AFL Player #15: Jayden Laverde

[Beerfish]

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

 

[Bombers1234]

Fantastic news.

 

[ghostdog]

Well earned, Jayden, and good to put the injury demons to rest.

Became the defender we hoped Francis would be.

 

[VelvetSledge]

If you had told me he’d be our full back and one of the better defenders going around, signing a 3 year deal, a few years ago

I would have been very confused.

Ecstatic with this news

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Good story, well done.

I still have him pegged as the big bodied mid we need though

 

[eth-dog]

Great news! Means he'll still be restricted then (assuming he's in the top 25% of wage earners on the list)

 

[FlyingV]

Our aspiring big bodied mid, who got played as a half forward is now our long term full back! Classic bombers. Go Jayden you mad dog

 

[BrunoV]

Will be interesting to see how his career evolves over what is essentially the next 4 years.

I feel there is another twist in this story. Not sure what but I don't see him playing as a key defender by 2024.

 

[ant555]

Will be interesting to see how his career evolves over what is essentially the next 4 years.

I feel there is another twist in this story. Not sure what but I don't see him playing as a key defender by 2024.

Half back flank

 

[Zach Package]

Amazing how he can finally get his body right and pan out but pan out to be something completely different than what we anticipated.

I love him to pieces, fair old chance he captains the club one day IMO.

 

[naraku]

Very pleased for Jayden. He must of been close to getting his papers stamped a couple of years ago since he couldn't stay on the field.
Again, very pleased for him.

 

[Vander18]

There is a lesson here - every talented but inconsistent/injury prone forward should be trialled in defence before being discarded!

The blokes career was on a knife edge and now he’s first picked every week. Has been an absolute warrior in defence. Good on him.

 

[Seb78]

Quite surprised this guy is listed at 193cm. Could've sworn in his draft year he was listed around 189cm.
Gives me hope Ben Hobbs might still grow a cm or 2. Get him to that 185/6cm mark.

 

[Ambrosia]

Isn’t the long term answer. Sick of us stacking the backline with guys who can’t kick.

 

[eth-dog]

Guy isn't a key defender. Stop playing him as one.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Guy isn't a key defender. Stop playing him as one.

He’s a good defender and we don’t have much else at the moment

 

[eth-dog]

He’s a good defender and we don’t have much else at the moment

We had 7 genuine KPP's line up in the VFL today.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

We had 7 genuine KPP's line up in the VFL today.

They’re not ready that’s why they’re in the seconds. Where were you last season when he was having a good year? Name the seven who should be picked in front of him?

 

[eth-dog]

They’re not ready that’s why they’re in the seconds. Where were you last season when he was having a good year? Name the seven who should be picked in front of him?

I was saying that he was having a good year. I'm not saying he should be dropped, I'm saying he shouldn't have to play on genuine talls like Taberner. I've been talking about it since last year too.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

I was saying that he was having a good year. I'm not saying he should be dropped, I'm saying he shouldn't have to play on genuine talls like Taberner. I've been talking about it since last year too.

Maybe but you were implying we had options in seconds but they conceded 20+ goals and certainly no one in defence stood out. Just got to be patient with the younger talls. If Zerk took Taberner today then Freo would’ve gone to Lobb who’s too tall for Laverde

 

[Ambrosia]

I was saying that he was having a good year. I'm not saying he should be dropped, I'm saying he shouldn't have to play on genuine talls like Taberner. I've been talking about it since last year too.

Where does he play if not as a KPP?

Jake Kelly role?

 

[eth-dog]

Where does he play if not as a KPP?

Jake Kelly role?

Play on mediums. Kelly plays on smalls.

 

[Ambrosia]

Maybe but you were implying we had options in seconds but they conceded 20+ goals and certainly no one in defence stood out. Just got to be patient with the younger talls. If Zerk took Taberner today then Freo would’ve gone to Lobb who’s too tall for Laverde

Our defenders contested defensive ability isn’t the main reason we are conceding big scores.

We are close to the worst team in the comp at defending the ground when the opposition have the ball.

 

[Ambrosia]

Play on mediums. Kelly plays on smalls.

Really don’t think filling the backline with crabs who can’t kick and make slow decisions will take us anywhere.

Look at Melbournes backline May, Lever, Rivers, Bowey and Salem are all good ball users who are willing to take the game on ball in hand.

 

[nipst@r]

Maybe but you were implying we had options in seconds but they conceded 20+ goals and certainly no one in defence stood out. Just got to be patient with the younger talls. If Zerk took Taberner today then Freo would’ve gone to Lobb who’s too tall for Laverde

That bs I think. Laverde 193, Ridley is 195, zerk 195 and lobb 197. So ridley could have moved onto lobb if laverde truly was to small. We had a player kick 7 and didnt back zerk or ridley to make any difference. Zerk to taberner, ridley to lobb? laverder intercept play on the meduim. If zerk isnt rated to make the change I think we cut out losses and play reid for rest of the year. Did enough in the VFL to show signs of his class and maybe be the key defender we lack.

 

[The Prosecutor]

Lav should be the third KPD.

We need to develop Cox & Reid to be the key pillars in defence.