Star defender Rory Laird says Crows will take extra motivation into 2019 after frustrating year
A ‘FRUSTRATED and annoyed’ Rory Laird says the Crows are hurting from missing the 2018 finals and will regroup ahead of a fresh titlt at the AFL premiership next season.
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ADELAIDE’S shock downward spiral leaves Rory Laird frustrated and sick in the stomach but warns its 2019 riposte begins on Sunday against North Melbourne.
All-Australian Laird was front and centre in Adelaide’s run to the 2017 grand final but a slide from finals contention this year remains a heavy cross to bear.
“The season sits pretty frustrating, annoying,” conceded Laird of 12th placed Adelaide.
“The footy we have played have matched it with the best teams. It is just a matter of doing it consistently.
“It is not great, it has been a fair few years, we have played finals the last few years and usually this is the most exciting time of year. It is not a good thing to be talking about this year and not what we want to be doing.”
Adelaide coach Don Pyke is “still playing to win” despite his side languishing two wins and massive percentage behind eighth-ranked Port Adelaide. Games against the Shinboners and Carlton follow.
“I think it starts with the last two games and put our best team out on the park, boost consistency in performances and get players out there to develop and finish the season really strong,” said 119-game star Laird.
“It starts building momentum into next year.”
Adelaide went off the boil but not Laird, on track for back-to-back All-Australian jumpers. Laird this season is averaging a career-high 31 disposals while second for intercepts behind Alex Rance
“It is another consistent season. I missed two games with a broken hand which is a bit unfortunate but everything else with my body has been ok and I have been able to play my role for team,” said modest Laird.
However Laird, 24, has become a victim of his own success with opposition coaches targeting the backman.
Laird was switched into the midfield for periods in Showdown 45 to shake attention from Darcy Byrne-Jones who had shut down Western Bulldogs Jason Johannisen the week before. Laird is prepared to be creative in shaking tags and draw on the experience of perennial target Rory Sloane.
“It is a matter of just beating my man and goes back to playing one-on-one even though that is not how we play as a defence,” said Laird.
“If you have someone on you, you can’t really help playing one-on-one. It starts for me doing that and then I can lose them in general transition and open play but it is not easy.”
Laird relished getting the band back together with fellow rebound ace Brodie Smith against Port Adelaide and GWS, providing the premium drive Adelaide has lacked this season.
“It is a credit to him and his rehab. He had an unbelievable game on the weekend second week back from an ACL,” said Laird of Smith.
Adelaide leads the competition in kicks per game, averaging 222.4, which is central to an attacking philosophy that is best executed with Smith and Laird firing in unison.
“It is awesome being back with him, we read off each other pretty well,” said Laird.
The Kangaroos’ loss to Western Bulldogs cost a spot in the eight and control over their finals destiny.
North Melbourne put 10 goals past Adelaide in the first quarter of their round seven meeting in Hobart last year but hasn’t won in the City of Churches for seven years.
If the Crows are to overcome the Kangaroos and Coleman medal favourite Ben Brown at Adelaide Oval on Sunday they have to eradicate the kind of fade-out that hurt it against GWS.
“That game summed up our season, we were right there, close to winning and a patch in the third quarter lets us down,” said Laird.