Russian boxer for mine.
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Langford is much cleaner handling the ball. Thatโs what separates them at this stage of their careers and has seen Langford given midfield minutes.
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In his draft year, I had him pegged as a late top 10, and an in/out mid. Injuries have prevented his development.
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I reckon heโs pretty over rated on here. I see a player, but i donโt see a midfielder. Too fumbly and not agile enough for a mid imo
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Almost every player that plays for our club is overrated until they make it.
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If given a year in the midfield I can see him develop elements of Dustyโs style of play, particularly how he moves around the ground.
I think heโs predominantly a forward with small spurts or run with roles in the midfield.
Sort of similar to (gulp) McPhee but with better disposal. If heโs good enough to improve his midfield play, I can see him getting games. But unless Stringer and Stewart are injured (or God forbid have injuries) then I donโt see Laverde getting games.
Not sure if heโd want to stick around if he doesnโt get at least 10 senior games next season.
Needs to be cleaner beneath his knees to be an effective midfielder.
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When a 21 year old with less than 30 games under his belt is the current obligatory โlist management concernโ on a fan forum, you know the list is in pretty good shape.
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Iโm bullish on him big time. Iโve seen a lot of things in the senior side I like. Heโs strong as an ox too despite not being seemingly as on the bulk as his draftmate.
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well that settles it then, RIP.
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โ โ โ โ
โ โ โ โ off peedo you โ โ โ โ โ โ โ curse.
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dallulio just tell us who else you rate so we can get it over and done with early in the year. donโt prolong this any longer than you need to.
So many people have him written off as one dimensional simply as all he has been exposed to at VFL/AFL level is forward.
Many kids come into system without the tank to immediately be able to cope straight into midfield. So they get played across HFF/HBF in order to work their way into it.
Injuries have held him back from being able to show anything more than the forward line play.
He certainly wasnโt seen as one dimensional in juniors. Far from it.
17 days to the draft: Meet Jayden Laverde Callum Twomey November 10, 2014 9:40A SLOW start to the season for Jayden Laverde was quickly forgotten with a standout NAB AFL Under-18 Championships for Vic Metro.
Laverde elevated himself as one of the most unique prospects in this yearโs NAB AFL Draft during the national carnival, playing a number of key roles.
He saved his best game for last, kicking three goals from 11 disposals for Metro against South Australia and being rewarded with All Australian honours.
The 18-year-old continued at the same level for the Western Jets, producing an excellent 28-disposal, eight-mark and one-goal game against the Dandenong Stingrays.
WHY THEY SHOULD PICK HIM?
For a start, Laverde is versatile. He can be used in almost any role given his size (189cm, 82kg) and athleticism.
At times through the season he was played off half-back, on the wing, as a half-forward or true midfielder, but Laverdeโs strength is being able to do all of that within a single game.
Being a big-bodied midfielder seems to be his go at the next level given he has the pace, agility and strength around the ball and the breakaway qualities to find space.
Around the ground Laverde has shown his ability to cut off the play from half-back and he reads the play well to take overhead, intercept marks and then get moving.
Powerful, quick and with excellent lateral movement, Laverde has some genuine game-turning traits to his game. He kicked 15 goals from 10 games for the Jets, showing his attacking mindset.
THE QUERY
There isnโt a whole lot to be concerned about with Laverde. He hasnโt done heaps of long-distance testing for his endurance, but it hasnโt struck as a weakness during games.
A badly corked quad saw him miss the Jetsโ final game of the year and testing at the recent NAB AFL Draft Combine.
PLAYS LIKE
In his ability to play all over the ground and as a big and strong midfielder, Laverde has some similarities with Brendon Goddard. Laverde has more natural speed than Goddard, but they both have great versatility and flexibility.
DRAFT RANGE
Laverde is right at the top end of the draft. Likely to fit in between pick 4 and 10.
BOTTOM LINE
One of the most exciting and captivating players in the draft pool. He can jump, turn, twist, run, evade and do it anywhere around the ground. There are lots of reasons why heโll be an early draft pick.
If Langford had Jobes position lined up then LAV will have Goddards, just need a little patience.
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This is why Iโm confused at many people on here writing him off as a midfielder, one trick pony or an afl player in general. His juniors showed all of those with continuity in his game. Pretty hard to see his true form with a fark load of injuries, not to mention <25 games played. I think lav would be ahead of lang right now if it wasnโt for the injuries.
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Thanks Speedy, that draft summary is pretty much exactly what Iโm hoping for with Lav.
Donโt really love talking players up as a rule (I gave Morgan a wrap last year after the time-trial - oops), but I reckon thereโs a lot of critics here who havenโt watched enough of the kid. Dismissing his abilities as a mid at this stage is especially ridiculous.
He gets a clear run at it, weโll see a versatile, powerful, aggressive (and mouthy) midfielder who can find it inside and provide overlap run and spread, as well as go forward and hit the scoreboard.
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Heโs not a 'tricksโkind of player, and so relies on his body being close to 100% so he can perform at his peak.
Goddard is just so damn reliable at almost all facets of the game, but besides his high marking back in the day, heโs just very, VERY solid.
Thatโs what Iโd love from Lav.
Calling Goddard โsolidโ is incredibly unfair.
At one stage of his career he was in the top three players in the competition.
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Yep, if lav could kick like bj heโd be an entirely different proposition
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