Adelaide Crows best-and-fairest: Rory Laird opens up after winning third Malcolm Blight Medal
Joining a trio of Adelaide greats doesn’t sit comfortably with Malcolm Blight Medallist Rory Laird. He talks about the people and the plan that changed his career trajectory.
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Joining a trio of Adelaide greats as triple Malcolm Blight Medallists does not sit all that comfortably with Rory Laird.
On Thursday night, Laird became the fourth Crow to win three best-and-fairests, an honour he shared with Mark Ricciuto, Simon Goodwin and Andrew McLeod.
“To be put in the same category as those guys who have had such a big impact on the club and the game, it’s pretty crazy,” Laird told News Corp.
“They’re legends of the club and legends of the sport but I personally don’t see myself in that light at all.
“If I can play 75 per cent of their careers, I’d be happy.”
Laird added to his successes in 2018 and 2021, pipping former Sydney Swan Jordan Dawson by four votes.
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The 28-year-old said he had more influence on games this year and felt he was consistent.
A shift in focus off-field helped his game.
“I spent a lot more time in the gym and it’s a bit more short, sharp change direction kind of fitness,” he said.
“Burgo (high-performance boss Darren Burgess) brought a different kind of fitness and way he structures training, and it’s bloody hard.
“You can see why he’s been such a success.”
Laird, who had career-best averages this season in disposals (32.95), tackles (8.1), inside 50s (4.65) and clearances (7.5), was named in the All-Australian squad but did not make the 22.
“I thought I’d be around the mark and be close,” he said.
“I had a few texts from the boys but I didn’t want to comment (about missing out).”
Former half-back flanker Laird said the next step in his evolution as a player was kicking more goals.
He booted a career-best seven this past campaign.
Laird was looking forward to becoming teammates with Adelaide-bound Gold Coast goalsneak Izak Rankine.
“Put him and Josh Rachele up there and it’s pretty exciting,” he said.
“I reckon I might just close my eyes, kick it in and they’ll do the rest.”
Laird said he had loved reuniting with Mattthew Nicks, his former First XVIII coach at Scotch College.
“It’s a bit of a roundabout but he hasn’t really changed socially or how he goes about it,” he said.
“He’s still a down-to-earth guy and has had a lot more experience since then in football.
“He’s been fantastic and you can see where the club’s heading.”
Asked if the club could play finals next season, Laird said it would “be around the mark” if it tidied a few facets.
“Aside from the Hawthorn and GWS games, we were in with a chance most games” he said.
Crows’ club champion: Laird joins elite company
Andrew McLeod, Mark Ricciuto, Simon Goodwin – and now Rory Laird.
Laird followed in the footsteps of the trio of Crows greats on Thursday night by claiming his third Malcolm Blight Medal.
He also became the club’s third’s back-to-back best-and-fairest winner, joining Ricciuto, Goodwin and Scott Thompson.
Laird polled 118 votes to edge former Sydney Swan Jordan Dawson by four and secure another gold jacket.
Laird secured his third gold jacket to go with 2018 and 2021 and joined Ricciuto, Goodwin and Thompson as consecutive winners.
Despite missing the first two games of the season while recovering from a broken hand he suffered in a pre-season game, Laird polled 118 votes to win by four from defender Jordan Dawson (114), who capped an outstanding first season with the Crows.
Midfielder Ben Keays recorded his third consecutive top-five finish by polling 88 votes to place third, while leading goal-kicker Taylor Walker (82) and defender Brodie Smith (71) finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Laird was a model of consistency yet again this season, recording over 30 disposals in 16 of his 20 games while laying thesecond most tackles in the competition to be named in the 40-man All-Australian squad.
He played his 200th AFL game in Round 21 which he celebrated with 36 disposals, two goals and a win over West Coast in Perth.
Keays led the count after the first six rounds before Laird made his move in the middle part of the season with strong performancesagainst West Coast, North Melbourne and Sydney, and laying 20 tackles against Collingwood in Round 18. He led Dawson by threevotes going into the final round of the season and held on to win by four.
Selected with Pick 5 in the 2011 rookie draft, Laird is undoubtedly one of the Club’s great success stories as a dual All-Australian and now three-time Club Champion playing as both a defender and midfielder.
In other honours presented on Thursday night, Laird also won the Players’ Trademark award, Jordan Dawson won the Members’ MVP Award, Sam Berry received the Mark Bickley Emerging Talent Award, Reilly O’Brien was named the Phil Walsh Best Team Man, Tom Doedee won the Children’s Foundation award and Keays won the Dr Brian Sando OAM Trophy for professionalism and attentionto detail.
Ruckman Kieran Strachan also won back-to-back best-and-fairests by being named State League Club Champion as the most outstandingplayer in Adelaide’s SANFL season, and midfielder Jay Boyle again won the Dean Bailey Award for on-field performance, dedication to training and commitment to the team.
The Club also paid tribute on the night to experienced defender Luke Brown who announced his retirement from AFL football after 189 games across 11 seasons with the Crows.
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