Essendon Keep Laycock
Ruckman Jason Laycock would have been a sought-after player in the trading period or preseason draft but Essendon have signed him up for two more years.
Laycock only played 6 games this season due to injury. For his career he has played in 23 games.
Essendon will have the 200cm Laycock, 202cm Hille and 197cm Ryder all available next season and this could cause problems for opposition teams.
If Laycock had left Essendon then Hille would have had to play exclusively in the ruck and Ryder might have been asked to do too much in his second year in the AFL. Now Hille can start in the ruck and then move forward, or back, with the similar-sized Laycock taking over. Ryder still needs to bulk up and his development won't be rushed with Laycock there, Ryder will get some games up forward and some time in the ruck too as well as playing in the VFL.
Laycock could have gone to Carlton, a team that needs a ruckman, in the preseason draft. Or he could have forced a trade. That he is back at Essendon indicates that he will be used in a much bigger role next season by the Bombers.
Laycock only played 6 games this season due to injury. For his career he has played in 23 games.
Essendon will have the 200cm Laycock, 202cm Hille and 197cm Ryder all available next season and this could cause problems for opposition teams.
If Laycock had left Essendon then Hille would have had to play exclusively in the ruck and Ryder might have been asked to do too much in his second year in the AFL. Now Hille can start in the ruck and then move forward, or back, with the similar-sized Laycock taking over. Ryder still needs to bulk up and his development won't be rushed with Laycock there, Ryder will get some games up forward and some time in the ruck too as well as playing in the VFL.
Laycock could have gone to Carlton, a team that needs a ruckman, in the preseason draft. Or he could have forced a trade. That he is back at Essendon indicates that he will be used in a much bigger role next season by the Bombers.
