Laycock was nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star Medal in round five, 2005 before straining a calf muscle missed the last seven games of that season. In 2006, he suffered knee and foot injuries, which restricted him to six games.[1] Laycock played 19 games in 2007 and a further 16 games in 2008. In 2009, he suffered another foot injury and missed the entire season. He was delisted by Essendon in 2010.[2]