Brisbane Lions weigh up draft bolter with top pick over favourite Cameron Rayner

ANDREW Brayshaw has emerged as a surprise candidate for Brisbane’s No.1 pick as the Lions strongly consider the Sandringham ball-winner.

Andrew Brayshaw in action for Vic Metro during the under-18 national championships.

ANDREW Brayshaw has emerged as a surprise candidate for Brisbane’s No.1 pick as the Lions strongly consider the Sandringham ball-winner.

The younger brother of Melbourne hard nut Angus Brayshaw was widely considered a top-20 pick mid-year but has surged into top-three calculations in the past month.

Hailed as a future captain and 200-game star, the accomplished midfielder is considered one of the most well-rounded and reliable midfield talents in next Friday night’s national draft.

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Brayshaw’s considerable leadership and character strengths also fits snugly with the young Lions’ needs as they look to fast-track their rebuild under coach Chris Fagan.

“He’s probably the safest bet of the lot,” one recruiter said of Brayshaw.

“He might not be as eye-catching as some of the others, but you could plonk him in the middle, know he will play well and build a team around him pretty comfortably.

Andrew Brayshaw shows the pain after competing in the yo-yo endurance test during the AFL Draft Combine.

“For them (Lions), it wouldn’t be a bad move.”

Brisbane could also snare Brayshaw’s older brother, Hamish, late in the draft order or as a rookie on November 27 to help fill-out its midfield.

Andrew Brayshaw has firmed as this year’s biggest draft bolter after an impressive draft combine last month when he topped the endurance running (yo-yo) test.

The 184cm midfielder has also posted a 15.2 beep test and will be ready to play senior footy in his debut AFL season next year.

While he has not provided as many spectacular highlights or kicked as many goals as some of the other pick No.1 candidates, talent-spotters love his consistency and attitude.

Sandringham talent manager Ryan O’Connor said Brayshaw was worthy of an early draft choice.

“There’s a really good mix of footy, character and commitment there, so I think it would be a pretty appealing package, particularly, too, for an interstate club,” O’Connor said.

“If he was lucky enough to do that (be taken No.1), I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t let them down.”

Andrew Brayshaw in action for Vic Metro.

Angus Brayshaw in action for Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein

It means exciting forward-midfielder Cameron Rayner, who has long been linked to the No.1 pick, could slip down the order to either Fremantle (No.2), Carlton (No.3) or North Melbourne (No.4).

It would be a dream result for the Kangaroos who would love to have Rayner’s creative goal kicking and x-factor.

Others in the mix for the No.1 pick include midfielders Luke Davies-Uniacke and Paddy Dow.

But the Lions could favour the dependability and decision-making of Brayshaw, who has also made clear to Brisbane he would have no worries moving interstate.

“When you sign the dotted line, you sign up for a national competition so it’s not just Melbourne, you can go interstate and I think that’s an awesome opportunity,” Brayshaw said on SEN.

After an early-season quad injury, Champion Data rated Brayshaw the No.1 ranked player over his two games at the national championships where he averaged two score assists a game.

The Haileybury product’s 14 kicks were also 100 per cent effective, underlining his clever foot skills.

In the TAC Cup Andrew averaged 25 disposals at 73 per cent disposal efficiency, rated elite for his position.