Player Watch #9: Luke Davies-Uniacke [Part II] - '24 SBM - [Ch9] LDU's camp 'working hard to get a deal done'

[Mcarcherey]

I'm not saying he was terrible, if anything it's that he's being misused. I do think he needs to chase and apply more pressure but they've stitched him up a bit by making him big dog #1 in there when it seems like he's not physically ready.

He's the only one who can be the number 1....

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[Mcarcherey]

Has he torn up any game?

Like when I think of torn up a game I’m thinking a Carey or GAJ or Danger who can win a game of his own foot in a quarter?

A long time ago in after a Pies loss, Boomer was on radio talking about “when are these next level players going to take the next step?”

There’s undeniable potential there to tear games apart but sheesh getting to the point of “when”

If a few others stood up games last week against freo would be a game he tore apart. He was huge when North were piling in goals and still good for the rest of the game.

When we lose it's hard to see memorable individual moments.

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[Gasometer]

If a few others stood up games last week against freo would be a game he tore apart. He was huge when North were piling in goals and still good for the rest of the game.

When we lose it's hard to see memorable individual moments.

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That’s not the answer to the question

At all

Try again

 

[Mcarcherey]

That’s not the answer to the question

At all

Try again

Yes, a nuanced answer isn't what ppl want here. It's either crucify or put on a pedestal.

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[Gasometer]

Yes, a nuanced answer isn't what ppl want here. It's either crucify or put on a pedestal.

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Nup

We’ve had 25 years of nothing

Every player needs to be questioned whether they are here, there or nowhere

Time for him to go next level just like the rest

Sick of it

 

[Mcarcherey]

Nup

We’ve had 25 years of nothing

Every player needs to be questioned whether they are here, there or nowhere

Time for him to go next level just like the rest

Sick of it

You're emotional, I'll excuse your poor logic.

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[Gasometer]

You're emotional, I'll excuse your poor logic.

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Not all; better still put me on ignore

 

[Devington]

Nup

We’ve had 25 years of nothing

Every player needs to be questioned whether they are here, there or nowhere

Time for him to go next level just like the rest

Sick of it

Even if he doesn't take "the next step" he's still going to be one of our better players for the foreseeable future.

 

[Gasometer]

Even if he doesn't take "the next step" he's still going to be one of our better players for the foreseeable future.

Again, not querying that or his potential to be a better player

But we need elite

Petraca. Pendlebury. Danger. Etc etc

Every one of our mids (and players) need to tear games apart or we will be sitting here in 2050 lamenting potential

And worse

I will be 82 years ****ing old

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

Plenty of players have had to learn to adapt to a hard tag. Now it's LDU's turn. Not gonna shame him for this game.

He has been tagged plenty of times in his career and hasn't coped - let's not make it seem like this was the first time it has happened.

That said - he had quite a good second half and you could see he was really trying to get us going.

We need a big body mid in the middle to take the grunt and then use LDU as the second chain in the play to use his burst and stepping ability. The mid field overall has been ok - not great - but can still do better.

 

[archereleven]

That’s not the answer to the question

At all

Try again

Yes, he has torn up numerous games.

Off the top of my head, he had a game against Collingwood where he had 35 odd, 12 clearances, 12 inside 50s, 20 odd contested, and 9 tackles.

Wasn't good enough defensively though lol

Pretty sure he's had about 5 games where he has gotten the max coaches votes.

Edit: He is 24. Trac was 25 when he started smoking teams wasn't he?



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[7577969923]

We're working the wrong end of the shed if we're having a crack at this bloke.

Despite the heavy tag, he noticeably lifted in the third quarter.

Yes, he has torn up numerous games.

Off the top of my head, he had a game against Collingwood where he had 35 odd, 12 clearances, 12 inside 50s, 20 odd contested, and 9 tackles.

Wasn't good enough defensively though lol

Pretty sure he's had about 5 games where he has gotten the max coaches votes.

Edit: He is 24. Trac was 25 when he started smoking teams wasn't he?



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3 Brownlow votes 6 times! 21 votes in his last 20 games for which the votes are available!

 

[Devington]

He has been tagged plenty of times in his career and hasn't coped - let's not make it seem like this was the first time it has happened.

That said - he had quite a good second half and you could see he was really trying to get us going.

We need a big body mid in the middle to take the grunt and then use LDU as the second chain in the play to use his burst and stepping ability. The mid field overall has been ok - not great - but can still do better.

Yep, I don't think he's broken a hard tag yet. But it was the first time it was a hard tag this year, his team mates didn't really help, and he didn't give up once it loosened. There's some merit to the idea he might never be able to completely break a hard tag like most champion mids have been able to, and as a result might never take the next step, I just happen to think even if that is the case he's probably an A- player (he'll get tagged more if they know it works) who occasionally manages a blinder a couple times a year when the stars align. Of course all that changes if we get another super threat in the middle with him (thanks TT...)

Now all that said, there's some obvious improvements he can still make that don't directly involve breaking a tag. His forward craft could use some work, (that way we can effectively park him down there if they tag him), his defensive efforts outside the contest could use a whole heap of work, and a spark of occasional mongrel wouldn't go astray.

I just can't be f'd seeing LDU himself as a problem right now (beyond saying he really does need to do better with his pressure and chasing against the transition). The midfield has bigger issues, and addressing them will help him anyway.

 

[Gasometer]

Yep, I don't think he's broken a hard tag yet. But it was the first time it was a hard tag this year, his team mates didn't really help, and he didn't give up once it loosened. There's some merit to the idea he might never be able to completely break a hard tag like most champion mids have been able to, and as a result might never take the next step, I just happen to think even if that is the case he's probably an A- player (he'll get tagged more if they know it works) who occasionally manages a blinder a couple times a year when the stars align. Of course all that changes if we get another super threat in the middle with him (thanks TT...)

Now all that said, there's some obvious improvements he can still make that don't directly involve breaking a tag. His forward craft could use some work, (that way we can effectively park him down there if they tag him), his defensive efforts outside the contest could use a whole heap of work, and a spark of occasional mongrel wouldn't go astray.

I just can't be f'd seeing LDU himself as a problem right now (beyond saying he really does need to do better with his pressure and chasing against the transition). The midfield has bigger issues, and addressing them will help him anyway.

Omg yes

 

[archereleven]

Yep, I don't think he's broken a hard tag yet. But it was the first time it was a hard tag this year, his team mates didn't really help, and he didn't give up once it loosened. There's some merit to the idea he might never be able to completely break a hard tag like most champion mids have been able to, and as a result might never take the next step, I just happen to think even if that is the case he's probably an A- player (he'll get tagged more if they know it works) who occasionally manages a blinder a couple times a year when the stars align. Of course all that changes if we get another super threat in the middle with him (thanks TT...)

Now all that said, there's some obvious improvements he can still make that don't directly involve breaking a tag. His forward craft could use some work, (that way we can effectively park him down there if they tag him), his defensive efforts outside the contest could use a whole heap of work, and a spark of occasional mongrel wouldn't go astray.

I just can't be f'd seeing LDU himself as a problem right now (beyond saying he really does need to do better with his pressure and chasing against the transition). The midfield has bigger issues, and addressing them will help him anyway.

Agree with most of your post, especially the forward craft. He showed great signs early in his career as he is fairly strong overhead and can take a grab. Goal kicking has always been disappointing.

Working through tags comes with age and experience, and he almost has the core strength and tank to go with his athleticism and power. He needs a chop out in there but is working with inexperienced kids.

Disagree on the defensive application. He is a forward of centre mid that tackles and pressures within his vicinity very well. He isn't lazy, and he sure as shit shouldn't be wasting energy chasing bodies he won't catch.

Petracca has Clarry and Viney at centre bounces, both high octane, both very good defensively. LDU has a 10 game George and an offence only (at this point) Powell.

We need an in and under specialist to shovel it out to him. His explosive power and hands are what make him such a dangerous clearance player, and when given time, he can be a lovely kick inside 50.

12 career wins in 80 odd games is pretty ****ing demoralising too...





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[King Corey]

Needs a secondary position imo. Not sure where though maybe halfback.

We need a break glass option when he's getting manhandled. He has the attributes that would suggest a good resting forward but just don't see it unlike Cunnington who could go down there and be a legitimate handful.

 

[Devil Fish]

Again, not querying that or his potential to be a better player

But we need elite

Petraca. Pendlebury. Danger. Etc etc

Every one of our mids (and players) need to tear games apart or we will be sitting here in 2050 lamenting potential

And worse

I will be 82 years ******* old

100%. Without a handful of A Grade footballers, making the Top 4 is nigh on impossible. Sick of NMFC being a haven for "role players" "handy half forwards" "top blokes" "hard at it mids" etc.

The simple question to ask ourselves, is how many players in our Top 22 would get a game for a Top 4 side?
Answer: Larkey - yes, LDU & Sheezel probably.

 

[Makeshift Park]

The simple question to ask ourselves, is how many players in our Top 22 would get a game for a Top 4 side?
Answer: Larkey - yes, LDU & Sheezel probably.

Frampton
Markov
Parfitt
Bews
Tom McDonald
Harmes
Castagna

Just a handful of players who’ve won premiership medals over the past few years.
None of whom would make the top dozen players on our list.

 

[Engimal v3]

Needs a secondary position imo. Not sure where though maybe halfback.

We need a break glass option when he's getting manhandled. He has the attributes that would suggest a good resting forward but just don't see it unlike Cunnington who could go down there and be a legitimate handful.

Yep, it simply can't be the case that they get a hold of LDU and then we're out of the game for 2 quarters.

 

[hilly]

100%. Without a handful of A Grade footballers, making the Top 4 is nigh on impossible. Sick of NMFC being a haven for "role players" "handy half forwards" "top blokes" "hard at it mids" etc.

The simple question to ask ourselves, is how many players in our Top 22 would get a game for a Top 4 side?
Answer: Larkey - yes, LDU & Sheezel probably.

Sheezel would probably get a game for Brisbane?! They roll out Jack Payne ffs.

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[Zondor]

Sheezel would probably get a game for Brisbane?! They roll out Jack Payne ffs.

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The Fish did post “probably”. :smirk look

 

[Themanbun]

Needs a secondary position imo. Not sure where though maybe halfback.

We need a break glass option when he's getting manhandled. He has the attributes that would suggest a good resting forward but just don't see it unlike Cunnington who could go down there and be a legitimate handful.

I actually thought he fought through the tag very well. He was getting manhandled at first possession but still managed to win it a lot.

The main problem with how he deals with the tag is that elite runners are instructed to burn him the other way. So instead of him breaking tackles and running and carrying, we get a hard fought short handball from him, but still plenty of them. The issue is his opponent getting lots of space when we turn it over.

 

[muttley45]

Did anyone see the vision of Rowbottom shown the other night ? there is a perfect example of a midfielder showing effort, intensity, repeat efforts etc, etc, a very under rated player imo.

 

[DocSholl]

Did anyone see the vision of Rowbottom shown the other night ? there is a perfect example of a midfielder showing effort, intensity, repeat efforts etc, etc, a very under rated player imo.

Not sure what a role-playing midfielder has to do with someone like LDU?

 

[Horizons_00]

Did anyone see the vision of Rowbottom shown the other night ? there is a perfect example of a midfielder showing effort, intensity, repeat efforts etc, etc, a very under rated player imo.

Not sure why LDU is just coasting along

But he needs to learn how to shake a tag, because he is getting soooo much attention this year. We need to find a way to support him