to do simple things like taking advantage of his physical gifts.

It's probably a bit early in the resurrection on paper but we should be considering it.

That is exactly it.

 

[Zach Package]

Looks too good with the game unfolding in front of him, I’d be loathe to change anything

 

[Hak94]

Dare I suggest he should have a bash in the middle now that Stringer is out? Possibly even to run with Fyfe mainly to follow him into defence (with Perkins to assume the midfield time).

Maybe I can't let go of the dream but I'm also of the view that what we're seeing with Laverde isn't just about being comfortable in defence. He's playing his role to a level that is as good as anyone (give or take a few skill errors).

There is a much less rounded version of what he is doing that would have had everyone just as happy (e.g. just intercepting or just wearing an opponent).

I look at his time in defence as like a recircuiting of his footy brain which had become so muddled from 2017 to 2019 that he struggled to do simple things like taking advantage of his physical gifts.

It's probably a bit early in the resurrection on paper but we should be considering it.

Don't think they'll want to shift him now, given his form is improving by the week and a shift would likely detract from his progression. Like the out of the box thinking though.

 

[faible]

Agree 100%. I thought Ridley was not the match for Green as if there is a weakness in Ridley's game it is actual defending. Was thinking Laverde would have been the better match up as he plays a lot tighter and is a bit stronger.

Did manage to butcher a few as you mentioned. Has gone from a player I was happy to delist because of his injury history to be one with what looks like a decent career in defense.

On the eye test Laverde is quicker too, Ridley didn't look quite quick enough to stay with Greene.

 

[Foxx]

Shame he can't kick for nuts.

 

[Mercurial89]

Dare I suggest he should have a bash in the middle now that Stringer is out? Possibly even to run with Fyfe mainly to follow him into defence (with Perkins to assume the midfield time).

Maybe I can't let go of the dream but I'm also of the view that what we're seeing with Laverde isn't just about being comfortable in defence. He's playing his role to a level that is as good as anyone (give or take a few skill errors).

There is a much less rounded version of what he is doing that would have had everyone just as happy (e.g. just intercepting or just wearing an opponent).

I look at his time in defence as like a recircuiting of his footy brain which had become so muddled from 2017 to 2019 that he struggled to do simple things like taking advantage of his physical gifts.

It's probably a bit early in the resurrection on paper but we should be considering it.

I'd be using him on the stars that are drifting forward and getting lost in traffic.
Stick him on Martin, Fyfe types and get him to follow them.
I'm thinking the Hibberd type role from when Melbourne played Richmond.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Dare I suggest he should have a bash in the middle now that Stringer is out? Possibly even to run with Fyfe mainly to follow him into defence (with Perkins to assume the midfield time).

Maybe I can't let go of the dream but I'm also of the view that what we're seeing with Laverde isn't just about being comfortable in defence. He's playing his role to a level that is as good as anyone (give or take a few skill errors).

There is a much less rounded version of what he is doing that would have had everyone just as happy (e.g. just intercepting or just wearing an opponent).

I look at his time in defence as like a recircuiting of his footy brain which had become so muddled from 2017 to 2019 that he struggled to do simple things like taking advantage of his physical gifts.

It's probably a bit early in the resurrection on paper but we should be considering it.

There's a time for this experiment - but it isn't now.

The biggest "midfield" trait that stands out for Laverde is his ability to take contact, stand and find a target by hand. He's genuinely strong and poised in that part of the game. And he's the size of the swans Kennedy or Jobe - would be very appealing if it worked. But not sure how well he can cover the ground and accumulate, and some question marks on his field kicking in a midfield that already lacks that skillset.

But zooming out, he's had 6 injury riddled years and is just finding a niche. Letting him just get some consistent football in is more important than the experiment I reckon.