All-Australian Adelaide Crows defender Rory Laird has signed another contract

ONE of the Crows’ star Rorys has signed another contract, ensuring he won’t be lost to another club. Meanwhile, across town a trio of emerging Power talents have signed on to extend their stay at Alberton.

Rory Laird over the top of Dom Barry of Power during the AFL JLT Community Series match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Adelaide Crows at Alberton Oval. Picture: AAP Image/Mark Brake

ADELAIDE defender Rory Laird has signed a new three-year contract that keeps him at West Lakes until the end of 2021.

There has been speculation about Laird’s future for weeks but the defender’s contract situation has been overshadowed by that of another Rory, vice-captain Sloane, whose contract also expires at the end of the year.

Laird has become even more important for the club’s backline this season with the defection of Jake Lever to Melbourne and fellow rebounder Brodie Smith missing most of the year as he recovers from a knee reconstruction.

Laird, 24, was last year in the All-Australian team, led the AFL in effective disposals and finished third in the Malcolm Blight Medal.

Adelaide Crows coach Don Pyke on Wednesday. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

His importance to the side is not only in shutting down an opponent but also in his ability to create from the backline and be used as an attacking weapon through the midfield.

Laird was first picked up by the Crows in the 2012 rookie draft from West Adelaide, meaning there was no potential go-home factor jeopardising his signature.

“Adelaide is just a great club to be at and I’m thrilled to be able to keep playing footy here,” Laird said. “The Crows gave me my first chance at playing AFL when they took me in the rookie draft and it’s nice to be able to repay that faith.

“There’s a really positive environment at the club with all the players and coaches driving each other to get better every day.”

Adelaide coach Don Pyke welcomed the news and said negotiations with Sloane and Tom Lynch, who will miss at least another match to injury, were continuing.

Both of them are from Melbourne and Victorian clubs are known to have an interest in the pair.

“It was fantastic news with ‘Lairdy’ — brilliant,” Pyke said. “He’s an important player for us and he’s a guy who brings quality off the half back line.

“He’s got great energy around the group and it’s great to have him re-sign fo three years.”

Emerging Port Adelaide talents Darcy Byrne-Jones, Todd Marshall and rookie ruckman Sam Hayes have also signed to extend their time in Adelaide.

The 22-year-old Byrne-Jones, who was among the Power’s best in Round 1, has recommitted to the Power for another two years and said it was a pretty easy decision.

“Obviously I’ve got a lot of close mates here, I’m settled in living arrangement-wise, the coaching staff and the whole club has been great,” Byrne-Jones, who has played 44 games since making his debut in 2016, said.

“The word culture gets thrown around a lot but the people at Port Adelaide are why people come to Port Adelaide and why people stay at Port Adelaide.

“To a man, everyone gets along with everyone, the coaching staff and the people upstairs, all those staff are brilliant as well so it is just a great place to be.”

Byrne-Jones shares a home with Port vice-captain Ollie Wines.

The Victorian, who is also out of contract at year’s end, is attracting significant interest from clubs in his home state but told Port fans last week they had no reason to be worried and that he was “really comfortable where I’m at the club”.

Highly rated 19-year-old forward Marshall, who booted a career-best four goals against Fremantle in Round 1, has also committed to the club until the end of 2020, while freshly drafted ruckman Hayes, 18, has extended his contract until the end of 2021.

Originally published as All-Australian Adelaide Crows defender Rory Laird has signed another contract