AFL draft 2020: Classy Geelong Falcons midfielder Tanner Bruhn compared to Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin
Top-10 draft prospect Tanner Bruhn has been compared to Trent Cotchin. And he has already followed in the footsteps of an another AFL champion.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Tanner Bruhn has been likened to Richmond captain Trent Cotchin and is described by one AFL club recruiter as a player with “twinkle toes”.
“In terms of small-medium midfielders, I think he’s probably got the most class in the draft,” the recruiter said.
“I just think he’s got twinkle toes. I like blokes like that whose feet don’t touch the ground in traffic and they use the ball well. He’s a bit like Cotchin I think on his feet.
“Scott Pendlebury goes laterally and around in circles just to keep everyone guessing. Cotchin goes through the line of the ball and just keeps going straight.
“I think Tanner Bruhn does that really well.”
Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
They are big raps, but ones Bruhn is more than happy to take on.
“Trent’s obviously a great player and a club legend at Richmond, so to be compared to him is pretty humbling,” Bruhn said.
“But I just try and go about my footy the way I go about it and if people say it’s a bit like Trent Cotchin, then I’ll take that.”
Bruhn managed only a handful of games at the end of last year after the discovery of a right knee issue last January, which required surgery and meant a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
But in the final two rounds of the NAB League season for Geelong Falcons he averaged 17 disposals (12 contested), 4.5 inside-50s, five clearances and kicked three goals in a sterling return for a bottom-age player.
“He’s a very balanced footballer, skilful, has a lot of time and he’s very flexible,” Falcons coach Luke Daffy said.
“I’d be pretty excited if I was an AFL club to get Tanner in the door.”
In 2018, Bruhn became just the second Falcons player since Luke Hodge to play under-18s while still eligible for under-16s.
“That was probably one of my biggest achievements,” Bruhn said.
“I was honoured and privileged to be able to run out with the likes of Sam Walsh, Ned McHenry, Connor Idun and Oscar Brownless. Especially being a 16-year-old, it was just a great experience for me.”
That under-18s call-up came after Bruhn had been named Vic Country’s MVP at the under-16 national championships – which was not the only Vic Country sporting team he had been part of.
Bruhn also attended national championships for Vic Country in his other sporting pursuit – cricket – as a very handy top-order batsman and medium-pace bowler.
“I’ve always switched between footy and cricket in the different seasons,” Bruhn said.
“So cricket’s been a big part of my journey as well.”
The West Coast supporter trained with Geelong during pre-season, where he received a shout-out from Cats superstar Patrick Dangerfield after impressing on the track.
With his knee problems now behind him after minor follow-up surgery earlier this year, the likely top-10 draft pick says his body is now “as healthy as possible” and ready to attack a full AFL pre-season.
“I’m just hopeful that I can get an opportunity and I don’t really mind where that lies in the draft,” Bruhn said.
“I’ve loved footy and it’s been one of my biggest passions since a very young age and it’s always been what I’ve wanted to do.”
MORE AFL DRAFT NEWS:
AFL sets national draft date for December 9, 2020
Why draft teen is inspired by Matt Rowell
Will Phillips has been likened to Gold Coast midfielder Matthew Rowell and the similarities extend beyond just football talent.
Phillips’ teammates at Oakleigh Chargers suspect that he sleeps with a Sherrin in his arms, just as the football-obsessed Rowell has been rumoured to do.
“Yeah, that’s probably pretty accurate,” Phillips said.
“I don’t like being away from a footy for too long.
“I don’t have any shame in that because I just love the game and love the footy.”
A Collingwood supporter who grew up idolising Scott Pendlebury, Phillips would collect sets of football cards growing up.
Not happy to settle for incomplete sets, he would buy any missing cards individually off eBay.
“I loved that,” Phillips said.
“There’s a couple of folders of cards around in the garage still.”
A tough inside midfielder, recruiters compare Phillips to players like Adelaide star Rory Sloane and Suns’ sensation Rowell.
At 181cm, he might not be blessed with height at a time when tall on-ballers are in vogue.
Nor might he might not have the most damaging kick of any player in the draft pool.
But what recruiters are certain of is that Phillips is a competitive beast like Rowell, whom he played in a NAB League premiership with at the Chargers last year.
“(Rowell) just shows you that you might not be the tallest or the fastest or the best endurance wise, but if you work hard and you’re really competitive and you don’t like to lose then you can really stand out,” Phillips said.
“He’s definitely been a great role model for me.”
The raps on Phillips from within the Chargers are just as big as the view from outside, especially after a grand final performance in which he had 16 disposals and kicked two goals as a bottom-age player last year.
“Your return on Will Phillips will be everything he’s got,” Oakleigh coach Leigh Clarke said.
“He carries responsibility on his shoulders like some experienced adult leaders don’t.”
Contrary to some reports, Phillips is not related to AFL brothers Tom and Ed Phillips.
However, somewhat oddly, he is family friends with the pair.
The 18-year-old has friends scattered across the league, also including Adelaide’s Fischer McAsey and Hawthorn’s Dylan Moore.
Soon, Phillips may get to join one of them in the big league, which will leave plans to travel and work in education on ice for now.
“I’m passionate about helping people,” Phillips said.
“I’d love to teach overseas or help out doing some humanitarian stuff in another country. I’d love to travel the world. If I didn’t love AFL footy I’d probably be off to live in Europe or something.”
More Coverage
Originally published as AFL draft 2020: Classy Geelong Falcons midfielder Tanner Bruhn compared to Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin
The players that made Robbo want to do a top 57
The hardest spot to pick in the top 50 isn’t No.1. It’s actually No.50. Robbo names the players he wanted to fit into his annual list – but couldn’t.
Max’s Metrics: Numbers behind stars Saint’s staggering contract
Max King has signed an eye-boggling new contract after the Saints lined his numbers up against past greats. They liked what they saw and here is how the spearhead compares to 12 others.