Player Watch #9: Luke Davies-Uniacke - signs until end 2025! Runner up in the 2022 Syd Barker Medal Award

[ferball]

His time has come.

 

[Caracas]

I am struggling to think of a North midfielder, in the 45 years I have followed them, that has his all round skillset.

I think of the best attributes of our star midfielders over the years, the skill and gamecraft of Shagga, Boomer, Cunners, Ding Dong and the Krakouers, the courage and work ethic of Spitta, Stevo, Larkin and Cunners again, LDU may not be there yet, but only maybe Boomer could match the way he moves. If he keeps improving and producing consistency like yesterday, the sky is the limit.

I reckon he has all those players covered, to be honest. The only player to have a similar “ceiling” was Daniel Wells. Unfortunately, Daniel was plagued by injuries. In essence, LDU is our most talented midfielder since, maybe Wayne Schimmelbusch. Having said that, I wasn’t in Australia during the Schimmelbusch years.


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[Passmore]

To think that if Josh Kelly chose to come to us in 2017. Then we more than likely wouldn’t have LDU.

Too awful to contemplate.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

One of the happiest days I can remember when LDU slid to us. Beggars belief that he didn't go #1.

Brisbane wanted the next Dustin Martin

Freo wanted someone who’d stay.

Carlton were and still are just all around pox.

 

[Heaps of fun]

Brisbane wanted the next Dustin Martin

Freo wanted someone who’d stay.

Carlton were and still are just all around pox.

Funny how the best of the 2017 top four conversation doesn't even exist as it has now moved to best in the competition.

 

[shintemaster]

One of the happiest days I can remember when LDU slid to us. Beggars belief that he didn't go #1.

Same. Honestly felt like we'd won the lotto and once I'd seen him play a handful of games I knew he would be a massive part of our future.

 

[Heaps of fun]

Same. Honestly felt like we'd won the lotto and once I'd seen him play a handful of games I knew he would be a massive part of our future.

It should have had lotto like odds of him making it past three clubs. Thank **** he surfed!

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

He’s doing to mature, hardened AFL midfielders what he was doing to 18 year old kids.

It’s obscene.

 

[Heaps of fun]

Nathan Buckley was 100% spot on in that clip too BTW, speaking of mellowing and developing with age.

 

[tales129]

Nathan Buckley was 100% spot on in that clip too BTW, speaking of mellowing and developing with age.

Interesting comments about a bloke who wanted to surf more than play footy

 

[Rooboys Rool]

Same. Honestly felt like we'd won the lotto and once I'd seen him play a handful of games I knew he would be a massive part of our future.

I still remember my wife rolling her eyes and looking at me like I was an idiot for the big stupid grin I had on my face when we picked LDU up at 4.

 

[Psicosis]

Nathan Buckley was 100% spot on in that clip too BTW, speaking of mellowing and developing with age.

Yeah and it’s particularly the case with big body mids. Kids need to come in very physically and aerobically developed, to make an immediate impact.

LDU, Phillips & Wardlaw will all follow similar trajectories IMO. Slow build before exploding.

 

[Rod Stroker]

 

[DocSholl]

I reckon he has all those players covered, to be honest. The only player to have a similar “ceiling” was Daniel Wells. Unfortunately, Daniel was plagued by injuries. In essence, LDU is our most talented midfielder since, maybe Wayne Schimmelbusch. Having said that, I wasn’t in Australia during the Schimmelbusch years.


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Matty Larkin another very high up on the natural talent rankings. Just unfortunately suffered a combination of injuries and playing in the rebuild between eras.

 

[Rod Stroker]

Brown just said LDU is the best centre square player in the comp right now. I don't think it was his perpetual concussion talking.

 

[guapo]

I reckon he has all those players covered, to be honest. The only player to have a similar “ceiling” was Daniel Wells. Unfortunately, Daniel was plagued by injuries. In essence, LDU is our most talented midfielder since, maybe Wayne Schimmelbusch. Having said that, I wasn’t in Australia during the Schimmelbusch years.


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Malcolm Blight played Ruck-Rover through the 70’s before moving to full forward. He was among the best in the league at the time, and won the Brownlow.
Very different type to LDU, but he’d be the only midfielder I can compare in terms of pure quality in the last 50 years. Greig and Cable would be the others in the conversation, but LDU could have them all well covered by the time he plays 100.
Incredible footballer.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Can’t explain how happy I am with this pick.

Saw him tear the jets a new a-hole two years ago as an under age player and knew he would be a top 2 pick. Always rated him the best player in the draft, honestly can’t believe he is ours.

Don’t mean to put pressure on the kid but I said mid year that I thought he was the only mid in this draft that you could really build your team around. He had all the tools and the right mentality to make the most of it.

I’ve been told by a recruiter that his relaxed attitude had put a number of
Clubs off (particularly Carlton). Don’t let that relaxed style fool you, from what I’ve been told he is a meticulous trainer and puts in more hard yards in the gym than other draftee, this is pretty reflective in his build already.

Can’t wait to watch his career unfold for north.

Welcome LDU!!!

Hate to be that guy who quotes himself but this post is aging like a fine wine!

 

[SammyRoo]

I was worried for a while….

Hence, I fully deserve the cat’o’nine tails for doubting

 

[Shermanator]

Hate to be that guy who quotes himself but this post is aging like a fine wine!

I remember you raving about him at the time - great call.

 

[Disco Dew]

Hate to be that guy who quotes himself but this post is aging like a fine wine!

Nothing wrong with a self quote when it’s so spot on!

 

[Gasometer]

Well I saw the 70’s crew and the 90’s crew and on Saturday’s form he is one out of the box in any form of comparison.

This is a good thing

 

[Gasometer]

Snippet from a Fox Sport article

THE BEST SECOND-YEAR PLAYERS

(According to the Official AFL Player Ratings*)

Luke Davies-Uniacke (North Melbourne) +10.1

Gryan Miers (Geelong) +8.8
Charlie Constable (Geelong) +8.5

James Worpel (Hawthorn) +7.8

Tim Kelly (Geelong) +6.4

Oscar Allen (West Coast) +5.8

Sam Taylor (GWS) +4.3

Billy Gowers (Western Bulldogs) +4.0

Jack Higgins (Richmond) +3.5

Brent Daniels (GWS) +3.0

Bailey Banfield (Fremantle) +1.9

Charlie Ballard (Gold Coast) +1.7

Ed Richards (Western Bulldogs) +1.1

Wil Powell (Gold Coast) +1.0

Adam Cerra (Fremantle) +1.0

Jack Petruccelle (West Coast) +0.7

Brody Mihocek (Collingwood) +0.6

Check it out ^^^

 

[Nutjob]

I didn’t know Chom had that in him.. he gave me a bit of a stiffy… but then I saw a Camera shot of him in the ruck and his facial expression just said “COME ON campaigner LETS ******* GO”

He has always had mongrel, even back at U/18’s. It’s half the reason he gets injured all the time.


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[ferball]

Here we go

That's the highlights from his second game in his second year. His ninth ever game!

Its all there. The moves, the follow up work from contest to contest. The tackling (lol at those who say he doesn't run defensively.) He hurt his shoulder late in this game and when we were no longer a chance of finals that year he went in for surgery iirc.

I found shintemaster quoting me saying this when I looked at that link gaso posted:

@ 0.33ish TT gets in congestion somehow drives it forward into LDUs path, he pops it over to the good BScotts and its off to the future we go.

So here we are. 0.48 in:



Welcome to the future.






(TT's only got himself to blame for not being out there too. I hope he can get it together.)

 

[Heaps of fun]

That's the highlights from his second game in his second year. His ninth ever game!

Its all there. The moves, the follow up work from contest to contest. The tackling (lol at those who say he doesn't run defensively.) He hurt his shoulder late in this game and when we were no longer a chance of finals that year he went in for surgery iirc.

I found shintemaster quoting me saying this when I looked at that link gaso posted:

@ 0.33ish TT gets in congestion somehow drives it forward into LDUs path, he pops it over to the good BScotts and its off to the future we go.

So here we are. 0.48 in:



Welcome to the future.






(TT's only got himself to blame for not being out there too. I hope he can get it together.)

Wow, only four years ago and we were shit but I'm pretty nostalgic for a side with Higgins, Brown, Thompson and Pittard in it. Great blokes and fun players to watch at their best.