Luke Davies-Uniacke seems to grow in confidence with each passing week. 

On Saturday night, the midfielder had 23 disposals, and a game-high 16 contested possessions against the ladder leading Port Adelaide.

“LDU is stepping up every game now,” coach Rhyce Shaw said after the game.

“Every game he plays he gets more confidence.  

“The guys are really working around him and helping him play the footy we know he can play.”

Although the Roos were comfortably beaten, Davies-Uniacke was a shining light throughout the game, with his ability to break from contests catching the eye of many.

The 21-year-old has relished playing on the ball more often since his return to the team, and is averaging career-best numbers.  

He was quiet on his return against Carlton in Round 8 with just 7 disposals, but that was to be expected in his first AFL game for almost a year. 

Since that point, he has averaged 19 disposals, 7.9 of those contested. He also ranks above average for inside 50s, and elite for rebound 50s.

And while his career is still very much in its infancy, his playing style is starting to draw some very exciting comparisons. 

After the Round 12 game against Brisbane, former junior coach and Essendon great Matthew Lloyd was full of praise for the number 9.

“I coached Luke Davis-Uniacke at Haileybury. We had a 10-game season, he dropped off in his last two, but his first eight was as good as I’ve seen – I’m talking 30 possessions and six goals in the one game,” Lloyd told AFL Media’s Access All Areas. 

“He has (Chris) Judd-like explosiveness, but he hasn’t shown it through injuries and through a lack of belief in himself.

“Now we’re seeing a guy who believes he belongs and North finally may have a superstar that they’ve been crying out for.” 

Those sentiments were echoed by AFL.com.au reporter Marc McGowan after the clash with Port. 

“The way he arched his back and put on the afterburners had some similarities to the retired West Coast and Carlton great,” McGowan said in his match report.

A highly touted junior who was taken at pick 4 in the 2017 Draft, it has taken some time for the number 9 to get to this point. 

But it is also easy to forget that he has played just 28 matches, having had a number of injury issues since his debut. 

If he can keep his body right and put together a complete pre-season, the sky is the limit for ‘LDU’ in 2021.