He certainly knows how to stand up in a tackle
Iโll say this - itโs 50/50 at the moment.
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As a junior he was a damaging highly agile winger. He was capable of working the lines due to that spring-heeled leap. He had a powerful turn of speed. The guy moved like a cat.
Now he has put on muscle to the point of having the build of a CHF. The guy is f@rking massive!
He has lost a heap of pace and when looking to gather the ground ball he doesnt fully extend for it.
Im not sure who is responsible for his development. But somebody really โ โ โ โ the bed at an handling an elite talent.
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I think Laverde has what is required to be a very good footballer. I think some perseverance and patience is needed from supporters. Given the way he plays I can see him becoming an inside midfielder in time and I think he could become the natural heir to the Myers role. In the immediate future he can ply his trade in the VFL and make a case like everyone else. He doesnโt have to look too far for inspiration that hard work and right attitude pays off. Plenty of long term and short term stories. Brown, McKernan, Langford, Guelfi, Bags, Walla, Dea, and even Myers and now Franga. Hooker even had to do the hard yards.
Lav has the tools. He seems to have the attitude. He is too good for VFL and that is a good indication that if injuries stay away, he can become a player.
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Bomber from birth donโt forget.
Think heโll stay if he can, โฆ & I think we want him to.
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If I am honest Laverde either plays Midfield or we look at options end of year. Might sound harsh but his kicking for goal technique is so poor that I just donโt see the value of persisting with him in that position. I think he can be a decent midfielder if given a chance but will his body allow him to do that week in week out I am not sure. He played midfield time in the VFL a few weeks back and it was the best I had seen him play that looked natural to him.
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Edit
But was so perfect. Not sure if the change has been/is injury related, mental, or due to adjusting to growth,โฆ but thereโs no reason to think he canโt get back to what it was.
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Meh
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Imagine if we had a goal kicking coach
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Succinct. 
Personally I donโt think it ever looked great. I maintain that people got excited by his kicking simply because his first 8 or 9 kicks for goal just happened to go through.
Go back and watch those first shots pre 1st injury again.
Just โhappenedโ to go through, โฆ 
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Iโve always wanted to believe, but tbh Iโve never been able to see the hype - I do like his aggression and size though. Langford on the other hand has always shown a bit IMHO and Iโm happy he has kicked on.
I would be OK if the club did give him 2 years though., because he has been injured and I suspect weโll have a few others on the list cleaned out this year. Iโd be equally OK if he chose to try his luck elsewhere.
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Nah, Iโm not going to be bothered doing that. I donโt care enough.
If Iโm honest, Iโm half hoping he goes. I donโt think heโll make it, so any draft pick we get would be a bonus.
Edit: Donโt get me wrong thoughโฆif he stays on, Iโll cheer him on just as strongly as any other player on the list.
Does a club thatโs 10th on the ladder really need to be letting talented youngsters go? We arenโt hawthorn circa 2015.
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Ahern is from the same Draft as Lav (2014), and is now showing the benefits of persistence.
2 years is probably 1 too many, but I hope we do it.
I rate his skillset, but mentally he is fragile.
Hope he can gain some confidence in his body.
No heโs not.
The injuries the bloke has had will do that to you.
And no one โ โ โ โ the bed with his development. He hasnโt been on the track enough to really get any.
Even with how things have gone, Iโd offer him another year, and tell him we need to start seeing something from him. I wouldnโt care if it was regular high output magoos games. Just show what you can bring, and weโll give you another contract. And then Iโd play him in the midfield.
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Most of his injuries are attributable to the nature of playing as a forward in the manner his does, like Hurley, a move to a more hospitable role might allow him some continuity.
Midfield roles may be have an attritional affect but Lavs injuries have been more from high intensity sprint efforts and in marking contests, both of which are less common as a mid.
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Why would we trade him for something like a 3rd round pick?
Just imagine Lav were playing vfl now and not on an AFL list. Same junior career, same injury history. If he were still available in the draft in the 3rd round, would you draft him?
In the blink of any eye you would.
His ability and his age, given his injury history and his obvious potential, mean that he would be the best 3rd round draft prospect for a long time.
And we donโt need to draft him. He is ours. All we need to do it offer him a decent contract. Of course we should do it.
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