The lanky Tasmanian arrived at Windy Hill in 2003 with the expectation he would play senior football in his first year after starting the pre-season in ominous fashion. But senior football didn’t materialise.
As Laycock embarks on a third season at Essendon, supporters have only caught a glimpse of what he has got to offer, only managing four senior games, as injuries crippled his early development at AFL level.
But with an eye-catching debut and big wraps on his capabilities, Essendon fans are left salivating at how good this emerging giant of the game could actually be.
With the confidence of being fully fit for the first time in three years, Laycock has burst onto the 2005 scene dominating the early summer season matches, anxious to consolidate a spot in the Essendon line-up.
His form has been so impressive, the Bomber coach is already comparing him to a former pupil with over 300 games of experience.
""The kid could end up being a very, very mobile Paul Salmon – they are not that much unalike. It would be rare to have a Lloyd and Paul Salmon-type player in your forward line."" Sheedy claimed after the recent exhibition match against Sydney.
But with only seven senior games to his name, replicating the career of Paul Salmon still seems a long way away, considering his short history playing the game.
""I probably started playing football seriously at the end of Year 9 and then in Year 10 I put everything into football and I quit basketball. That year I made the regional team, the state team then made All-Australian so it was a big year for me."" Laycock said
Recruited for his strong overhead mark and versatility to play in the ruck and in the forward line, Laycock quickly showed why he was on the list with a strong first pre-season. Playing well in practice matches and the Wizard cup in 2003, Laycock had impressed the coaching panel pushing for a place in the first home and away game.
But on the verge of selection, injuries took control. And they were would haunt him for the next two years, as an exciting start to his career was dramatically halted.
During his first two seasons, Laycock spend nearly as much time in the medical room as on the training track. Most serious was compartment syndrome, a pressure build up in Laycock’s lower leg muscle that caused him chronic pain.
""Initially when Laycock was tested for compartment syndrome but the tests came back negative, but we persisted and there did appear to be something there."" Essendon Fitness coach John Quinn explained.
In fact, in his three years at the club this is the first time that Laycock has been fully fit after having surgery on his calf over the summer.
""The whole time he has been here he’s been in chronic pain and would not have been able to run continuously for 30 minutes. We now have his pain under control and he has gone from a VFL to an AFL player in the way he is training.""
Contributing to - and exacerbating - his ongoing injury problems was a growth spurt. When he was drafted he was 197cm, but at last measurement he was recorded at 201cm.
""We think his growth spurt contributed to his soft tissue injury but more so it affected his coordination. Sometimes when he would go for a mark I would think he looked like Edward Scissor Hands, because the ball just went through him, but that was just a judgement thing.""
""If anyone has looked at Laycock and thought well he has great hands and can read the play well but he’s just not a mobile enough player, I think they should reconsider when they see him this year. I think Laycock could be the one to take out the title of most improved this year, I would be putting my money on him."" Quinn believes.
""This is the first time that we have seen him fit and ready to go, however from a fitness point of view we have got more scope. Until now we haven’t been able to bulk him up because of the extra weight going through his shins. So now over the next 12 months we can find another 4 or 5 kilos on his frame and Jason Laycock is going to become a 105-106kg player with fair run, a fair jump and a fair reach.""
Despite his injuries Laycock could return to the field at times, but was restricted. But he still made impressions. In his return game to the Bendigo Bombers from a knee injury he booted seven goals.
The Essendon coaching staff was on notice as his fledgling career started to turn for the better.
""I never felt under pressure to make my debut. From my draft, Tristan Cartledge hadn’t played a game and Jason Winderlich and Jobe Watson had only played three or four games so they were pretty much in the same group as me."" Laycock said.
He remained patient and waited for his opportunity.
In Round 19 that opportunity came against Carlton. Laycock had been playing well in the VFL and when Matthew Allan injured his knee against Port Adelaide, he was the obvious replacement.
""I didn’t really expect it. I had been going ok but someone had to get injured for me to play so I didn’t think I would get the chance but then Matty got injured.""
Laycock’s debut didn’t start the way he would have liked. Moments before the opening bounce, there was a torrential downpour, which left the MCG looking more like a lake than a football field.
For a 201cm debutant, they were nightmare conditions.
""I was sitting on the bench for the first quarter and I was cold and nervous, but at the same time excited. I came on with about ten minutes to go in the second quarter, and I got near some balls that came down into the forward line but didn’t actually touch them,"" Laycock explained.
But the second half proved to be a turning point. A shoulder injury to Matthew Lloyd saw Laycock play a pivotal role after the main break, with the first-gamer all of a sudden the main marking target up forward. And as the rain started to stop, Laycock’s confidence grew.
""I played the last 10 minutes of the third quarter and found that after taking a couple of marks I was alright.""
Although Laycock didn’t get a lot of game time, his performance was the only thing worth smiling about after the loss. Despite the conditions, he took his chances when they came his way, taking four contested marks, immediately showing the AFL world he is going to be a handful for opposition defenders.
""Obviously because of my height and the position I play, I have to be able to mark it so it has to be one of my strengths."" Laycock says modestly of that afternoon
Laycock played the following three home and away matches, but the reality of AFL football hit when he was omitted from the finals with the selectors returning to a more experienced line-up. But Laycock was philosophical about the decision.
""I didn’t expect to play finals, I felt I had to earn it a bit more. I thought I had done ok in my games, but in the Bulldogs game I hardly touched the ball which was the last game of the season. And up in Sydney, I got pushed around a bit so I felt I had to earn my stripes a little more.""
That brief taste for senior footy has stuck with Laycock over the demanding pre-season and he now has the confidence and belief that he belongs in the AFL. It’s something that drives him as the new season approaches and makes the frustration of his past injuries a little easier.
The key for Laycock this year is to stay fit and be consistent.
""This season, I really want to play more games than I did last year so that is a very important goal for me. To do better than last year, and then to make more of an impact when I do get there. I want to get back into the team and stay there when I do.""
So where does Laycock believe he can fit into the side on a regular basis this season?
""I’d like to play in the ruck and up forward 50-50, the only problem at the moment is there isn’t much room up there for me, but I think centre-half forward would be a good position for me if I could get a little bit more endurance and get a bit stronger.""
Wherever Laycock ultimately plays in the new season, just the thought of an exciting new marking power alongside Matthew Lloyd is enough to make any Essendon fan look forward to a new era at Windy Hill.
