There’s still a month to go to the 2022 AFL National Draft and amid the speculation as to who Melbourne might take with its first selection (currently at 13) is a player who was edging towards a top ten placing but struggled with injury during the season and ultimately tore an ACL early in the game against the Sandringham Dragons on 27 August. 

Brayden George might well be one of the hard luck stories of this year’s draft but it’s not all gloom and doom for the talented forward - it’s still likely that he will be selected somewhere in the late teens or early 20s.

George might quite well suit a club like Melbourne which has a surfeit of young players waiting for senior opportunity and can therefore afford to “warehouse” a player like him who will miss most, if not all, of 2023 recuperating from that knee injury. 

NAB League | Brayden George goes down with serious injury as Bushies’ season comes to a close

Brayden George still a big AFL Draft prospect despite suffering serious knee injury

Should Melbourne make a play for an injured but highly talented player with its pick 13 or possibly get involved in a trade of picks in a risky game to secure him a little later and improve its overall draft positioning?

Why not? Max Gawn was drafted by the club while recovering from an ACL injury while Christian Petracca injured his very early on in his first pre season. Both are premiership players and the early setbacks didn’t prevent them from becoming All Australians.

I’d like to think also that the faith the club placed in them during those dark times when they went through the long process of recovery helped create that bond and loyalty between club and player that led to them entering long term contracts further down the track as their careers unfolded.

Sounds a bit like a young Tracc too.

From all the phantom drafts and ratings it seems like 13 is way to early but 37 will be late - unless he slides even further. maybe we try and deal 13 to a side with 2 picks in the 20's and look at him there? Maybe something like 13 & 37 + future 2nd to St K who give us 28 & 32 and their future 1st. We still use the same amount of picks this year and enhance next years hand, while being able to go after a player like George. 

Of course the danger is we do something like that and end up without the player we traded down for, but it could be a draft night trade.

Edited October 27, 20222 yr by Red and Blue realist

We're definitely putting some time and work into George from a due diligence point of view. From what I've been told from MB officials, clubs looking at George have assured him that the focus is on having a 10- 12 year career and not trying to impact from day 1 of pre season. Focus and expectations will be in getting his knee right and soaking up the education and professionalism of AFL football.

I believe clubs like Sydney and Melbourne would be the perfect fit for George in this instance. 

He's Wangaratta lad who's a powerful footballer with enormous amount upside. Played majority forward this year and dominated with his power and strength.

He doesn't win a lot of thr footy as of yet but he doesn't need to with his hurt factor and damage up forward.  The goal for him would be to transition slowly into a midfield role like Petracca has dome over his career.

What’s his tank & work ethic like?

Looks good in a 1v1 out of a goalsquare, but can he find the footy around the ground?

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

We're definitely putting some time and work into George from a due diligence point of view. From what I've been told from MB officials, clubs looking at George have assured him that the focus is on having a 10- 12 year career and not trying to impact from day 1 of pre season. Focus and expectations will be in getting his knee right and soaking up the education and professionalism of AFL football.

I believe clubs like Sydney and Melbourne would be the perfect fit for George in this instance. 

He's Wangaratta lad who's a powerful footballer with enormous amount upside. Played majority forward this year and dominated with his power and strength.

He doesn't win a lot of thr footy as of yet but he doesn't need to with his hurt factor and damage up forward.  The goal for him would be to transition slowly into a midfield role like Petracca has dome over his career.

Do you think it's more likely we look to trade up if he's available rather than go with pick 13/14?

 

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

We're definitely putting some time and work into George from a due diligence point of view. From what I've been told from MB officials, clubs looking at George have assured him that the focus is on having a 10- 12 year career and not trying to impact from day 1 of pre season. Focus and expectations will be in getting his knee right and soaking up the education and professionalism of AFL football.

I believe clubs like Sydney and Melbourne would be the perfect fit for George in this instance. 

He's Wangaratta lad who's a powerful footballer with enormous amount upside. Played majority forward this year and dominated with his power and strength.

He doesn't win a lot of thr footy as of yet but he doesn't need to with his hurt factor and damage up forward.  The goal for him would be to transition slowly into a midfield role like Petracca has dome over his career.

Is he a competitor??

If Hollands is gone by the time our pick comes around, then I'd be happy to take a punt on George.

Not sure what it is about this years AFL highlights packages, but in comparison to previous years they're noticeably less impressive across the board both from an editing perspective and what they've decided to include.

Edited October 30, 20222 yr by Nascent

On 10/28/2022 at 12:36 PM, Mach5 said:

What’s his tank & work ethic like?

Looks good in a 1v1 out of a goalsquare, but can he find the footy around the ground?

 

On 10/28/2022 at 1:01 PM, BangBnagBang said:

Is he a competitor??

And what is his size etc?   Is he a potential KPF or a flanker? 

17 minutes ago, monoccular said:

 

And what is his size etc?   Is he a potential KPF or a flanker? 

185cm 87kg

Think @dazzledavey36, who I believe is involved with the Bushies in some capacity, has summed him up pretty well a few posts earlier. Start career forward with views to progress to the midfield.

On 10/28/2022 at 1:01 PM, BangBnagBang said:

Is he a competitor??

Competitive beast with a strut of arrogance. 

From a physical perspective he's a pretty well built lad with thick set of thighs.

He's certainly ready ready to match it with the senior bodies but I genuinely think having a year off next year and going through the same induction as what Petracca did back in 2015 will set him up well for a good AFL career.

5 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

but I genuinely think having a year off next year and going through the same induction as what Petracca did back in 2015 will set him up well for a good AFL career.

Yep, get those good habits down pat early. Good recovery, good nutrition, good training habits.

On 10/31/2022 at 9:11 AM, dazzledavey36 said:

Competitive beast with a strut of arrogance. 

From a physical perspective he's a pretty well built lad with thick set of thighs.

He's certainly ready ready to match it with the senior bodies but I genuinely think having a year off next year and going through the same induction as what Petracca did back in 2015 will set him up well for a good AFL career.

 

23 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

Yep, get those good habits down pat early. Good recovery, good nutrition, good training habits.

Just a question - can someone be drafted then put immediately on the long term injury list? 

45 minutes ago, monoccular said:

 

Just a question - can someone be drafted then put immediately on the long term injury list? 

Yes

In the old days you put players on the long term injury list so a player on the rookie list could play in the 1st but today the only reason you would do it if you wanted a player in the mid-season draft.

46 minutes ago, durango said:

In the old days you put players on the long term injury list so a player on the rookie list could play in the 1st but today the only reason you would do it if you wanted a player in the mid-season draft.

Or a DFA in the pre-season.

“Every AFL draft is a high-stakes game of educated guessing and projection, mixed in with various risks and rewards.

With that in mind, Brayden George is this year’s most-coveted mystery box.

Scouts know he’s a powerful athlete, a leader, highly skilled, disciplined, a good character and already compare him to big-name stars Jordan De Goey and Christian Petracca.

What is there not to like?”

The ultimate risk v reward prospect: Why Brayden George has AFL recruiters salivating

A draft profile of George:

AFL Draft Profile: Brayden George

Brayden George.  It’s a yes from me.  Like his style.  
Perhaps 13 is too high but it’s clear that JT and the Dees are looking at how to get that 2nd pick earlier to perhaps grab George or Gruzewski.   

2 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Brayden George.  It’s a yes from me.  Like his style.  
Perhaps 13 is too high but it’s clear that JT and the Dees are looking at how to get that 2nd pick earlier to perhaps grab George or Gruzewski.   

Don’t think it will be Gruzewski, as I believe GWS want him and it will be their pick 18-19 we will probably target/need, to get the players we want, if we are going to trade picks.

As I said earlier, I could see us trading 13 and 37 and a F pick to GWS for 15 and 18 or 19 or just trading a F1st and 37 for 18 or 19.

Could be an interesting time for us, late on Monday night, just after pick 17 by the Swans is used.

If we draft George and Jefferson, as Phillipou will be gone, we would be drafting for the future, rather than for immediate reward, which is fine by me.

Edited November 24, 20222 yr by Redleg