Is Rory Laird’s future up forward as the next generation of Crows rise?

The younger brigade will be featured heavily in the Crows’ midfield in 2024, so what does that mean for the veterans, and in particular their most consistent midfield star?

ADELAIDE – APRIL 13: Rory Laird of the Crows celebrates a goal during the 2023 AFL Round 05 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at Adelaide Oval on April 13, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Adelaide wants to add some unpredictability to its midfield as the next phase of the rebuild under Matthew Nicks takes shape.

But what does that mean for the most consistent Crow over the last four years, Rory Laird?

The Crows have hardly made their desire to get Izak Rankine into more centre bounces in 2024, as evident by the star’s time in the middle during their match simulation against Port Adelaide last Friday.

While the Crows’ first three midfielders looks likely to be captain Jordan Dawson, the ultra-consistent Rory Laird and the reborn Matt Crouch, get ready for a lot more other Adelaide players to be thrown into the midfield.

Forwards Josh Rachele and Luke Pedlar, as well as the highly rated Jake Soligo are set to also get thrown around the ball a lot more in 2024 – as the Crows seek to emulate dominant sides such as the 2010s Hawthorn outfit that had unpredictability in its midfield.

Rory Laird has been a staple for the Crows in the middle. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

“It is a bit about some unsettlement for the opposition but it is also around being able to get guys around the footy based on where the game is at,” Crows midfield coach Nathan van Berlo said.

“If we are getting beaten on the outside, we have guys who can play in and out so we can put those guys in there.

“If need a bit of a spark with some leg speed we have some guys up forward that we can put in there and give us a chop out and if we are getting beaten on the inside we have guys who can get around the ball and do what they do best.

“It is a bit around what the game presents and we will roll guys through there based on that.”

But if there are more midfield rotations for the likes of Rankine, Rachele, Pedlar and Soligo, what does it mean for the three top dogs of the Crows on-ball brigade?

On Wednesday van Berlo said versatility would be key for the Crows going forward.

“We value guys with versatility in the team, there wouldn’t be many at all who can’t play dual positions,” he said.

“It is definitely a key pillar of the modern game … the more players we can get to do that means we can get different looks at the footy, different looks ahead of the ball and keep guys involved in the game more so because we have guys at half-back who can play significant wing minutes for us as well.

“We are trying to build that versatility so we get different looks and guys get different opportunities to play different roles at AFL level.”

Matthew Nicks has thrown some younger faces into the midfield mix. Pic: Michael Klein

Dawson has been a Swiss Army knife for the Crows, but is the big-bodied midfielder they lack.

Crouch and Laird provide the inside work, getting their hands on the footy.

But while Laird was twice named an All-Australian when he played as a defender, could more time ahead of the ball be in store in 2024?

He has been working significantly on his goal scoring this pre-season after just three goals and 10 behinds in 2023, with his 0.1 goal per game ranked below average for a midfielder.

But his 6.7 score involvements is considered above average for midfielders and there is a belief that his great ability when the ball hits the deck could help the Crows when they go forward.

If more time forward for Laird does eventuate this season some of it will be down to the desire to get guys like Rankine into the middle more.

But it could also be with an eye to keeping Laird, now 30, fresh as the Crows push for finals.

Could the veteran move forward? (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

“Lairdy has played across half-forward at times. We have done that in the past when he gets close attention and he may well spend some stints ahead of the ball if we are exposing Izak like we have been doing,” van Berlo said.

“The mids are really clear on why that is happening and how that compliments our system and how we balance out our look ahead of the footy, they are all on board.

“He finds the footy wherever he goes. He was an All-Australian defender, I’m not too sure of his defensive capability but he found the ball and he does that week-in-week out as a midfielder.

“Some guys just have an innate ability to find the footy, as does Crouchy.”

Over the last three seasons Laird has averaged 31.3 disposals a season.

He has been ultra consistent, but how will that fit in with the Crows desire to become a bit more unpredictable and unsettle opponents?

Originally published as Is Rory Laird’s future up forward as the next generation of Crows rise?