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Important SN update for Southland“Freak”: Veteran Crow names best midfielder he's ever faced
SEN • June 25th, 2025 10:43 am
Adelaide Crows veteran Rory Laird has revealed the best midfielders he has faced within his AFL career.
Across 260 games, Laird has played on some of the competition’s historic star players as both a half-back flanker and a midfielder, suiting up for the Crows across the ground for 13 AFL seasons.
The midfielder that stood out amongst the pack is Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos.
Facing Laird’s Crows six times in his four seasons at AFL level, Daicos has a perfect 6-0 record, averaging 33 disposals and six clearances while booting four goals across the six contests.
“He was probably the best I've ever (played on),” Laird told SEN SA’s The Run Home.
“I reckon it was 2023 out at the MCG, the game that Daws' (Jordan Dawson) got hit in the head really late, that game we played on each other a fair bit.
“His lateral quickness, his speed, the way he can take a ball at that high speed and his agility out of stoppage is insane.
“He's going to be an absolute freak for a long time, and arguably be the best player already in the comp.”
Beyond Daicos, Laird gave a mention to a number of other star midfielders that ranked amongst the best he’s faced within his career.
“A few others would be sort of the whole Brisbane mix,” he continued.
“Lachie Neale sort of heads that mix. He's kind of the same as Nick, but he's more in close stuff, very quick within a phone box and clean hands.
“(Hugh) McCluggage and (Josh) Dunkley each have their strengths, and then you chuck in the Ashcroft Boys.
“And then, I think for the past 5 or 6 years, you give Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca their flowers as well, probably two of the best mids in the game.
“Clayton Oliver's had some games and some moments playing against him… I was speaking to Alex Neal-Bullen about it.
“Just for his size and how mobile he is to get to the ground and power out of the stoppage is nearly unstoppable when he's up and going, and Petracca's not far behind him.”
