Jayden Laverde Biography

Since the AFL imposed its suspension of the 2020 AFL season (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Jacob Townsend is among five Bombers, alongside Jake Stringer, Shaun McKernan, Jayden Laverde and Kyle Langford, to have started a work placement with Border Express, the delivery and shipping company which is a corporate partner of the club.

The players have generally been at Border Express' headquarters for night shifts beginning at 5pm and finishing at 10.30pm, gaining an insight into work away from the football field.

"For the first week after the games stopped, I was driving myself insane," Townsend said.

"They were keen to help as soon as they heard we were keen to do something with our time and to see what the real world's like as well.

"We train and play footy every day nearly so it's nice to be able to put on another hat and see what other guys do in their lives."

After another season in and out of Essendon's senior side, forward Jayden Laverde's future is up in the air despite being contracted for next year.

The Bombers are understood to be open to offers for the 23-year old forward.

After four injury-cruelled years in the No.33, Jayden Laverde is hoping a change in number becomes a change in fortune after switching to guernsey No.15 for 2019.

"My four seasons have had their fair share of injury setbacks, and even my superstitious Italian family members have mentioned that perhaps the number is a cursed one for me," he said.

"After re-signing with the club in September, I was ready to begin a new chapter in life and footy. This meant moving out of home, having a strong off-season, and beginning pre-season with new goals and a clear mind, so a new number entered my thoughts.

"Looking back at my time in the No.33, I'm grateful for the lessons I’ve learned. The setbacks have taught me resilience, while watching the boys win from the sidelines has made me want to be out there even more. When I've returned from injuries, it's felt more meaningful because of how much work I've done to get there."

Jayden Laverde signs a two-year contract extension to remain with Essendon until the end of 2020.

"The club has a bright future ahead and I'm looking forward to being a consistent contributor to the side over the next two years," Laverde said.

"Over the next two years I want to develop my game and continue to build on the time I spend in the midfield."

Jayden Laverde suffers another injury setback after straining his hamstring in the VFL, and will spend at least two weeks on the sidelines.

Jayden Laverde is hit by an injury blow on the eve of the 2018 season and will be sidelined for up to 10 weeks by a hamstring strain.

The 21-year-old suffered a tendon injury during a Bombers' intraclub match.

"Jayden was in the game and feeling tight in his hamstring. We got that scanned and had some really bad news there," Essendon high performance manager Justin Crowe said.

"He's got a strain in that tendon which is an eight-to-10 week rehabilitation, so bad news for Jayden but he'll be back doing his rehab and working towards the season as soon as he can."

Jayden Laverde will be sidelined until at least the mid-season bye as he recovers from ankle surgery.

Laverde, 20, was hurt late in the JLT Community Series contest against Geelong and will have surgery this week.

"It’s obviously disappointing for Jayden to have this setback on the eve of the season," Essendon high performance manager Justin Crow said.

"After seeking a specialist opinion we have decided that surgical repair is the best long-term option for Jayden in this instance."

A rare ankle injury suffered in the pre-season to Jayden Laverde will see him visit a specialist to determine the amount of time he'll spend on the sidelines.

Bombers high performance manager Justin Crow told the club's website that Laverde had suffered two separate injuries.

"Jayden got a clip over the head while marking the ball in the air and he landed so awkwardly that his boot actually snapped," Crow said.

"He's got an injury to the inside of his ankle, the medial ligament, and also an injury to the flexor retinaculum, which is a sheet that goes across the front of the ankle.

"The first part of that injury is only of moderate concern for us but the flexor retinaculum is something we rarely see, so we're getting an opinion from a specialist tonight about the best way forward in managing that."

A group of four Essendon players are left shaken by a frightening home invasion, which saw four cars stolen from the Maribyrnong home they share.

Jayden Laverde, Conor McKenna, rookie-listed ruckman Shaun McKernan and VFL listed player James Ferry weren't injured in the brazen robbery.

It's alleged a number of offenders, some armed with baseball bats, broke into the property the players share around 4am on Friday morning.

"Once inside they took wallets and keys to four vehicles, then drove from the property in the cars," a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

"One of the residents woke up after hearing one of the vehicles, a Volkswagen, crash nearby and saw a man getting into another vehicle.

"It’s believed the offenders arrived at the property in a stolen Toyota Camry, which has since been recovered dumped in Maribyrnong.

"The Volkswagen stolen from the property has also been recovered nearby.

"The other three vehicles, a Mazda and two Holden Commodores, remain outstanding."

Essendon confirmed the identities of the players who were victims to the early-morning invasion.

"This was obviously quite a frightening experience for the players involved," football manager Rob Kerr said.

"We are extremely thankful the players were not harmed, and we have offered them the appropriate avenues of support."

Jayden Laverde signs a new two-year deal with the Bombers that will keep him at the club until the end of 2018.

Clubs are ramping up their interest in second-year Essendon forward Jayden Laverde, who remains unsigned heading into the off-season.

Laverde played the last nine games of his debut 2015 season before an ankle injury interrupted the start of his campaign this year. He entered the team in round four against the Cats but ruptured his AC joint in the Bombers' loss and required surgery.

He returned to the senior side against St Kilda in round 16 and booted two goals, and he has excited with his pace, overhead marking and attacking flair. In time it is expected he will move into a more permanent midfield role.

"I've left it with my management group. They're in some talks at the moment but I just wanted to leave it with them," Laverde said.

"I obviously haven't played a lot of footy this year so I just wanted to get out there and enjoy being back and try and cement a spot in the side.

"Being injured for most of the season it can get a bit annoying on the sidelines and being in the rehab group, so I just really want to get out there instead of worrying about off-field issues."

After recovering from shoulder surgery, which ruled him out of senior contention for nearly three months, Jayden Laverde is back in the Essendon team, which is likely to progress discussions for a new deal.

"I've left it with my management group. They're in some talks at the moment but I just wanted to leave it with them," Laverde said.

"Being injured for most of the season it can get a bit annoying on the sidelines and being in the rehab group, so I just really want to get out there instead of worrying about off-field issues."

Essendon youngster Jayden Laverde faces an extended stint on the sidelines after suffering a "serious" AC joint injury against Geelong at the MCG.

Laverde came from the field in the second quarter and, after going straight into Essendon's rooms to be assessed, spent the rest of the game on the interchange bench with his arm in a sling.

"It looks like a serious one, which means definitely missing some games," Bombers coach John Worsfold said after the game.

"It is disappointing for Jayden but a small hiccup, a small obstacle for him. He's got a bright future, we can see that.

"(He has to) deal with this injury and do the work and be ready for his next opportunity, whether (it's) in a few weeks' time or a month's time."

Jayden Laverde makes his AFL debut for Essendon at the MCG with 6 disposals (2 kicks and 4 handballs), 2 marks and 4 tackles in a 9-point win over Melbourne.

As an Essendon supporter, Jayden Laverde is happy to be have been drafted by the Bombers in this year's NAB AFL Draft.

"Coming into the draft I didn't know what was going to happen – if I was going to be picked in the top 10 or not. As it got closer there were a few more rumours going around and you hear more and more things," Laverde said.

"I had a few different things in my mind on the night and I was rapt to end up at the Bombers. It was the best-case scenario for me. I never really thought I'd get to Essendon, and I was so happy with the result. It was grouse."