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

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because we did a shit trade tonight?

A combination of factors.

Had heard rumblings a few weeks back that the club felt the LDU negotiations should be more advanced than they were. Didn't think much of it. Have liked people such as Watt being steadfast that LDU would be staying.

But then in talking with a mate tonight who used to work at the club and is still plugged in, he was saying that Brady loves first round picks. He doesn't think there's any chance Brady would go into a draft without one.

We were both concerned that the trade of our F1 at what seems like the 11th hour could be an indicator the club is preparing to lose LDU but get 2025 1st round picks back in return.

None of this is concrete and I'm not claiming it to be. Just saying... I have concerns.
 
A combination of factors.

Had heard rumblings a few weeks back that the club felt the LDU negotiations should be more advanced than they were. Didn't think much of it. Have liked people such as Watt being steadfast that LDU would be staying.

But then in talking with a mate tonight who used to work at the club and is still plugged in, he was saying that Brady loves first round picks. He doesn't think there's any chance Brady would go into a draft without one.

We were both concerned that the trade of our F1 at what seems like the 11th hour could be an indicator the club is preparing to lose LDU but get 2025 1st round picks back in return.

None of this is concrete and I'm not claiming it to be. Just saying... I have concerns.
LDU pretty much guaranteed to sign on this week now.
Cheers mate!
 
A combination of factors.

Had heard rumblings a few weeks back that the club felt the LDU negotiations should be more advanced than they were. Didn't think much of it. Have liked people such as Watt being steadfast that LDU would be staying.

But then in talking with a mate tonight who used to work at the club and is still plugged in, he was saying that Brady loves first round picks. He doesn't think there's any chance Brady would go into a draft without one.

We were both concerned that the trade of our F1 at what seems like the 11th hour could be an indicator the club is preparing to lose LDU but get 2025 1st round picks back in return.

None of this is concrete and I'm not claiming it to be. Just saying... I have concerns.
Bobs Burgers Straws GIF
 
A combination of factors.

Had heard rumblings a few weeks back that the club felt the LDU negotiations should be more advanced than they were. Didn't think much of it. Have liked people such as Watt being steadfast that LDU would be staying.

But then in talking with a mate tonight who used to work at the club and is still plugged in, he was saying that Brady loves first round picks. He doesn't think there's any chance Brady would go into a draft without one.

We were both concerned that the trade of our F1 at what seems like the 11th hour could be an indicator the club is preparing to lose LDU but get 2025 1st round picks back in return.

None of this is concrete and I'm not claiming it to be. Just saying... I have concerns.
Yeah, because all the other list managers HATE first round picks, Brady really is a weirdo. Plus the AFL doesn't even give us a way to get any others!! Not like we have 40 other players on the list we could trade or TWO future years of draft picks we could move up for that draft.
 

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A combination of factors.

Had heard rumblings a few weeks back that the club felt the LDU negotiations should be more advanced than they were. Didn't think much of it. Have liked people such as Watt being steadfast that LDU would be staying.

But then in talking with a mate tonight who used to work at the club and is still plugged in, he was saying that Brady loves first round picks. He doesn't think there's any chance Brady would go into a draft without one.

We were both concerned that the trade of our F1 at what seems like the 11th hour could be an indicator the club is preparing to lose LDU but get 2025 1st round picks back in return.

None of this is concrete and I'm not claiming it to be. Just saying... I have concerns.

From the same logic that brought us the Jared Polec trade then.

Any LDU compensation would be exactly that. A way of covering off the massive loss of our best player. It wouldn't be bettering the side.

As painful as it would be, back to back top picks would be far better for the side than just burning it for a year of tall development.

The only thought process here, might be to match and force whoever the buyer is to cough up the first trade involving 2 years of 1st Round picks.

I.E the asking price would be 2025, 2026, 2027 R1 picks.
 
A combination of factors.

Had heard rumblings a few weeks back that the club felt the LDU negotiations should be more advanced than they were. Didn't think much of it. Have liked people such as Watt being steadfast that LDU would be staying.

But then in talking with a mate tonight who used to work at the club and is still plugged in, he was saying that Brady loves first round picks. He doesn't think there's any chance Brady would go into a draft without one.

We were both concerned that the trade of our F1 at what seems like the 11th hour could be an indicator the club is preparing to lose LDU but get 2025 1st round picks back in return.

None of this is concrete and I'm not claiming it to be. Just saying... I have concerns.
🤦‍♂️
 
A combination of factors.

Had heard rumblings a few weeks back that the club felt the LDU negotiations should be more advanced than they were. Didn't think much of it. Have liked people such as Watt being steadfast that LDU would be staying.

But then in talking with a mate tonight who used to work at the club and is still plugged in, he was saying that Brady loves first round picks.

LDU ain't going anywhere, and disgruntled ex employees who wanted us to tank for Reid know **** all.
 
Not much leaks from inside our footy department these days. So old mates comment about ‘his mate’ who used to work for North and is still plugged in doesn’t have much merit. Either Chadwiko is spreading BS or you’re believing it from your friend. Put it to bed ffs, LDU has stayed more than once that he is not leaving.
 


‘Wants to see improvement’: Why this star free agent has put contract talks on hold

ByJon Pierik

November 23, 2024 — 4.03pm

North Melbourne star Luke Davies-Uniacke wants to see on-field improvement under coach Alastair Clarkson, and will wait until the new year before discussing a contract extension with the club.

Davies-Uniacke, 25, shapes as one of the hottest prospective restricted free agents next year, and has indicated he wants to remain at Arden Street
While the Kangaroos are keen to broker a new deal, Davies-Uniacke’s manager, Robbie D’Orazio of Connors Sports Management, said discussions were temporarily on hold.

“Luke loves the North Melbourne footy club, especially his teammates. He wants nothing more than to see improvement in 2025 and, of course, winning games is a big part of that,” D’Orazio told this masthead.

“There is no timeline on his contract. It’s something we will look at in the new season.”

A Kangaroos spokesman said the club was comfortable with Davies-Uniacke’s decision.

“There is no timeframe on it from our perspective. We’re really comfortable with that approach,” he said.

Should Davies-Uniacke explore free agency, the robust midfielder would be one of the most coveted signings by rival clubs next season.

Davies-Uniacke claimed his maiden Syd Barker Medal in September, having enjoyed a dominant year when he played in every game for the first time in his seven seasons at the club, averaging 27.7 disposals and 6.3 clearances per game, and shone against several finals-bound opponents.

However, Davies-Uniacke craves on-field success, the Kangaroos having finished no higher than ninth – that being in his rookie season in Brad Scott’s final full season in charge – since he was taken with the fourth-overall selection in the 2017 national draft. The Kangaroos won only three games in 2024, finishing second last.

Despite the club’s on-field battles, Davies-Uniacke polled 18 Brownlow votes this season, having had 27 career votes before this year’s count – highlighting that he catches the eye of umpires for his bullish work and skills with ball in hand.
He is a cornerstone of what the Kangaroos hope will be their next premiership side, given they now boast a deep midfield that includes young stars George Wardlaw and Harry Sheezel, co-captain Jy Simpkin, and veteran ex-Swan Luke Parker.
They have added to their fleet of runners by taking the versatile Finn O’Sullivan from the Oakleigh Chargers with the No.2 pick in the national draft, adding to fellow top-10 picks Colby McKercher, Zane Duursma, Wardlaw and Sheezel taken in the past two years.

The Kangaroos also made a surprise decision to trade next year’s first-round pick to Richmond in exchange for the final pick of this year’s first round, a selection they used to snare versatile tall Matt Whitlock to bolster their key position stocks. As part of this deal, they also received the Tigers’ future second-round pick.

In a busy off-season, the Kangaroos also signed veteran West Coast premiership forward Jack Darling through the trade period to provide marking support for key forward Nick Larkey, while former Western Bulldog Caleb Daniel will provide dash and creativity from half-back.

Kangaroos recruiting boss Will Thursfield said his club understood its improvement needed to show on-field in the win/loss column.

“We’ve got enough kids in now, and we’ve hit the trade period and got some mature boys in, so it’s time to get moving,” Thursfield said.

“You’d hope we’d improve quite a bit, given the cattle we’ve brought in and [with] another year in these young kids, but it’s hard to say. At the end of the day, we’ve got to back ourselves in a bit.”

Swingman Charlie Comben is on the mend from post-season shoulder surgery, while the Kangaroos hope speedy forward Brayden George can still have an impact after he ruptured his ACL for the second time in June.

He had missed the entire 2023 campaign, having initially hurt himself not long after being taken with pick No.26 in the 2022 national draft. He is yet to make his senior debut but the Kangaroos awarded him a two-year contract extension in July.
 
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‘Wants to see improvement’: Why this star free agent has put contract talks on hold

ByJon Pierik

November 23, 2024 — 4.03pm

North Melbourne star Luke Davies-Uniacke wants to see on-field improvement under coach Alastair Clarkson, and will wait until the new year before discussing a contract extension with the club.

Davies-Uniacke, 25, shapes as one of the hottest prospective restricted free agents next year, and has indicated he wants to remain at Arden Street
While the Kangaroos are keen to broker a new deal, Davies-Uniacke’s manager, Robbie D’Orazio of Connors Sports Management, said discussions were temporarily on hold.

“Luke loves the North Melbourne footy club, especially his teammates. He wants nothing more than to see improvement in 2025 and, of course, winning games is a big part of that,” D’Orazio told this masthead.

“There is no timeline on his contract. It’s something we will look at in the new season.”

A Kangaroos spokesman said the club was comfortable with Davies-Uniacke’s decision.

“There is no timeframe on it from our perspective. We’re really comfortable with that approach,” he said.

Should Davies-Uniacke explore free agency, the robust midfielder would be one of the most coveted signings by rival clubs next season.

Davies-Uniacke claimed his maiden Syd Barker Medal in September, having enjoyed a dominant year when he played in every game for the first time in his seven seasons at the club, averaging 27.7 disposals and 6.3 clearances per game, and shone against several finals-bound opponents.

However, Davies-Uniacke craves on-field success, the Kangaroos having finished no higher than ninth – that being in his rookie season in Brad Scott’s final full season in charge – since he was taken with the fourth-overall selection in the 2017 national draft. The Kangaroos won only three games in 2024, finishing second last.

Despite the club’s on-field battles, Davies-Uniacke polled 18 Brownlow votes this season, having had 27 career votes before this year’s count – highlighting that he catches the eye of umpires for his bullish work and skills with ball in hand.
He is a cornerstone of what the Kangaroos hope will be their next premiership side, given they now boast a deep midfield that includes young stars George Wardlaw and Harry Sheezel, co-captain Jy Simpkin, and veteran ex-Swan Luke Parker.
They have added to their fleet of runners by taking the versatile Finn O’Sullivan from the Oakleigh Chargers with the No.2 pick in the national draft, adding to fellow top-10 picks Colby McKercher, Zane Duursma, Wardlaw and Sheezel taken in the past two years.

The Kangaroos also made a surprise decision to trade next year’s first-round pick to Richmond in exchange for the final pick of this year’s first round, a selection they used to snare versatile tall Matt Whitlock to bolster their key position stocks. As part of this deal, they also received the Tigers’ future second-round pick.

In a busy off-season, the Kangaroos also signed veteran West Coast premiership forward Jack Darling through the trade period to provide marking support for key forward Nick Larkey, while former Western Bulldog Caleb Daniel will provide dash and creativity from half-back.

Kangaroos recruiting boss Will Thursfield said his club understood its improvement needed to show on-field in the win/loss column.

“We’ve got enough kids in now, and we’ve hit the trade period and got some mature boys in, so it’s time to get moving,” Thursfield said.

“You’d hope we’d improve quite a bit, given the cattle we’ve brought in and [with] another year in these young kids, but it’s hard to say. At the end of the day, we’ve got to back ourselves in a bit.”

Swingman Charlie Comben is on the mend from post-season shoulder surgery, while the Kangaroos hope speedy forward Brayden George can still have an impact after he ruptured his ACL for the second time in June.

He had missed the entire 2023 campaign, having initially hurt himself not long after being taken with pick No.26 in the 2022 national draft. He is yet to make his senior debut but the Kangaroos awarded him a two-year contract extension in July.

Stalest of stale news
 

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

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