Jeremy Laidler unsure if he’ll play in Grand Final as Sydney could welcome players back from injury

JEREMY Laidler doesn’t yet know if he has locked in a spot in Sydney’s Grand Final team but whatever happens he will forever be grateful for the Swans for resurrecting his career.

JEREMY Laidler doesn’t yet know if he has locked in a spot in Sydney’s Grand Final team for Saturday, but whatever happens, he will forever be grateful for the Swans for resurrecting his AFL career.

The 27-year-old defender was a solid contributor in his club’s preliminary win over Geelong on Friday night, admitting he still pinches himself at the opportunity that could come for him later this week.

“Fingers crossed, hopefully I get selected,” Laidler said. “I am absolutely stoked that I got the opportunity at Sydney. I was always confident in my ability, I just needed the chance.

“The confidence they have given me and what they have done for me and my partner since I’ve been up there has been huge. I’m so happy with the way it has all turned out.”

Three years ago, Laidler’s AFL career looked in serious doubt. He was delisted by his second club, Carlton, after a strained relationship with then coach Mick Malthouse meant he played only three games in 2013.

Jeremy Laidler performed well in the preliminary final but could be squeezed out of Sydney’s team if players return from injury. Picture: Colleen Petch

At that stage, his career, which started at Geelong before he shifted to the Blues, appeared to be over after only 26 games.

But Sydney was confident he still had some good football left in him, and took him on as a delisted free agent at the end of 2013. He has since played a further 57 games for the Swans, including Friday’s preliminary final.

“I’ve loved it,” Laidler said of his good fortune in getting a third chance with the Swans. “I’ went to see a few Grand Finals when I was at Geelong, and I was emergency (at Sydney) in 2014.”

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If Laidler is selected, and there will be plenty of speculation on make-up of the Swans’ side all week, he will have timed his run perfectly in terms of getting back in at the right time.

After playing the first 12 games this season, following on from 23 last year, Laidler suffered a midyear injury that cost him.

He returned for one match against Western Bulldogs in Round 15, only to find himself out of the seniors again until returning for the semi-final clash with Adelaide.

“I had a little injury, straining my hamstring midyear, and went back to the reserves,” he said. “I just tried to be as positive as I could be.”

Jeremy Laidler says whatever happens he’s grateful to Sydney for resurrecting his AFL career. Picture: Toby Zerna

“I worked with the coaches, with the backs coaches and the reserves coach and told myself that if the opportunity arose, I would take it with both hands. I just hope I’ve done enough to get selected this week.”

Laidler was part of a strong Sydney defence on Friday night, admitting they were almost a team within a very tight knit team.

“We don’t rely on one person, we all sort of rely on each other,” he said. “We were under the pump a bit as I think they had 70 inside 50s. But we held up strong. They missed some chances early and that just comes down to the pressure we were applying around the footy.

“Heath Grundy has had a great year, I think he is one of the most underrated defenders in the competition.”

“He should have been All-Australian in my view, he does his job and gets the footy as well.”