Player Watch #9: Luke Davies-Uniacke [Part II] - '24 SBM - [AFL.com] NM have a "7yr deal worth $8-9m" in front of LDU'

[shinboner spiggs]

He’s on the precipice of becoming a career ‘loser’.

That simply can’t happen.

We can’t destroy our best midfielder.

However, it would be very on brand for this club.

I hear this about him and just think the narrative needs to shift. The way he plays is that of someone who is the finishing touches, cherry on top of the cake type of player. In 2 years, Sheezel and Wardlaw have shown that much more “cake” than LDU ever has.

He’s a nice player, he does very eye catching things. Occasionally, he’ll put it all together and have a great game. Against the other top line midfielders he really falls behind in consistency and bringing others in the game. But he is what he is, and it won’t drag us up the ladder. We need to wait for the fully fit Wardlaw and Sheez just being Sheez.

 

[zoomba23]

That simply can’t happen.

We can’t destroy our best midfielder.

However, it would be very on brand for this club.

You go very easy on him. I understand he has points in the bank but for a guy as talented as he is, he doesn't seem to like taking initiative. Why is a 19 year old's presence necessary for him to flourish? Why can't he look within himself and pull out the brilliance when the momentum is against him?

 

[Spud11]

He’d be the best player in the competition if surrounded by better players at literally almost any other club in the comp.

Thanks Luke, all the best. Don’t blame you if you go.

 

[Roosurgence]

Don't give him a free pass. He was incredibly poor today, barely won any contested possession to my eye.

Looked like things weren’t going his way and he flew the white flag.

There was a contest in the centre in the second half where he just threw an arm out instead of working hard to try and win it.

The whole side out there today looked someone had just kicked their dog. Poor body language all over the place.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

You go very easy on him. I understand he has points in the bank but for a guy as talented as he is, he doesn't seem to like taking initiative. Why is a 19 year old's presence necessary for him to flourish? Why can't he look within himself and pull out the brilliance when the momentum is against him?

Because no player in the league can flourish as the only AFL standard mid.

Look at the difference.

Bont, Treloar, Liberetore

LDU, Powell, Simpkin. Wardlaw is still a child and Sheezel wasn’t there.

 

[zoomba23]

Because no player in the league can flourish as the only AFL standard mid.

Look at the difference.

Bont, Treloar, Liberetore

LDU, Powell, Simpkin. Wardlaw is still a child and Sheezel wasn’t there.

That's fine, but he barely showed a hint of the drive today. He's a better player than Liberatore and Treloar. But he seemed to be playing with a resigned reservedness.

Cripps has tried to, and sometimes succeeded, in dragging his team of victims back in on a multitude of occasions. I don't see why LDU can't try the same. Back against the wall, show us what you have.

It's the mental signs and the body language that get me. Let your frustration out afterwards, sure, but while the game's going on, do everything in your power to help your team. I didn't see that from him. But I believe it's in him somewhere. He thinks his limits are more restrictive than what they actually are

 

[Ruckle]

I hear this about him and just think the narrative needs to shift. The way he plays is that of someone who is the finishing touches, cherry on top of the cake type of player. In 2 years, Sheezel and Wardlaw have shown that much more “cake” than LDU ever has.

He’s a nice player, he does very eye catching things. Occasionally, he’ll put it all together and have a great game. Against the other top line midfielders he really falls behind in consistency and bringing others in the game. But he is what he is, and it won’t drag us up the ladder. We need to wait for the fully fit Wardlaw and Sheez just being Sheez.

Is down hill skier the term you are reaching for?

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

That's fine, but he barely showed a hint of the drive today. He's a better player than Liberatore and Treloar. But he seemed to be playing with a resigned reservedness.

Cripps has tried to, and sometimes succeeded, in dragging his team of victims back in on a multitude of occasions. I don't see why LDU can't try the same. Back against the wall, show us what you have.

It's the mental signs and the body language that get me. Let your frustration out afterwards, sure, but while the game's going on, do everything in your power to help your team. I didn't see that from him. But I believe it's in him somewhere. He thinks his limits are more restrictive than what they actually are

Cripps also has mature, solid midfielders alongside him.

Simpkin is flaming hot dog vomit currently and the others just aren’t mature enough to take up any of the slack.

LDU would be the only guy the opposition would give any time to.

A bit like Larkey up forward.

 

[zoomba23]

Cripps also has mature, solid midfielders alongside him.

Simpkin is flaming hot dog vomit currently and the others just aren’t mature enough to take up any of the slack.

LDU would be the only guy the opposition would give any time to.

A bit like Larkey up forward.

He didn't in much of the first half of his career. It was him and then a bunch of detritus of varying flavours of shit. Anyway, we are where we are, and it's probably an indictment on the rest of the team that I'm demanding more from him even after he gave more than most of his mates. I maintain that he isn't a pure victim of his situation though, and shouldn't be treated as such

 

[DocSholl]

Ah we're back to canning him again. It's a vicious cycle

 

[zoomba23]

Ah we're back to canning him again. It's a vicious cycle

It's not canning, it's just questioning why a teenager is better at pushing against tides of momentum than him. He could so easily be our best player if he gritted his teeth and fought the seemingly futile fight tooth and nail the way Sheezel does

 

[Carey4life]

Ah we're back to canning him again. It's a vicious cycle

Incredible, isn't it. He's one of the best in the AFL and has worked harder defensively this year as well.

One bad week in a team with no support and we're off the wagon.

I love him. My only request is Clarko says anything you're within 55m his first reaction should be kick for goals.

 

[trooroo4life]

That's fine, but he barely showed a hint of the drive today. He's a better player than Liberatore and Treloar. But he seemed to be playing with a resigned reservedness.

He played like a bloke that was left to do too much single handedly. He had 4 of our 8 centre clearances. If he had anyone giving him a chop out today his game looks a lot better than what it did.

Some of his chase attempts were poor and not that it’s an excuse but he was really frustrated, I don’t think I’ve seen him throw his hands up at teammates errors like I did today. But he had 30 @73% - 4 tackles - 6 clearances he just needed a couple of mates, and none were there to give him a chop out.

 

[rickety]

The look of exasperation when George, who was running beside him, missed him with a 2 yard handball.

 

[zoomba23]

He played like a bloke that was left to do too much single handedly. He had 4 of our 8 centre clearances. If he had anyone giving him a chop out today his game looks a lot better than what it did.

Some of his chase attempts were poor today, but he’s had 30 @73% - 4 tackles - 6 clearances. I’m not sure why he’s being singled out tbh, he needed a chop out and it never came.

I agree he had **** all support. The only reason I'm talking about him is cos of my initial reply to TPA, who talks about him like there's no further level he can go to, or no mental toughness that can be harnessed by him when things get rough. I think both can be true. LDU holds bugger all blame for the scoreline today, I just don't think he's as much a helpless victim of the North Melbourne culture as is implied sometimes

 

[DocSholl]

It's not canning, it's just questioning why a teenager is better at pushing against tides of momentum than him. He could so easily be our best player if he gritted his teeth and fought the seemingly futile fight tooth and nail the way Sheezel does

Yes the same criticisms that are levelled at him whenever the team isnt playing well (eg - pre-bye). Then when we are competitive and he has help he looks sensational and we all cream our pants.

 

[zoomba23]

Yes the same criticisms that are levelled at him whenever the team isnt playing well (eg - pre-bye). Then when we are competitive and he has help he looks sensational and we all cream our pants.

No one questions Sheezel's desire even even things are absolutely dire. Because he leaves absolutely everything out there and never gives up on a chase or a ball. I just think LDU has it in him to also be that kind of player. There was that U18s final where he basically single handedly closed down a 50pt deficit.

If he did become that player and we had an extra player whose hunger and desire and all that never wavered despite the scoreline. Imagine what that'd do for our floor. This club needs leaders who will drive themselves into the ground. No reservedness, no head dropping. Right now, it's a teenager who does that, and maybe Glenn's son too, though I'm not sure on his leadership capabilities

 

[gokangas]

Very ordinary game today but had plenty of mates.

 

[archereleven]

The usual culprits in here shitcanning our only elite midfielder who is surrounded by lemons and inexperience. The bloke who hires off-season fitness specialists to improve his running capabilities. The bloke who has clearly been more vocal this season and pushed himself to close the gap between his worst and best games.

The bloke who has had 5 coaches and endured the worst run of seasons in AFL history because another bloke at the club can't build an AFL quality list and give him support...

The only mid today Bevo put any time into was LDU. The others are simply not damaging enough or don't get it enough.

He has just turned 25. End of story.

On SM-G991B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Passmore]

Looked like things weren’t going his way and he flew the white flag.

There was a contest in the centre in the second half where he just threw an arm out instead of working hard to try and win it.

The whole side out there today looked someone had just kicked their dog. Poor body language all over the place.

Did it last week too.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Yes the same criticisms that are levelled at him whenever the team isnt playing well (eg - pre-bye). Then when we are competitive and he has help he looks sensational and we all cream our pants.

I defended him earlier in the year when I thought he was working hard defensively.
Thought he dropped his standards this week and didn't want to win the hard ball.
Maybe he's just a first receive player and not the one to win it in close.

 

[RossHenshaw]

LDU - Checked out
If I’m him .. this club is cursed & Horse shit
Get the heck out while u can

 

[Possession]

LDU - Checked out
If I’m him .. this club is cursed & Horse shit
Get the heck out while u can

Will you piss off, mate. Whinging meltdown every week.

 

[Mcarcherey]

ah yes, LDU is always the baby when it comes to this forum throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

same old norf bigfooty.

 

[travelli]

Cripps also has mature, solid midfielders alongside him.

Simpkin is flaming hot dog vomit currently and the others just aren’t mature enough to take up any of the slack.

LDU would be the only guy the opposition would give any time to.

A bit like Larkey up forward.

Could you imagine next week, hawks thinking about how they are going to stop simpkins clearance work? Lmacs drive out of defence? Teakles aerial capabilities in the forward line?

LDU was ordinary today, but was about the only bloke that could have made us competitive. We rely too much on too few.