BEEN AROUND THE WORLD DONβT SPEAK THE LANGUAGE
On the contrary. I will get laughed at for typical Blitz hyperbole but Iβve watched every game since 2010 and Laverde [EDIT: βwasβ] the best set shot at goal I reckon Iβve seen since then. Yes Iβm including Ryder in that. Arrow straight, and so much backspin that there was legitimately no draw or fade on them, they just started straight, stayed straight and finished straight. Beautiful action too.
No doubt someone will come and offer a different opinion and thatβs fine, and of course the big asterisk is that itβs off a sample of about 9/10 of his first shots which I think went 9.0 or 10.0 until the injuries started. From memory he took a set shot in his first game back after a long layoff and I turned to my brother and said βwatch this - Iβd like to be as certain of winning tatts.β He promptly sprayed it and I canβt remember him kicking a goal since then. Iβll cop the blame for that one lads.
I agree with your post.
I did think up till recently that it was mental, that he had the yips like what many golfers go thru with putting.
Now, I am examining the possibility that some of those more serious injuries have impacted on his technique.
There is a player there.
If he does turn it around like The Langford has recently done, that drafting at Picks 17 and 20 in a very challenging situation, could prove to be a masterstroke.
Letβs hope soβ¦
β¦but here is another who walks among them.
Nows the time to bring this lad in and see what he can do!
Nope. Wait one more week!
Of course. Itβs silly too judge someone off one kick.
But I feel like in such a big moment it was telling.
Hoping someone with more inside knowledge can tell me Iβm wrong but Lav is likely to be playing elsewhere next year.
Getting 2 year offers elsewhere whereas the club is only offering him 1
My source is pretty good but hoping Iβm wrong
Reckon we will lose 1 or 2 players this year
Lav is ripe for the plucking. Thing is he has not really taken his chances when he has had them. Yes, injury has also not helped. Right now, it is hard to see how he can come into the side.
We wonβt get much on the trade table either. Fourth rounder.
I feel he is worth persisting with. I would offer 2 years. He has been unlucky and he is young enough to make it.
St Kilda will likely come again
Carlton, North will take anyone
Would be a shrewd pickup by a number of clubs - cheap, high upside and currently stuck behind a number of yougsters.
I would be prepared to give him 2 years, but I expect other clubs would be offering more money
Yep Iβd give him 2.
saints want lav, they give us billings.
Or he can back himself to break into the team
There is no reason he canβt be looking it to take Myers spot realistically other than his own fitness & ability to be given serious midfield development hasnβt occurred due to his injuries.
Or if Stringers planned progression to midfield actually happens then LAV takes that 3rd fwd/mid role Jake has now.
Right now given he canβt stay on park itβs pretty hard to offer much more than 1yr.
I also canβt see him leaving for only a 2yr contract elsewhere. This is a diehard EFC supporting family.
Myers current form might be an example of giving injury-plagued young guy with talent a bit of faith
Not a surprise. Donβt care.
Hopefully we can get lucky and upgrade a 4th round pick to a 3rd round.
Like Langford I think Laverde needs some consistency in the 1βs to truly develop as a player. Also the club playing him in his non preferred position as a forward (he thinks himself as a mid and I agree) has stunted his AFL development.
Heβs never been even close to fit enough to play mid at AFL level.
Doesnβt help that heβs been injured constantly.