Delisted Collingwood midfielder Brayden Sier going back to his suburban roots

Delisted Collingwood midfielder Brayden Sier has decided to play local footy in 2022 and a snubbed draft prospect will be joining him.

Brayden Sier in action for Collingwood.

The Northern Football League arms race continues to heat up.

In a massive recruiting coup, Heidelberg has secured delisted Collingwood midfielder Brayden Sier full-time for 2022.

Sier joins a growing list of ex-AFL talent in NFL Division 1 with Lin Jong and Mitch Honeychurch (Montmorency), David Zaharakis (Bundoora), Daniel Gorringe (Greensborough), Jordan Schroder (Northcote Park) and Jarrad Waite and Corey Wagner (Whittlesea) all signing on in recent months.

Sier, 23, will bolster what is already arguably the competition’s strongest onball brigade.

Brayden Sier celebrates a goal for Collingwood. Picture: Michael Klein

He’ll join reigning Rosbrook Medallist Lachie Wilson, reigning Division 1 Coaches’ MVP Matt Smith, Matt Cecchin, Tim Schnerring and fellow recruit Kellan Smith in the Tigers rotation.

Coach Danny Nolan was happy to have such a selection headache.

“I can rattle off a few more too that we want to develop through there,” he said.

“We’ll have a lot of flexibility … it’s exactly what every coach wants, especially to cover an injury or two.

“We had high numbers rotating through there last year, we don’t want to rely on two or three or four, we’ll have seven, eight or nine.

“We’ve got Brayden, Minogue, Schnerring, they’re all hard to match up on as midfielders and then if you swap them forward it’s tough for the small defenders.

“I think the comp will be as strong as it has been in many years, there seems to be a lot of talent coming our way and it’s a good thing for the league.”

Sier is a Heidelberg local, having been drafted out of Banyule and the Northern Knights.

The big-bodied midfielder played 27 games for Collingwood after being drafted with pick No.32 in the 2015, making his debut in 2018 and going on to play in the Magpies’ Grand Final loss that same year.

However, he played just six, three and seven games in the following three seasons and was released in October.

Ben De Bolfo crashes the pack for Vic Metro. Pic: Michael Klein

Nolan revealed Rosbrook Medallist Wilson had been working overtime to get his old Marcellin schoolmate to Warringal Park.

“I’ve said all along we want to keep friendship groups together and Brayden went to school with a lot of our players,” Nolan said.

“As all of our recruits have worked out in the last few years, it’s through friendship groups, guys enjoying the club and promoting it to their mates and bringing them on board.

“Lachie Wilson did a fair bit of work for us, he’s taken a real leadership role in that area.

“(Sier) lives around the corner, he fits into a demographic perfectly, he’s the right age and a local, so it’s great to have him on board.”

Heidelberg will be further boosted by Vic Metro Under-18 representative Ben De Bolfo.

The young defender is expected to land on a VFL list over pre-season but will suit up for the Tigers – his junior club – when free.

Considered unlucky not to hear his name called out in the AFL Draft, De Bolfo is a 190cm intercept-marking defender.

One Heidelberg recruit who will be a Tiger full-time is Kellan Smith.

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The brother of Matt, Smith is a four-time premiership winner at Strathfieldsaye in the Bendigo Football League and brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the Tigers.

“We’ve been wanting him to join Matty for a while, just for that finals experience,” Nolan said.

“He’s an onballer as well, in and under, and Strath rated him very highly – not just for his footy ability but as a person.

“You can tell he’s quality on and off the field, he’s fitted in perfectly, hasn’t missed a night of training and sets very high standards.”