Andrew Brayshaw. AFLPA MVP, All Australian, Doig Medallist and vice-captain. He’s also Mr One Percenter.
The 24-year-old has already crafted a reputation as one of the competition’s best midfielders, built off his ball winning ability and two-way running capacity.
It’s this workrate (and will to impact contests he has no right to) which is seeing him produce team-lifting moments, some which aren’t seen on a stat sheet, but are often defining.
They’re the tackles, smothers, shepherds and selfless acts helping teammates and ultimately, his team’s chances of victory. And yesterday, Brayshaw was at his brilliant, hard-working best.
Andrew Brayshaw.Credit: Getty Images
Sure, his season high 41 touches was profound in the Dockers demolition of the Demons. Just as important in setting the tone was his selfless mindset.
In the opening two minutes, Brayshaw pounced on Demons livewire Kysaiah Pickett earning a holding the ball free-kick.
In the second term, he intervened, stopping a Demons counter-attack with a desperate smother on the wing.
Five minutes later as Melbourne were trying to conjure a comeback, a brilliant chase-down tackle on Koltyn Tholstrup halted the visitors’ quest for a third-straight goal.
The final act worth highlighting came in the third quarter, another potentially goal-saving effort, smothering Jack Viney’s shot on goal, Fremantle transitioning the ball the length of the field for Jye Amiss to kick his second goal in as many minutes.
They’re the small acts, making a big difference, the types applauded and praised internally.
West Coast’s woes continue under interim coach
West Coast woes were laid bare on Saturday, smashed by the Saints in a jarring result a week after a much improved showing against Brisbane.
Fans hopes of a repeat performance under interim coach Jarrad Schofield were dashed early as the Saints skipped clear with the game’s opening three goals.
And while the Eagles limited scoreboard damage in the opening half, the floodgates opened in the second.
With contracts and careers on the line, effort and competing should be non-negotiables from all at Lathlain.
But questions will be asked this week internally with a distinct lack of pressure highlighted by the incredible stat showing West Coast failed to lay a tackle in their attacking inside 50 from almost two hours of football.
The final tally read 23-0.
For context, the average over the nine games of football was almost 11 tackles inside 50 per side.
Making matters worse was the Saints ruthless mindset to hunt the Eagles defenders.
West Coast fielded the youngest team of the round, losing 517 games of experience and leadership in the shape of co-captain Liam Duggan, Elliot Yeo, Jake Waterman and Tyler Brockman from the week prior.
However, the lack of application had nothing to do with missing experience and leadership, instead a mindset which needs to improve drastically and quickly.
West Coast must dust themselves off ahead of a Western Derby.
They stunned their cross-town rivals earlier this year, but on exposed form, Derby 59 presents Fremantle with a chance to enhance their top four aspirations.