AFL Player #24: Nick Bryan - Had more fantasy points than any other ruckman vs Geelong

[Lore]

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

 

[eth-dog]

It's one thing to accumulate hit outs and another thing to dominate a game. He didn't dominate. And playing ruck in the VFL is a far cry from playing ruck at AFL level.

Me? I like him. I hope he has a big pre season and can challenge for the #1 spot. The fact he only got a taste hopefully tells him it's not going to just happen.

He was the best ruck in the VFL this year, period. He dominated.

That being said, I reckon he stays. He and Draper will be lethal together

 

[yodellinhank]

He was the best ruck in the VFL this year, period. He dominated.

That being said, I reckon he stays. He and Draper will be lethal together

In your opinion

 

[ant555]

He was the best ruck in the VFL this year, period. He dominated.

That being said, I reckon he stays. He and Draper will be lethal together

I am not sure I would call it dominate and for one reason. He did not physically dominate many games and he played a lot of the games against young rucks of a similar age. He dominated the hit out and the stats page for sure but he never really had a game where you could say his physical pressure was outstanding.

 

[andleanback]

He was the best ruck in the VFL this year, period. He dominated.

That being said, I reckon he stays. He and Draper will be lethal together

Bryan is already a better mark around the ground than draper. If he can learn more forward craft it could be one of the best duos in the afl

 

[faible]

His marking around the ground has been quite handy, probably a bit better than expected given he wasn’t dominant in the VFL on that front.

 

[Zach Package]

Bryan is already a better mark around the ground than draper. If he can learn more forward craft it could be one of the best duos in the afl

I suspect Draper is best used in spurts similar to how the Eagles used to use Naitanui in concert with another proper ruckman in Cox and then Lycett.

Bryan compliments that beautifully.

 

[ant555]

I suspect Draper is best used in spurts similar to how the Eagles used to use Naitanui in concert with another proper ruckman in Cox and then Lycett.

Bryan compliments that beautifully.

This.
Sam can not run out full games and can do the unexpected forward. Bryan can be the steady as you go around the ground.

 

[P Money]

You want him to have played because he is "someone else". His form hasn't warranted selection nor was he physically completely ready. I'd prefer they keep him working hard and developing to be stronger without getting knocked around by mature AFL rucks.

There has been no critique of his character, it is a critique of the character of toys out of the cot supporters who are projecting their own feelings onto him as if they have any clue what is said between him and the coaches whatsoever.

There have been plenty of comments around here along the lines of 'if he wants to look around after struggling to break into the team then he he's entitled and doesn't have the right attitude and he's not someone we want at the club'. That's what my post relates to. Whether I think he should be playing or not is completely irrelevant to that conversation.

 

[BrunoV]

You don’t think he was dominating? In the VFL?

Pretty clear you just don’t like him

He has been a clear standard below the domination achieved by Draper as a second/third year player. His form is nowhere near giving him an unimpeachable case for best 22 selection.

I think too many are jumping at shadows. He is not ready to carry a ruck division as the number 1. He's pretty close to being a legitimate number 2 who we'd just play next year because he is close enough.

For there to be any reason to leave:

1. he would need to be promised game time he is not ready for and a deal consistent with that. He's as likely to play as a number 2 here next year as anywhere else. In fact he's probably more likely because his competition just retired and our tall stocks are hugely unproven. In addition, not many sides are playing 2 specialist rucks at this stage;

2. he wants out because he is generally unhappy. Sure it is possible but there is nothing to suggest it is the case.

 

[carloss]

He has been a clear standard below the domination achieved by Draper as a second/third year player. His form is nowhere near giving him an unimpeachable case for best 22 selection.

I think too many are jumping at shadows. He is not ready to carry a ruck division as the number 1. He's pretty close to being a legitimate number 2 who we'd just play next year because he is close enough.

For there to be any reason to leave:

1. he would need to be promised game time he is not ready for and a deal consistent with that. He's as likely to play as a number 2 here next year as anywhere else. In fact he's probably more likely because his competition just retired and our tall stocks are hugely unproven. In addition, not many sides are playing 2 specialist rucks at this stage;

2. he wants out because he is generally unhappy. Sure it is possible but there is nothing to suggest it is the case.

Draper was taken in the 2016 rookie draft, he didn't debut till 2020.

 

[andleanback]

He has been a clear standard below the domination achieved by Draper as a second/third year player. His form is nowhere near giving him an unimpeachable case for best 22 selection.

I think too many are jumping at shadows. He is not ready to carry a ruck division as the number 1. He's pretty close to being a legitimate number 2 who we'd just play next year because he is close enough.

For there to be any reason to leave:

1. he would need to be promised game time he is not ready for and a deal consistent with that. He's as likely to play as a number 2 here next year as anywhere else. In fact he's probably more likely because his competition just retired and our tall stocks are hugely unproven. In addition, not many sides are playing 2 specialist rucks at this stage;

2. he wants out because he is generally unhappy. Sure it is possible but there is nothing to suggest it is the case.

I’d argue Bryan’s form in the vfl in has been much more dominate than draper’s was.

 

[BrunoV]

I’d argue Bryan’s form in the vfl in has been much more dominate than draper’s was.

Bryan is not yet a physically imposing player. I can't accept that is a dominant way for a ruck to play. There is no influence in possession accumulation.

Draper dominated every ruck other than Soldo and there is someone else he struggled against whose name currently escapes me. Might have been Meese.

His follow up around the contest was good and aggressive. He was good for multiple contested marks around the ground. Draper pinged an ACL in the first 2 months of 2019 which is part of the reason he didn't get an earlier run.

3 of the last 5 times I've watched Bryan I've been waiting for him to have a big man moment.

I reckon Draper had fortnights in which he pulled down more contested marks than Bryan has in his entire VFL career.

 

[P Money]

Bryan is not yet a physically imposing player. I can't accept that is a dominant way for a ruck to play. There is no influence in possession accumulation.

Draper dominated every ruck other than Soldo and there is someone else he struggled against whose name currently escapes me. Might have been Meese.

His follow up around the contest was good and aggressive. He was good for multiple contested marks around the ground. Draper pinged an ACL in the first 2 months of 2019 which is part of the reason he didn't get an earlier run.

3 of the last 5 times I've watched Bryan I've been waiting for him to have a big man moment.

I reckon Draper had fortnights in which he pulled down more contested marks than Bryan has in his entire VFL career.

Why is it that the only way a ruckman can 'dominate' is by being physically imposing? Any player can be dominant across any part of the ground in any number of ways. If he's beating his opponents in hitouts (esp to advantage), marking around the ground and providing a link in chains well over and above that of his direct opposition ruck, then he's surely 'dominating'. Brodie Grundy was pretty well universally regarded as the second best ruck behind Gawn for a good 5 year stretch, has never had a 'big man moment' in his career.

 

[andleanback]

Bryan is not yet a physically imposing player. I can't accept that is a dominant way for a ruck to play. There is no influence in possession accumulation.

Draper dominated every ruck other than Soldo and there is someone else he struggled against whose name currently escapes me. Might have been Meese.

His follow up around the contest was good and aggressive. He was good for multiple contested marks around the ground. Draper pinged an ACL in the first 2 months of 2019 which is part of the reason he didn't get an earlier run.

3 of the last 5 times I've watched Bryan I've been waiting for him to have a big man moment.

I reckon Draper had fortnights in which he pulled down more contested marks than Bryan has in his entire VFL career.

Bryan pulls down plenty of contested marks.
You don’t have to be physically imposing to be dominant as a ruck. Just have to look at grundy
Though Bryan has way better tap craft than grundy

 

[BrunoV]

Why is it that the only way a ruckman can 'dominate' is by being physically imposing? Any player can be dominant across any part of the ground in any number of ways. If he's beating his opponents in hitouts (esp to advantage), marking around the ground and providing a link in chains well over and above that of his direct opposition ruck, then he's surely 'dominating'. Brodie Grundy was pretty well universally regarded as the second best ruck behind Gawn for a good 5 year stretch, has never had a 'big man moment' in his career.

He's not marking around the ground. Certainly not contested marking. His possession is largely accumulation. While his numbers may look similar to Draper's he was not influencing games to the same degree.

As an aside possession accumulation by ruckmen is more useless than by midfielders and hafl backs. They're of no use unless their throwing their weight around. I think you're underselling Grundy's physicality around the ground.

 

[ant555]

I am with Bruno on this . Having Nick as my boy this year I have not missed watching him in any games (live and streaming) . He has not had the physical presence that Sam had . He has also rucked against a lot of rucks that are similar age or younger this year.

 

[yodellinhank]

Why is it that the only way a ruckman can 'dominate' is by being physically imposing? Any player can be dominant across any part of the ground in any number of ways. If he's beating his opponents in hitouts (esp to advantage), marking around the ground and providing a link in chains well over and above that of his direct opposition ruck, then he's surely 'dominating'. Brodie Grundy was pretty well universally regarded as the second best ruck behind Gawn for a good 5 year stretch, has never had a 'big man moment' in his career.

 

[bombreys]

It's one thing to accumulate hit outs and another thing to dominate a game. He didn't dominate. And playing ruck in the VFL is a far cry from playing ruck at AFL level.

Me? I like him. I hope he has a big pre season and can challenge for the #1 spot. The fact he only got a taste hopefully tells him it's not going to just happen.

Yes, it's a big difference - but you are flat out wrong if you think all he was doing was 'accumulating hit outs' at VFL level.

19+ stats, 5+ marks, 3+ tackles, 36+ hitouts.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Bryan is already a better mark around the ground than draper. If he can learn more forward craft it could be one of the best duos in the afl

Also, his foot skills are better than half our mids and he knows his limitations (Draper not so much).

 

[bombreys]

No we won’t. Well get a 3rd string or another young ruck.

Close to no chance of that happening.

Scott is not going to enter the season with three rucks aged 25 & under.

 

[Zach Package]

Close to no chance of that happening.

Scott is not going to enter the season with three rucks aged 25 & under.

Sam Hayes is 24, massive, mature frame, can play primary ruck or at least stand in the goalsquare and is Lewis' brother.

Makes a fair bit of sense.

 

[bombreys]

Sam Hayes is 24, massive, mature frame, can play primary ruck or at least stand in the goalsquare and is Lewis' brother.

Makes a fair bit of sense.

I'd like it, I'd just be shocked.

I think we end up going with a cheaper, low risk/reward type older guy who's okay with not competing for the no.1 spot. Like Flip a few years ago.

 

[andleanback]

Close to no chance of that happening.

Scott is not going to enter the season with three rucks aged 25 & under.

What does age matter. Who cares if they’re under 25

 

[ant555]

Close to no chance of that happening.

Scott is not going to enter the season with three rucks aged 25 & under.

Yep not having a crack at Scott.

 

[Yoda_]

He has been a clear standard below the domination achieved by Draper as a second/third year player. His form is nowhere near giving him an unimpeachable case for best 22 selection.

I think too many are jumping at shadows. He is not ready to carry a ruck division as the number 1. He's pretty close to being a legitimate number 2 who we'd just play next year because he is close enough.

For there to be any reason to leave:

1. he would need to be promised game time he is not ready for and a deal consistent with that. He's as likely to play as a number 2 here next year as anywhere else. In fact he's probably more likely because his competition just retired and our tall stocks are hugely unproven. In addition, not many sides are playing 2 specialist rucks at this stage;

2. he wants out because he is generally unhappy. Sure it is possible but there is nothing to suggest it is the case.

For mine, it would be starting at the bottom a year early. You would be losing a rung or two below what Draper offers in hope of gaining three rungs above Draper.

It’s a balancing act and another Dodoro master class of how list management should (not) go. Two young number 1 rucks within 3 years of each other is poor, turn Bryan into a fwd/ruck and it changes the dynamic of the whole list.