AFL Player #24: Nick Bryan

[Lore]

Contract Status: Out of contract 2025
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 16, ant555

 

[BrunoV]

I quite like what Philips brings but surely we should be looking to the future and playing Bryan?

Or has he just been not that good in the VFL.

He's not ready physically. He's still so slight.

He's also needs to start controlling the air. His marking has been sloppy the last few weeks.

I'd like to see him, and think there is a time for him this year but it's not yet.

 

[bomberman500]

whats his forward craft like for the vfl watchers? he would need to be solid down there before being a mainstay #2 ruck in the 1s

 

[BrunoV]

whats his forward craft like for the vfl watchers? he would need to be solid down there before being a mainstay #2 ruck in the 1s

Non existent.

He hasn't really had the opportunity. He rucks big minutes, at the moment with a brief 5-7 min a quarter chop out from McBride.

Maybe we should have him rotate with Eyre who could do with the freedom to run around and kick chase, as much as Bryan could do with some time forward.

I'd prefer to see Bryan really taking games apart before changing his focus. At the same age Draper was a dominant VFL player and yet as a 6th year year, he needs help from our back up.

 

[Lore]

 

[Bombers1234]

Bryan 70% ruck with Draper chopping out and playing mainly forward could work long term.

 

[TheGrizz]

The 2 ruck combo is back in vogue at the moment.

I am quite comfortable in my position that Bryan and Draper can coexist in the same team, but both will need to develop some forward craft.

 

[carloss]

Bryan 70% ruck with Draper chopping out and playing mainly forward could work long term.

Draper would need to put some work into his goal kicking.

 

[Stopher]

Draper would need to put some work into his goal kicking.

And he could be a weapon if he does, as his contested marking is quite good.

 

[maskmcgee]

he rucks big minutes, at the moment with a brief 5-7 min a quarter chop out from McBride.

So that means the club wants Draper to be the pinch hitting forward? Which I find strange given he'd be the worst kick for goal in the league.

 

[ant555]

So that means the club wants Draper to be the pinch hitting forward? Which I find strange given he'd be the worst kick for goal in the league.

His goal in the last quarter was a thing of beauty

 

[BrunoV]

So that means the club wants Draper to be the pinch hitting forward? Which I find strange given he'd be the worst kick for goal in the league.

I'd say it is more getting Bryan to clock the ruck before trying new things.

Remember he's barely played 10 competitive games stretching back to the end of 2019.

 

[Lore]

Nick Bryan​

Key stats: 15 disposals, 40 hitouts, five marks, five clearances, four tackles

"Nick did a really good job. He was crook all week and didn't train. You could see that he lacked energy, but he didn't lack effort, so I was really proud of the way he fought through. He won his ruck contests, had a lot of hitouts and battled through."

VFL player review: Rd 3 v Frankston

Eleven AFL-listed players are assessed from Sunday's loss to Frankston.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[ant555]

His ruck work and general play around the ground is good. Have to say he is still dropping a few marks every week that he really should be holding onto.

 

[Yoda_]

I know some are suggesting he isn't ready or that his VFL games aren't quite up to par but right now what we are getting from Draper is sub par.

Draper has 6 marks from 5 games and whilst Sammy is averaging 26 whiteouts, how many are ending in clearances &/or shots on goal?


We need to give Bryan an opportunity and right now, we can't do any worse than Draper right now.

 

[citizen-erased]

Can't be any worse than Draper's form and with Phillips injured, i wonder if it's worth going both to work Grundy over.
Also, would be nice to give him an Anzac Day game.

 

[Lore]

Will depend how Jones goes… Francis and Phillips effectively keeping his seat warm.

 

[BomberFan355]

And this weeks Saviour is...

Comes in with Philips out you'd say.

 

[bombreys]

If he doesn’t get a game this week, he’d be stupid not to seek a trade at the end of the year.

 

[Lore]

Nick Bryan​

Key stats: 12 disposals, 44 hitouts, four marks, five inside 50s

"'Bryza' competed really hard, especially in the first half where he was fantastic and taking contested marks. He had a lot of hitouts again and is probably third in the competition for them, but we're not taking full advantage of his hitouts with a young midfield."

VFL player review: Rd 4 v Port Melbourne

Fourteen AFL-listed players are assessed from Sunday's loss to Frankston.

www.essendonfc.com.au

Big props.

 

[ant555]

His efforts to mark this week where nothing to write home about.

 

[Lore]

Nick Bryan​

Key stats: 11 disposals, 31 hitouts, two clearances

"His ruck work is really good. 'Bryza' has got to a position now where his ruck work around the ground is giving our mids some really good looks. The thing for him is working on his around-the-ground positioning so he can impact more aerial contests, but he's developing pretty nicely."

VFL player review: Rd 5 v Collingwood

Twelve AFL-listed players are assessed from Monday's loss to Collingwood.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[faible]

His efforts to mark this week where nothing to write home about.

The thing for him is working on his around-the-ground positioning so he can impact more aerial contests

 

[Kakkle]

That was a good game to build on. Got back into defense and took intercept marks, was good at ground level and in the air, and kicked a goal on the run.

 

[citizen-erased]

That was a good game to build on. Got back into defense and took intercept marks, was good at ground level and in the air, and kicked a goal on the run.

surprised more teams don't do the CHB/ruck thing. Seems most 2nd rucks are forwards.

I remember Ryder looking the goods as a def/ruck

 

[Lore]

surprised more teams don't do the CHB/ruck thing. Seems most 2nd rucks are forwards.

I remember Ryder looking the goods as a def/ruck

I suspect the craft of a 2nd tall forward is easier to pick up, or at least less of a liability than putting them into defence most of the time. As a forward they're going to get the second best tall defender most of the time, if the opponent even has one. Good chance they'll have physical attributes that help them halve the contest even if the defender is quite smart about how they work you over. At worst, you're keeping a defender busy and potentially getting in the way of the forwards. If the ruck is in defence then they need to be studying the opponent each week and be developing a lot of that craft, and then when they go into the ruck someone has to cover their man, or else they play loose in the first place. So sort of logically it's easier to cater for a ruck/forward option.

On the other hand, a resting ruck/defender playing on a resting ruck/forward certainly makes the rotations easier.