Melbourne firming to select midfielder Angus Brayshaw in next month’s national draft

MELBOURNE recruiters have seen a set of numbers like these before. But this time it seems the Demons won’t baulk and may select the player some believe can have an instant impact at senior level.

Vic Country v Vic Metro Trevor Barker Oval Sandringham . Metro's Angus Brayshaw in action. May 18th 2014. Picture : Colleen Petch

MELBOURNE recruiters have seen a set of numbers like these before.

They belong to an AFL national draft prospect who thrives on winning the contested ball, lays fierce tackles and averages six clearances a game.

And to complement those impressive figures — which match their owners’ frames — sits a bonus link to the Demons, to boot.

Ollie Wines in action has become a star of the AFL after dominating at junior level. Picture: Colleen Petch

In 2012 the player was Jack Viney’s best mate, Ollie Wines.

But in the last of Melbourne’s heavily-publicised talent blooper reel, the club baulked and instead selected Jimmy Toumpas at No.4.

This year that player is Angus Brayshaw — a pal of coach Paul Roos’ son, Tyler — and AFL scouts believe the draft crime will not be repeated.

The Demons have picks No.2 and 3 and, with St Kilda favoured to crown explosive midfielder Christian Petracca the No.1 selection, experts believe Brayshaw will be the next name called on November 27.

The midfielder is shaping as the most blue-chip selection of this year’s pool and the Demons could package Brayshaw up with key forward Paddy McCartin or recovered ACL victim Jay Lever in a one-two punch.

“At this stage I’d expect — if Petracca is gone — that if Brayshaw doesn’t go pick two it’s because he’ll go to Melbourne at pick three,” one club scout said.

Roos has watched most of Brayshaw’s games this year and is a known fan of his bash-and-crash style glossed by accelerated leadership.

“I’ve said to a couple of clubs that I thought (Brayshaw) could have played AFL this year,” Sandringham Dragons talent manager Ryan O’Connor said.

“There’s something he does in every match that’s an outstanding effort and we’ve come to expect that of him.”

Angus Brayshaw in action. Picture: Colleen Petch

The commerce-engineering student’s friendship with Tyler Roos started through a mutual mate, Isaac Heeney, who was in Sydney’s academy with Roos last year and the AIS with Brayshaw.

“Isaac told me to look after him and I took him under my wing a little bit and ever since then we’ve been really good mates,” Brayshaw said.

“The small part I’ve had to do with (Paul Roos) this year, he’s been incredible and really cares about his players.

“I’d very lucky (to play under him) and hopefully it happens. We’ll wait and see.”

Brayshaw still must boost his endurance but recruiters are buoyed by his 20m sprint times, which Brayshaw said have dropped from 3.15sec to an elite 2.81.

Brayshaw, son of experienced football administrator Mark Brayshaw and nephew of North Melbourne chairman James, has already won comparisons to Geelong champion Joel Selwood and is a fan of Wines.

The Fremantle supporter was born nine days too late to enter last year’s draft but, if he lands at Melbourne, he would likely make his debut against Gold Coast in Round 1.

His most recent MCG appearance won him the Chairman’s Medal as best afield for the AIS against Collingwood’s VFL side.

ANGUS BRAYSHAW (187cm, 86kg)

SuperCoach ave: 133 pts

Disposals ave: 23.5

Contested: 11.5

Tackles: 6

Clearances: 6

Goals: 17 (11 games)

OLLIE WINES (185cm, 83kg)

SuperCoach ave: 145

Disposals: 25

Contested: 14.8

Tackles: 7.5

Clearances: 6

Goals: 12 (10 goals)

* Numbers from each player’s last TAC Cup season.

2014 AFL DRAFT ORDER

1. St Kilda

2. Melbourne

3. Melbourne

4. GWS

5. Collingwood

6. GWS

7. GWS

8. Gold Coast

9. Collingwood (Darcy Moore)

10. Geelong

Twitter: @SamLandsberger

Originally published as Melbourne firming to select midfielder Angus Brayshaw in next month’s national draft