AFL Player #24: Nick Bryan

[Lore]

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

 

[BrunoV]

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.

I see it the same way.

Bryan is not and will probably never be a physically punishing player but, as is the case with Ryder, he's also a natural ruckman who does not get hit off his line by more physical players (in the way English has been).

He relies on athleticism to be (potentially) really good but that doesn't mean he can't handle the physical stuff.

No doubt English has Bryan covered for forward craft at this stage. But we're dealing with a guy who knows the game. With his skill set I have little doubt Bryan can be developed in the role to the point that he could play as a full time key forward.

 

[carnthedons]

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.

Was he a late growth spurt kinda kid, English style? His skills suggest he’s another option as a 6’8 winger if we desire.

Interesting contrast having a somewhat more graceful athlete against the brute force style of Draper.

 

[Vander18]

Was he a late growth spurt kinda kid, English style? His skills suggest he’s another option as a 6’8 winger if we desire.

Interesting contrast having a somewhat more graceful athlete against the brute force style of Draper.

Funny - little Vander goes to same school Bryan attended and mentioned to me an hour or so ago that school coach mentioned that Bryan played C’s footy in year 10.

 

[yaco55]

Two rucks only works if they are both quality players such as Gawn and Jackson - Seeing that Bryan displays no forward craft then its hard to see him working long-term.

 

[Lore]

Two rucks only works if they are both quality players such as Gawn and Jackson - Seeing that Bryan displays no forward craft then its hard to see him working long-term.

Quite possible because he’s a ruck/def and not a ruck/fwd

 

[Vander18]

Two rucks only works if they are both quality players such as Gawn and Jackson - Seeing that Bryan displays no forward craft then its hard to see him working long-term.

If we can’t teach a 20 yo 203 cm athlete with high levels of skill and coordination some basic forward craft….then that’s on us.

 

[half time raffle]

The kid's got it. His inclusion in the side allows our ruck division to get on top late in games (like last night) and create mismatchs in the forward line. Keep him in and develop him as an AFL player not a VFL one.

On CPH2065 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[wichidi]

Had some great pressure acts last night which don’t show up on the stat sheet. Also stood up under pressure at certain times too. Looks like a cool head

 

[citizen-erased]

Quite possible because he’s a ruck/def and not a ruck/fwd

Yep. Had some good moments in our defensive half too.

 

[ant555]

Two rucks only works if they are both quality players such as Gawn and Jackson - Seeing that Bryan displays no forward craft then its hard to see him working long-term.

Think you need a new TV.
It absolutely worked on Saturday and he did show a bit of forward craft. Just did not nail the goal.

 

[yaco55]

Think you need a new TV.
It absolutely worked on Saturday and he did show a bit of forward craft. Just did not nail the goal.

IT didn't work - Bryan is a fair way off being an AFL standard player, while Draper who has limited forward craft, took three quarters to exert his influence on the game - It's not a long term option moving forward.

 

[ant555]

IT didn't work - Bryan is a fair way off being an AFL standard player, while Draper who has limited forward craft, took three quarters to exert his influence on the game - It's not a long term option moving forward.

Rubbish. Wright ended up with 6 goals. Bryan played well in the ruck as did Draper in the second half.

 

[foj1]

IT didn't work - Bryan is a fair way off being an AFL standard player, while Draper who has limited forward craft, took three quarters to exert his influence on the game - It's not a long term option moving forward.

One game mate
two young ruckman who need time and senior games
the fact Wright was able to stay forward was huge and allowed him to work frost right up the ground knowing he wouldn’t have to ruck at all during the game
if you don’t play Bryan you lose him for a paltry return anyway

 

[Howard Moon]

Lets not forget we only really swung the ruck dominance our way late when lynch went off for a concussion test - wasn't really because of the 2 v 1 scenario. Having said that i still like our structure better with the 2 rucks and 2mp

 

[Zach Package]

Even if it’s a bit of addition by subtraction the fact that Wright doesn’t have to ruck makes it well worth it at this stage. Bryan will quite obviously only get better as well.

 

[BrunoV]

Lets not forget we only really swung the ruck dominance our way late when lynch went off for a concussion test - wasn't really because of the 2 v 1 scenario. Having said that i still like our structure better with the 2 rucks and 2mp

It tends to be the way it plays out when we try a few rucks. Remember back to when we tried Ryder forward and Hille and Bellchambers would tank the ruck so badly we had to move Ryder into the middle?

Here Draper, instead of destroying Lynch as he should have, was trying to bully him rather than just playing the ball, at least in the first quarter.

He'd basically wrestled control back by the second quarter.

The other thing is that you'd expect the 2 rucks to start to dominate later in the game as they wear down their opponent.

We shouldn't get carried away with actual output. Bryan isn't ready. If we were pushing top 4 we'd surely play a fit Phillips. But we're not. Fantasies aside, we're deep into a development year.

All our talented long term players should be playing as long as they're fit and have at least demonstrated a mastery of the lower level.

Reid (to a less extent) and Bryan have done that and should just play.

I'd also point out that from low game time forward Bryan took a mark at CHF, a mark inside 50 and spilled another. Constant injury to Phillips has meant we haven't even started to develop Bryan's forward game in the heat of battle. His forward craft did not seem to be much of a problem.

 

[Howard Moon]

It tends to be the way it plays out when we try a few rucks. Remember back to when we tried Ryder forward and Hille and Bellchambers would tank the ruck so badly we had to move Ryder into the middle?

Here Draper, instead of destroying Lynch as he should have, was trying to bully him rather than just playing the ball, at least in the first quarter.

He'd basically wrestled control back by the second quarter.

The other thing is that you'd expect the 2 rucks to start to dominate later in the game as they wear down their opponent.

We shouldn't get carried away with actual output. Bryan isn't ready. If we pushing top 4 we'd surely play a fit Phillips. But we're not. Fantasies aside, we're deep into development year.

All our talented long term players should be playing as long as they're fit and have at least demonstrated a mastery of the lower level.

Reid (to a less extent) and Bryan have done that and should just play.

I'd also point out that from low game time forward Bryan took a mark at CHF, a make inside 50 and spilled another. Injury has mean we haven't even started to develop his forward game in the hear of battle. His forward craft did seem to be much of a problem.

i'm all for him staying in, think he's the perfect compliment to Drapes brute aggression, really love his tap work. I did notice big Drapes had 5 disposals, 5 clearances. Bang for buck right there...

 

[Zephyr Effekt]

IT didn't work - Bryan is a fair way off being an AFL standard player, while Draper who has limited forward craft, took three quarters to exert his influence on the game - It's not a long term option moving forward.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Showed decent athleticism.

Stays in and gets games until he needs a rest.

 

[MiguelM]

I thought he looked ok.

As others have said, 2 rucks is a must to keep 2MP forward. Every time we do it 2MP kicks a bag.

I thought he looked ok. It is 1 game, seriously, he needs time people.

When Phillips is fit, 2 of Bryan, Draper & Phillips in any combination of should play.

 

[Petrify]

It is funny that him and Draper are essentially total opposites in playstyle.

Bryan is silky with good footskills whereas Draper is a bull who isn't the best kick

 

[MiguelM]

It is funny that him and Draper are essentially total opposites in playstyle.

Bryan is silky with good footskills whereas Draper is a bull who isn't the best kick

Which may work perfectly well.

Just watched the replay of the third quarter. Bryan did some nice things.

A tackle unlucky not to be rewarded too.

 

[Duckworth]

It is funny that him and Draper are essentially total opposites in playstyle.

Bryan is silky with good footskills whereas Draper is a bull who isn't the best kick

Draper looks like he’s dropping an A4 piece of paper instead of a footy when he goes to kick.

 

[Ambrosia]

Not that we are crying out for more KPD prospects but I see nothing to suggest that he wouldn’t be a very good CHB.

Not sure he’ll ever be a good forward though.

 

[faible]

Not that we are crying out for more KPD prospects but I see nothing to suggest that he wouldn’t be a very good CHB.

Not sure he’ll ever be a good forward though.

Ruckman who sits behind play; Gawn has been extremely effective doing that.