Laurie Extends for 2 More Years

[Deemania since 56 6,235]

15 hours ago, picket fence said:

Not up to it! Mistake IMV

He should improve down the track, overcoming nervous hesitancies and discomfort in his team roles. He requires experience and speed inputs, becoming a reliable 'feeder' in our improving 'team game'. I am OK with his re-signing but look forward to a more settled and thus, utilitarian presence from him.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,533]

6 hours ago, Bystander said:

Why the JT and TL protection racket? There have been some clangers. Laurie has not shown near enough to earn this in March. Often average at vfl level.

Of course, it is not the $ itself, but the cap and the spot that is important.

Hope I'm proved wrong.

I rank him alongside Jefferson but at least with Jefferson if us doubters are proved wrong we will have something of real value. There are always lots of Lauries.

Maybe it is. Salary caps mean not all our players can be stars. Just maybe he's the best player available at that price range.

[Tarax Club 3,187]

This may surprise some.

In horse racing parlance, Young Laurie is what is known in the industry as a wet track specialist.

So keep an eye 👁️ on the form guide and the BOM weather report. Ensure some of your powder is dry for that special day. Some blokes are a slow 🔥 burn.

Edited March 28 by Tarax Club
Hieroglyphics

[dees189227 11,016]

Not sure clubs would have been queueing up to get him.

But of course if you put that contract in front of him he'd sign it in a heartbeat 

[Kent 2,626]

30 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Maybe it is. Salary caps mean not all our players can be stars. Just maybe he's the best player available at that price range.

Whats his price range?  I can work out $per kick

[titan_uranus 22,751]

As a general rule I'm not against re-signing players at early opportunities. It's good for player morale (theirs and the wider list) and shows we're a fair and reasonable club to those who we may want to attract in future years.

Having said all that, I am personally very much a Laurie sceptic. I do not see enough promise in him to think he has what it takes to be a successful AFL player. I would love to be proven wrong but I wouldn't have thought Laurie is a priority for our list at this point in time.

[Robbie87 95]

I am a bit surprised by him more so than the Club. Personally, I think he has the skills and class to make something of his spot. It may take some more continuity at the higher level (leaving aside when that opportunity might be there). I was thinking he was likely to do a Bedford and seek greener pastures given who appears to be ahead of him. But kudos to the Club in retaining him as they obviously see something in him going forward.

[Little Goffy 12,770]

Starting from the 2017 draft, I don't think there's been any club which has been more 'pick value efficient' in their drafting for even one draft in that time. Maybe 2020 - we only had three picks including Laurie himself. It has been an incredible run that clearly requires both good drafting and good development programs.

It doesn't automatically mean Laurie will join the trend, but it is enough for me to think our development team has a plan for how to get the most out of Laurie.

Something I find interesting is that he has only ever played one full game and was only on the ground for 64% of that one. Clearly there's still a question mark on his ability to run out whole games.

Could the whole situation be as simple as the club believes he needs another preseason or two in order to fulfill his potential?

 

[old dee 22,982]

1 hour ago, titan_uranus said:

As a general rule I'm not against re-signing players at early opportunities. It's good for player morale (theirs and the wider list) and shows we're a fair and reasonable club to those who we may want to attract in future years.

Having said all that, I am personally very much a Laurie sceptic. I do not see enough promise in him to think he has what it takes to be a successful AFL player. I would love to be proven wrong but I wouldn't have thought Laurie is a priority for our list at this point in time.

I agree tu. I am struggling to see a Top level player in  him.

[58er 5,670]

There is no doubt that the best in Bailey Laurie is good enough to survive and prosper in the AFL.

His contribution in the last quarter vs Swans  in Sydney in Round 24 last season showed how he can be a valuable and classy link in our moving the ball forward. 

He actually has in and around pack handball and kicking traits that are elite and extremely valuable in heavy traffic and potentially in the wet if Tarax Club proves right. 

The problem is they  have not been on show consistently enough in the VFL regularly and in grabbing a game by the neck and leading others to a famous victory against all odds. In other words shining above others to grab his spot. 

Perhaps the list managers are using the Chandler approach of extreme patience. Now we undoubtedly lost Bedford because of that show of faith resulting in frustrating lack of AFL occasional opportunities for Toby. 

Now Chin is another Nibbler in training heart and soul and needs to bring his absolute best in goal scoring to add to his tackling and pressure acts on the forward line at this stage in his career. 

Bailey can play but the 64,000 dollar question is his ability to maintain for a whole game and what place in the team and who he will replace when his opportunity again arises. 

At best a Sub role is best suited until he does bridge the gap in cameos of high quality and consistent team performances. 

Over to you Bailey and the Coaches and maybe our resident psychologist. 

Good luck let’s hope it’s worth the ride and admission price. 
 

[durango 1,984]

I would try him as a HBF and maybe he would get more confidence with the ball in front of him rather than trying to lead and turn.

[Maldonboy38 6,034]

I remain unconvinced about Bill, but our playr development and list management is now as good as any so I can be fairly relaxed in accepting wht they decide.

Possibly, it might be to ensure that if he wants out due to others being played ahead of him, another team has to pay for him. Not sure there is a huge demand for him so .. wait and see.

[DeeZone 7,941]

He mentioned in his interview that Alex the Bullen had taken him under his wing and that he has been working with him on fitness and pace for a high half forward role in the future but that wouldn’t preclude him from playing a half back role in the future as well. So Bill the ball is in your court so step up and surprise us all.!!

[Neil Crompton 4,841]

Very best wishes, Bill. You've been given a golden opportunity to prove your worth.

Don't stuff it up.

[Roost it far 6,240]

He’s ok depth but I’m rueing missing out on Max Holmes 

[layzie 29,750]

Yeah I'm not reaching for the pom poms on this one straight away, the kid has obvious talent and I'll be backing him to find his niche and come through but this is year 4 now. When I see players like Jefferson in year 2 who take longer to develop getting torched in the VFL thread, then I think it's hypocritical to give Laurie a bruise free ride.

I know it's a slightly sceptical view and not as simple as "Yay Laurie go prove those awful naysayers wrong" but that's how I feel.

Edited March 29 by layzie

[DistrACTION Jackson 6,560]

On 30/03/2024 at 08:12, layzie said:

Yeah I'm not reaching for the pom poms on this one straight away, the kid has obvious talent and I'll be backing him to find his niche and come through but this is year 4 now. When I see players like Jefferson in year 2 who take longer to develop getting torched in the VFL thread, then I think it's hypocritical to give Laurie a bruise free ride.

I know it's a slightly sceptical view and not as simple as "Yay Laurie go prove those awful naysayers wrong" but that's how I feel.

Some of the comments in that thread are embarrassing. Shock, young players developing at Casey can be inconsistent....