Rory LAIRD

2017 Digest:   Gone on from where he left off last year. Uncanny knack of finding the footy and distributes it well. Fit and firing.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1	GWS	Along with Douglas best afield for the Crows, selfless player goes where angels fear to tread.	9
2	Haw	Battled hard across half-back and when needed to go he did. Ball use again a highlight of his game.	7
3	Port	Played a more defensive role than his usual plus one, still managed to win seven clearances.	7
4	Ess	If he continues in this rich vein of form, surely an All-Australian jumper beckons in 2017.	8
5	GCS	Rebounded well from defence and found plenty of the footy (33 possessions)	7
6	Rich	Average’s over 30 disposals per game for a defender, a jet across halfback.	7
7	NM	Stood Turner, as well as other Roos’ smalls. Again got a truckload of the ball, but ordinary defensively.	6
8	Melb	One of the few Crows players who can hold his head high, won a game high 37 touches.	7
9	Bris	Set the standard for the night with 37 touches with an 83 per cent effective rate.	8
10	Frem	Won 27 possessions in the back pocket and shut down the Dockers small forwards.	7
11	Geel	Copped knock early but returned but not his best effort. Wasn’t allowed to control the game from behind the ball.	5
12	StK	Best small defender in the game at the moment, not only stopping small forwards but winning plenty of footy as well.	8
13		Bye.
14	Haw	Fumbled at times, not his usual slick self but not the Crows worst by any stretch of the imagination.	6
15	Carl	Nine rebounds says how well he reads the game for a defender.	6
16	WB	Continues to rack up over thirty disposals a game as a back pocket dynamo.	7
17	Melb	Got a lot of the ball, but found out defensively by Melksham in first half. Much better after main break and had nine rebounds.	6
18	Geel	Mopped up like a suburban housewife all night. Read the play well, won the ball and was a thorn in Cats side all night.	7
19	Coll	Started on Elliott before playing more as a plus one to reignite the Crows resurgence.	6
20	Port	Not bad when your back pocket wins nearly 30 touches a week and has the ability to hit the scoreboard when following his man.	7
21	Ess	Just does the business and gave his usual high quality display.	6
22	Syd	Equal leading possession winner on the ground with Matt Crouch, some of his disposals were rushed under pressure though.	7
23	WCE	One of the key ball winners and a consistent performer all day.	7
QF	GWS	GWS put time into him and he was unusually quiet. Maybe this is a tactic other clubs could adopt?	5
PF	Geel	Oompa loompa down back was a willing worker who poured a crap load into the choco river.	9
GF	Rich	One of the Crows’ better players. Used it well and was strong in first half when game hot. 27 touches.	7

2016 Season

1	NM	Won his own footy and repelled from the back half all night in a strong effort.	7
2	Port	Close to winning the Showdown Medal; inspirational especially in the first half.	8
3	Rich	In everything in defence in the first half. Ended with 25 touches to be an influential performer.	7
4	Syd	Best small defender in the AFL at the minute, still needs to improve his disposal.	7
5	Haw	Prolific ball getter in early part then output tapered to an extent.	5
6	Frem	Left the game with a bruised toe after keeping Ballantyne goalless.	7
7		Toe.
8		Toe.
9		Toe.
10		Toe.
11	StK	First game back from a toe injury and didn’t miss a beat with 30 possessions.	7
12	WCE	Played well off half-back. Another high possession game from him.	7
14	NM	Showed great courage to mark the footy with Ben Brown steaming through.	6
15	Melb	Intercepted the ball brilliantly in the back half and was among the best.	8
16	Carl	Huge again rebounding across half back. All-Australian half back surely.	8
17		Hip.
18	Geel	Huge first term (nine touches) then Cats clamped on him a little. Still tried hard.	6
19	Ess	One of the AFL’s best defenders. Wins his own footy while stopping his opponent.	8
20	Bris	Biggest possession winner on the ground despite being tagged in defence.	8
21	Frem	The team’s main ball winner. Worked hard from defence.	7
22	Port	Played more up the ground after the injury to Smith, had four inside-50s.	7
23	WCE	Worked hard but gave away a 50m penalty in the third term resulting in a goal.	6
EF	NM	Mopped up as he does across half-back. Used ball superbly all night.	7
SF	Syd	Battled hard down back. At least used footy well when he got it.	7

2015 Season

1	NM	Drifted forward in the third term for an important goal against the tide.	7
2	Coll	Uncompromising small defender who worked tirelessly.	7
3	Melb	Hardly sighted despite conditions suiting his game.	4
4	WB	Tried hard but seemed under pressure in disposal. Limped off third term.	5
5	Port	Adelaide’s best small defender, tough as nails.	7
6	GCS	Leading possession winner and got plenty of hard ball.	7
7	StK	Goes in where angels fear to tread. Small in stature, never shirks the contest.	8
8	GWS	Ran with Smith and unable to quell his impact. Copped a heavy knock.	5
9	Frem	Continues his rich vein of form, disposal efficiency needs some work though.	8
10	Carl	Surprise packet of the day. In everything at half back and pressure was good.	8
12	Haw	Five tackles, four inside-50s and a goal, continuing his rich vein of form.	7
13	Bris	Amassed 18 touches until half time and responsible for holding Bewick.	7
15	WCE	A four-quarter performer. Strong in contests.	7
16	Port	Huge chance to win the small defender position in All-Australian team.	7
17	GCS	Should force his way into the All-Australian side as the small defender.	8
18	Syd	Workmanlike job but was in the minority.	5
19	Rich	Continued his impressive form and curbed Newman in the process.	7
20	Ess	Positioning behind the ball was first class and mopped up everything.	8
21	Bris	Continues to intercept opposition forward entries.	8
22	WCE	Another great display peeling off his opponent in defence.	7
23	Geel	Racked up stats in the back half and used ball exceptionally well.	7
EF	WB	Ding-dong duel with Dahlhaus and had a good game.	7
SF	Haw	Did a fine job on Rioli and was one of his side’s best.	7

2014 Season

1	PM	Solid outing in midfield. Just did what was required.	–
2	PM	Had it 22 times to play a solid role in defence.	–
3	Syd	Needs to eradicate turnovers from his game to excel in defence.	5
4	StK	Didn’t play a prominent part.	3
5	GWS	Pushed forward on many occasions for a handy goal.	6
6	WB	Good contributor who flew under the radar a touch.	6
7	Melb	Played well across half back.	6
9	Coll	Not at his best but still showed poise in defence.	4
10	Carl	Huge game from the youngster. Worked super hard to push back deep.	7
11	GCS	Pushed forward for a goal early in the match.	5
12	Frem	Minimal impact on the game.	3
13	NM	Had the inevitable task of running with Harvey.	4
14	Ess	Great effort on Zaharakis. Kept him quiet for most of the night.	6
15		Quad.
16	GWS	Sub came on in first quarter for injured Rutten, and wasn’t a big factor.	3
17	Haw	Just doing enough to maintain his place in the side.	5
18	Coll	Huge first quarter (11 disp) and while faded still play a part.	6
19	WCE	Restricted Hurn to eight possessions in the second half.	5
20		Senior emergency.
21	SANFL	Clean and prolific. Had a blinder with 42 possessions and 13 marks.	–
22	NM	Sub on at last change then concussed in head clash and carried off.	0
23		Concussion.
QF		–
SF		–
PF		–
GF		–

2013 Season

1	SANFL	Starred for West with 27 touches, four rebounds.	–
2	SANFL	Huge game with 31 disposals and four rebounds.	–
3	SANFL	Big outing for West with 27 touches and a goal.	–
4	WB	Upgraded from the rookie list and thrown straight in, looks a player.	5
5	Carl	Subbed on early after Walker injury and battled manfully. Laid six tackles.	6
6		Thigh.
7	GWS	Was pitted against Adams and wasn’t a big factor.	4
8	StK	Had tagging role on last week’s star Steven and did it well.	7
9	NM	Did a few nice things around the footy. Looks a player of the future.	5
10	Frem	Played his best game so far and unafraid to put his body on the line.	8
11	Syd	Didn’t do anything of note.	3
12	Rich	Ran with King at times and OK defensively but little offensive run.	3
14	GCS	Snuck under the guard of opposition and got plenty of the footy.	7
15	WCE	Hard as nails defender winning plaudits every game he plays.	5
16	Coll	Lined up on Elliott and kept him out of the game as well as picking up touches.	6
17	Geel	Going great guns then injured just before half time. Returned to play a part.	6
18	Frem	Enjoyed a good battle with Neale and although slightly shaded stuck to his guns.	6
19	Port	Tried hard in defence but caused some costly turnovers in defence.	5
20	NM	Matched on Bastinac for most of the game and won his share.	6
21	WB	Battled away in defence on variety of opponents. Copped heavy knock late.	5
22	Melb	Continues to shine as a back pocket specialist and shows no fear in a contest.	7
23	WCE	Tunbridge got away from him early but he stuck to his task.	4
QF
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

3	SANFL	Impressed on his league debut for Centrals.	–
4	SANFL	Did well in patches and kicked a great long goal.	–
6	SANFL	Played a key role for West Adelaide. Good again.	–
8	SANFL	Consistent effort with 20 possessions for Westies.	–
13	SANFL	Worked hard for his 15 touches for Westies.	–
14	SANFL	Ok without starring for Wests. 15 possessions.	–
15	SANFL	Continues to find the ball well for Westies.	–
17	SANFL	Clean, composed effort in midfield.	–
18	SANFL	Used the ball well but was a touch down on output.	–
20	SANFL	Serviceable effort in Westies big win over the Dogs.	–
21	SANFL	Solid outing for West with 17 touches.	–
23	SANFL	Good game with 22 possessions for Westies.	–
QF	SANFL	Plenty of the ball – 30 disposals, for Westies.	–
SF	SANFL	Played his part with 19 touches in Wests win.	–
PF	SANFL	20 possessions for Westies in a side that was overrun.	–
GF	SANFL	Solid display for the Bloodhounds. 16 possessions and played his role.	–