Adelaide will welcome a 12th member to its 250-game club this weekend, as defender Rory Laird notches up the milestone in our Round Three clash against the Kangaroos.

A journey which began in the 2011 Rookie Draft, the South Australian quickly became a staple in the Crows’ line-up, with his professionalism and determination helping him become one of the competition’s most consistent performers over the past decade.

Across his 249-game career to date, Laird has won three Malcolm Blight Medals (Adelaide’s Best-and-Fairest award), been included in the All Australian squad six times and made the final team on two occasions.

Ahead of his milestone, we went back through the archives and picked 10 of our favourite Lairdy performances.

Round Six 2015 v Gold Coast at Carrara

Laird’s breakout season was 2015, when the third-year defender finished runner-up in the Club Champion to Patrick Dangerfield.

The then 21-year-old announced himself as one of the Crows’ up and coming stars in a Round Six victory against the Suns, where he showed composure and skill well beyond his years. 

He collected a game-high 29 possessions, 13 of which were contested and took nine marks in a clinical display off half back.

Laird’s performance was recognised by the umpires, as his Brownlow Medal votes were the first of his career.

Round 15 2016 v Melbourne at the MCG

2016 was a season where Laird solidified his standing as one of the game’s premier running defenders, as he backed up his first addition to the All-Australian squad with an ultra-consistent campaign.

Laird’s excellent form was best displayed in a Round 15 clash against the Demons at the MCG, where he starred as Adelaide won its sixth consecutive game.

The stat-sheet made for pretty reading post game, as he amassed 25 possessions at 80 per cent efficiency and took a team-high ten marks across half-back.

For the first time, he polled three votes in the Brownlow Medal and also received a maximum 10 coaches’ votes for his standout display.

Round One 2017 v GWS at Adelaide Oval

Adelaide began the 2017 season by making a major statement, defeating pre-season premiership fancy GWS by 56 points.

Laird’s influence was at the forefront of the Crows’ eye-catching performance.

A maximum score in Adelaide’s Club Champion voting reflected Laird’s output, as the Giants could not stop the prominent running defender from getting his hands on the footy.

He recorded a then career-best 40 possessions, 12 intercepts, 573 metres gained and three intercept marks to also earn a perfect 10 votes from the coaches.

Preliminary Final 2017 v Geelong at Adelaide Oval

Laird’s 100th AFL game will long live in the memory bank of all Crows fans, as the Club punched its ticket into the 2017 decider with a powerful Preliminary Final victory.

The newly crowned All Australian defender Laird excelled on the big stage, playing a key role in setting up Adelaide’s scintillating ball movement off half back.

Laird recorded a team-high 32 disposals at an incredible 91 per cent efficiency and also took a career-best 15 marks and generated six rebound 50s.

The courageous Crows’ starring performance typified all the traits he had meticulously developed over his first 100 games, and was a fitting way to bring up the milestone.

Round 17 2018 v Geelong at Adelaide Oval

A clash against the Cats under lights at Adelaide Oval always seemed to bring the best out of Laird, and there was no performance more impressive than his outing in Round 17, 2018. 

Showcasing his incredible ability to find the footy, Laird recorded a career-high 43 disposals in a Thursday night win over Geelong.

Along with his record-breaking disposal count, he had 28 uncontested possessions and six rebound 50s to receive the most votes from the coaches.

One of four times Laird gathered over 40 disposals that season, he went on to claim his Club Champion award.

Round 8 2019 v Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval

Across his 13-year career, Laird has played a hand in a number of memorable Showdowns, but arguably his best performance came in a 20-point victory in Round Eight, 2019.

Although the match ended with Alex Keath receiving the best-on-ground medal, Laird received equal-top votes in the Club Champion count for his 31-disposal game.

He had a game-high 15 intercepts, 14 contested possessions and 674 metres gained to top-off yet another prolific performance off half-back.

Round 16 2020 v GWS at Adelaide Oval

The 2020 season marked a new era in Laird’s career, as he made a move up the field and became an on-baller halfway through the COVID interrupted campaign. 

It did not take long for him to get comfortable in the role, and he truly announced as a prolific midfielder in the Crows’ 12-point upset win over GWS. 

Three Brownlow Medal votes went his way after 28 disposals, a game-high 11 clearances, 18 contested possessions and ten tackles. 

Laird’s form to end the 2020 season served as a great springboard for his time as a midfielder, as he went on to claim back-to-back Club Champion awards in 2021 and 2022. 

Round 13 2021 v St Kilda at Cazaly Stadium (Cairns)

Riley Thilthorpe’s miraculous over-the-head game-winner may have taken the headlines, but it was the work of Laird through the midfield that inspired the Crows’ memorable 2021 comeback against St Kilda in Cairns.

He shook the attention of tagger Luke Dunstan to gather 21 of his 33 disposals after half-time.

The South Australian also laid eight tackles and recorded ten clearances, earning three Brownlow Medal votes.

Round 18 2022 v Collingwood at Adelaide Oval 

During his 249-game career, Laird has proven himself to be a player that can stand up in all conditions, and when the heavens opened ahead of our 2022 clash against Collingwood, he quickly rose to the fore.

A performance best remembered for his work in and around the contest, Laird recorded an AFL record 20 tackles, to go with 31 disposals and nine clearances.

The young Crows took it up to a Collingwood side that made it through to a Preliminary Final that season, but fell an agonising five points short.

Round 5 2023 v Carlton at Adelaide Oval

The first AFL Gather Round game showcased Laird at his relentless best in the midfield.

He had 37 disposals, nine clearances, 15 score involvements, 18 contested possessions and a goal in a trademark tough display.

The umpires also admired his work, handing out three Brownlow Medal votes.