Brayden Sier snapped up by Collingwood in AFL Draft shock

“BRAYDEN, who?” was the reaction on social media when Collingwood read out its selection for Pick 32 in tonight’s AFL National Draft. Here is what we know.

TAC Cup: Northern Knights (white) V Eastern Ranges (blue) at Preston City Oval. Knights' Tyrone Leonardis. Photo taken on the 12th of July, 2015. Photo Christopher Chan

“BRAYDEN, who?”

That was the reaction on social media when Collingwood produced an AFL Draft shock by selecting Brayden Sier at pick 32 tonight.

A big-bodied midfielder, Sier played only Northern Knights’ final two TAC Cup games of the season this year, but did enough to grab the attention of at least a few AFL clubs.

He had 16 disposals in his first match and 14 in his second after spending much of the year playing school football with Marcellin College.

#sidebyside with Brayden Sier - https://t.co/XDxr3AtO2X Welcome aboard young man. #gopies pic.twitter.com/YpccCCaMtG

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) November 24, 2015

The 17-year-old won the best-and-fairest with Marcellin but was a late developer there, too.

However, at 190cm and 91kg, Sier is rated as a player who has plenty of growth potential left.

“There’s exposed form, but it’s certainly a pick on potential. And that’s what recruiting should be about really — what you think might come in the future,” Northern Knights coach Andrew Shakespeare told Leader.

“He came into our side late in the year. That’s just where he was development wise. We played him and there was enough there.

“A number of clubs tested him post season. We’d invited him back as a 19-year-old. We knew there was interest, but how deep it was was anyone’s guess really. It was a surprise to see him go 32, but he does have a lot of upside.”

Who the hell is Brayden Sier?? #AFLDraft

— Dan (@dcp3107) November 24, 2015

Shakespeare said Sier was a player who could win his own football and was both a good kick and a strong mark and had been on the Knights’ radar since being cut from the club’s under-15s squad.

“We’ve tracked him right through but because of his size and shape and aerobic capacity more than anything, he’s struggled to make our list,” the coach said.

“I think he was playing seconds school footy at one point. But he grew significantly across the year and he’s just a fine shape of a kid at 190cm and 85kg.”

Sier also made six senior appearances with Northern Football League Division 3 club Banyule this year, twice being named best-on-ground.

Brayden Sier doesn't even have a picture on the AFL app

— Rhys (@INTHEBINM8) November 24, 2015