AFL Player #24: Nick Bryan

[Lore]

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

 

[citizen-erased]

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.

another silver lining is they get just how important providing cover for the backline is.

 

[Lore]

Nick Bryan​

Key stats: One goal, 14 disposals, 30 hitouts, four marks, three tackles, five inside 50s

"It may have been his best game of the year. He positioned himself really well to get in some aerial contests, which is an area he's been working on. He won or halved a lot of contests, didn't get beaten in the air, and kicked a really nice goal on the run. His ruckwork was very good again, but he was a lot better for us around the ground this week."

VFL player review: Rd 6 v Footscray

Ten AFL-listed players are assessed from Sunday's loss to Footscray.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Good luck big fella!

 

[naraku]

Good!

 

[bennyg12]

Well earnt go well big fella

 

[BrunoV]

Yay!

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

Not a bad game for him to play in with first choice rucks Ned Reeves and Ben McEvoy

7

Ben Mcevoy

Age

35

Ht

200cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.6

3star

K

4.7

2star

HB

6.9

4star

M

4.2

4star

T

3.0

5star

G

0.4

3star

D

8.5

2star

K

3.9

1star

HB

4.6

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

1.8

3star

G

0.4

3star

D

6.0

2star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.0

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.2

3star

G

0.0

1star

missing for the Hawks. Maybe we feel we gain an advantage in the rucks in this match up. Go well!

 

[Bjchan13]

The future of a Draper/ Bryan ruck combo is one of the most exciting things about our list. Cant wait to see this

 

[crackers65]

Great to see him in. I have’nt seen much of him but he looks promising. He looks really athletic so I hope he can spend good time in the forward line. Good luck young fella.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Yay!

I'm framing this post from you... Have never seen this mix of brevity and simple joy!

Who knew it would just take Nick Bryan getting a call up?

Still, gotta take the wins where you can get them this year.

 

[BrunoV]

I'm framing this post from you... Have never seen this mix of brevity and simple joy!

Who knew it would just take Nick Bryan getting a call up?

Still, gotta take the wins where you can get them this year.

Wait and see what happens when Voss gets a gig.

 

[naraku]

Showed enough tonight. Keep him in

 

[TheGrizz]

His tandem with Draper was compelling.

Stop messing around with it now. The next 14 matches need to have these two playing together with Wright and Baldwin/Jones

 

[MiguelM]

Keep him in.

Wright needs to stay forward.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Thought he was very good when he was out there (only 62%). Can definitely tell he'll be a great player.

 

[Petrify]

Keep him in.

Wright needs to stay forward.

Exactly. We are so much better with a second ruck in to support Draper so Wright can stay forward

 

[BrunoV]

He's good enough when involved that we just play him now. Phillips is currently better but it's getting pretty clear this guy is capable of being an excellent player.

Every game he's fit to play from now.

 

[Beerfish]

Did some nice things tonight.

Like me.

 

[ant555]

His tandem with Draper was compelling.

Stop messing around with it now. The next 14 matches need to have these two playing together with Wright and Baldwin/Jones

150% yes.
He rucked well and did a few things around the ground and he was decent with his defending when needed.

 

[Vindicater]

He was very good. Is only 20 as well so lots to improve moving forward.

 

[eth-dog]

Keep him in. Had a couple of nice leads I59, and should get more opportunities there if we're not playing all three of Francis, Baldwin and Wright with him

 

[VexOh]

A lot of Tim English about him. The technically sound, football smarts non-aggressive type ruckman. Good complement to the pure grunt, hustle bustle nature of Draper

 

[blitzer]

A lot of Tim English about him. The technically sound, football smarts non-aggressive type ruckman. Good complement to the pure grunt, hustle bustle nature of Draper

Agree with this comparison. Although I'd say English has better forward craft and Bryan is not as weak at winning hitouts.
One thing that stands out to me about Bryan is his skills. For a ruck he's got very nice skills both handballing and kicking. He's leagues ahead of Draper as a ball user but obviously doesn't have that raw size, strength and aggression of Draper.

I certainly can't see why we can't use the 2 together to get different looks. The only thing is we need them to be somewhat effective up forward (both offensively and applying some defensive pressure) when resting there. That's really the caveat to this combo.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

150% yes.
He rucked well and did a few things around the ground and he was decent with his defending when needed.

He certainly can tackle.

 

[Vander18]

Unusually for someone 200cm plus, he’s just a footballer.

Very clean and skilled for a player that height. As I suspected he has enough size, athleticism and ability to offer something up forward regardless of inexperience.

Not as aggressive as Draper but Went back into a contest with courage at one point which has was good to see.