Rory Laird's Rising Star omission is bewildering
MAYBE Adelaide's silent assassin, Rory Laird, needs to make more noise.
MAYBE Adelaide's silent assassin needs to make more noise.
Maybe, just maybe, Rory Laird needs to stand in the middle of AAMI Stadium on Sunday pumping his chest after bringing a Port Adelaide opponent to his knees with a bone-crunching tackle.
Maybe then one of the Crows' brightest young prospects might get noticed by the AFL's Rising Star judges.
The fact Laird has yet to earn a Rising Star nomination this year is bewildering. In fact, it's bordering on farcical.
Eighteen players have been nominated for the award, which recognises the deeds of the AFL's best players who are aged under 21 and have played less than 10 games at the start of the season.
Tough, no-nonsense defender Laird - a product of the West Adelaide Football Club - has been overlooked despite producing several standout performances in his 13 games.
The 19-year-old could easily have been nominated 10 times.
While regularly shutting down his opponents - only Carlton's Jeff Garlett has got hold of him, kicking three goals in round five - Laird has averaged 18 disposals, including seven contested possessions, four marks and three tackles.
Since coming into the Crows team in round four, Laird has won 73 intercept possessions - ranked second at Adelaide behind last year's Rising Star winner Daniel Talia (81).
He had a season-high 29 disposals against Gold Coast in round 14 and in the past five rounds has averaged 22 possessions.
Laird's offensive numbers for a player who prides himself on defence are outstanding.
They don't take into account his goal-saving smothers and one percenters that coaches love.
Two other Crows have earned Rising Star nominations this year - Sam Kerridge in round nine and the impressive Brad Crouch in round 14.
Of this season's nominations, only Gold Coast teenage sensation Jaeger O'Meara, Sydney ball magnet Tom Mitchell, Port Adelaide's Ollie Wines and Brisbane's Sam Mayes have made a bigger impact than Laird.
The Suns' Tom Nicholls, GWS's Lachie Whitfield, Hawthorn's Brad Hill and Crouch could argue their cases.
Other nominees Kerridge, Aaron Mullett (North Melbourne), Jed Anderson (Hawthorn), George Horlin-Smith (Geelong), Nick Vlastuin (Richmond), Jackson Macrae and Michael Talia (Bulldogs), Jake Neade (Port), Adam Tomlinson (Giants) and Marley Williams (Collingwood) haven't been as impressive as Laird on a weekly basis.
Even Laird's teammates have had enough of him being overlooked.
"How has Rory Laird not got a rising star nomination? It's getting ridiculous!'', tweeted fellow Crows backman Brodie Smith.
Ace midfielder Patrrick Dangerfield quickly retweeted the message.
The odds are Laird will earn his long overdue nomination in the final five rounds.
But what if he gets injured early in Showdown XXXV and doesn't play again this year?
Having already played more than 10 games he would be ineligible for a nomination next season.
And it would mean one of football's great individual injustices has unfolded.
Fingers crossed injury doesn't stop Laird from getting the acknowledgement he deserves.
If it does, the AFL would have a lot to answer for.
Twitter @andrewcapel
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