Tassie teen dynamo eyes off the big time

He’s not the biggest or the baddest forward going around but Tassie Devil young gun Brandon Leary is hoping his bag of tricks is enough to realise his AFL dream in two weeks’ time.

Brandon Leary, Tasmania Devils Picture: Linda Higginson

HE’S not the biggest or the baddest forward going around but Tassie Devil young gun Brandon Leary is hoping his bag of tricks is enough to realise his AFL dream in two weeks’ time.

After a breakout 2021 TSL season for North Launceston, the 19-year-old small forward was invited by the Devils to play as an over-age player in the NBA League this year where he wasted no time in attracting the eyes of recruiters with a starring season for The Map.

The 177cm dynamo, who models his game on Collingwood pocket-rocket Jamie Elliot, finished the season as Tasmania’s leading goalkicker with 33 majors in 14 games to play a huge role in helping the Devils to within a point of a maiden grand final.

Brandon Leary, Tasmania Devils Picture: Linda Higginson

After what was his first ever season with the Devils, along with playing three games for the Allies, the boy from Ravenswood said he felt he’d showed enough to be given a chance in the upcoming AFL Draft.

“I feel pretty content in what I’ve done and how I’ve gone about it but whatever happens happens,” Leary said.

“It’s out of my hands now but I feel what I’ve done has been good enough to get drafted.”

While he’s always dreamt of playing AFL footy, the crafty small forward said his form over the past two seasons gave him further belief he has the ability to make the dream a reality.

“Being drafted is something I’ve thought about since I was little but when you’re young you don’t know what goes on and just how good you have to be to make it,” he said.

“But in the last couple of years I’ve got a bit more of an idea on what you need to do and what you need to be good at and so I’ve probably honed in on that focus [of being drafted] the last two years.”

Brandon Leary, Tasmania Devils Picture: Linda Higginson

While blessed with an innate goal sense, Leary admitted his forward pressure was not where it needed to be at the start of the season but believed it was now a strength of his game.

“I knew going up to the [NAB League] level that tackle pressure is more of a focus than in your younger years playing footy and that stuff didn’t really come natural to me.

“So I knew I had to hone in on that a bit more and I feel like I did that and while I pride myself on my goal sense, I think my defensive pressure is now a strength of mine, as well as my agility and speed.”

While Leary is considered an outside chance of being drafted, he revealed a number of clubs had shown interested since the conclusion of the Devils season.

“I’ve spoken to probably five or six clubs throughout the year, mainly later in the year when they start talking to you.

Brandon Leary, Tasmania Devils takes a mark Picture: Linda Higginson

“It’s been good to have a few chats and a couple were over zoom and one in Melbourne when I was over there and then a couple teams flew down and had a chat to me the other week at my house.”

With the biggest night of his life fast approaching, Leary said he was expecting an anxious few hours as he watched the draft with family.

“I’ll be pretty nervous and I’ll just sit at home and watch it with the family.

“I love with my aunty and uncle and they’re really supportive.”

The AFL National Draft will be held across two nights on November 28 and 29.