Player Watch #33: Brayden 'Sausage' George - injured shoulder & requires reco - season 2025 done - contracted until end 2026

[The acurate one]

I saw it happen today. There wasn’t much in it.

Im not sure we can carry a guy on our list next year that won’t play.

Glad I’m not making the decision

Dunno about us carrying blokes that can’t play. It’s what we’ve done best for a while now.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

I saw it happen today. There wasn’t much in it.

Im not sure we can carry a guy on our list next year that won’t play.

Glad I’m not making the decision

A couple of years ago I probably would’ve had the same opinion. But we have a lot more flexibility now with the inactive list and we backed in a far less talented Flynn Perez off the back of two ACL’s.

If we retain those two extra rookie list spots I have no issues with us keeping him on for another 12 months, and replacing his spot on the list with a mature age player via the SPP before next season starts.

A good 12 months recovery has him returning to plan June next year. We’ll know pretty quick if he deserves a list spot in 2025.

 

[DuckYeah]

Oh just saw this. Poor campaigner. Thats devastating

 

[BigRedRoo]

This injury would mean up to three seasons without a senior game played.
A ruthless team would call it and make the cut.

 

[Kangaroosters]

Lord - there are some pelicans floating around.

Yes, we can absolutely afford to carry an injured Brayden George on the list while he recovers. He’s 20yo and highly talented - the club knew the risk was injury when we drafted him so we’re hardly cutting our losses now.

Who is he realistically holding back? Someone in the VFL? Spare me. He’s in our long term plans until he isn’t.

 

[Mixed Results]

A two year extension where he starts next year on the LTI makes a ton of sense.

It makes it easier to retain somebody like Shiels for another year, and let's him get his body right for 2026. It's devastating news, but certainly not a career ender.

 

[nicko74]

Has it been 100% confirmed?

 

[Sphynx]

This injury would mean up to three seasons without a senior game played.
A ruthless team would call it and make the cut.

What do you mean without a senior game played?

He's played the bulk of the VFL season and some should argue should have debuted before hurting his elbow.

It's not as if he's been constantly injured.

 

[The Nostradamus]

This injury would mean up to three seasons without a senior game played.
A ruthless team would call it and make the cut.

Or you just give him a 1 year deal put him on inactive list and pick another player SSP

Allows the spot to be filled but keeps George on the list to try make a comeback

 

[BigRedRoo]

What do you mean without a senior game played?

He's played the bulk of the VFL season and some should argue should have debuted before hurting his elbow.

It's not as if he's been constantly injured.

Sorry if that seems harsh.

I'm just a little bit jaded from the numbers we have seen who promise so much and fail to fire a shot.

 

[muttley45]

Horrible news if ACL is confirmed, but, doesn't even turn 21 till next year, back him and the surgeons in, he can go on the long term injury list anyway, so it aint like he is taking up someone else's spot, good luck Sausage.

 

[Sphynx]

He's OOC at the end of the year, club should probably delist and relist as a rookie with a commitment with his management of another 2 years (1 year recovery, plus another).

Only downside to this is he would be a UFA for the remainder of his career, but you would think that wouldn't be an issue given the faith the club would have shown to that point.

 

[Sphynx]

Horrible news if ACL is confirmed, but, doesn't even turn 21 till next year, back him and the surgeons in, he can go on the long term injury list anyway, so it aint like he is taking up someone else's spot, good luck Sausage.

We can't put him on the LTI list at the start of next year.

As it would mean he would be ruled out of VFL football for the entirety of next season, he's basically done his knee at the same point Logue did his last year and Logue will get half a season of football in.

Only solace to this is, he should hopefully be running for preseason and will more than likely have Goater and CCJ in the long term rehab group with him.

 

[The Nostradamus]

We can't put him on the LTI list at the start of next year.

As it would mean he would be ruled out of VFL football for the entirety of next season, he's basically done his knee at the same point Logue did his last year and Logue will get half a season of football in.

Only solace to this is, he should hopefully be running for preseason and will more than likely have Goater and CCJ in the long term rehab group with him.

You can move him back to the main list if someone else gets a LTI next year and knowing our luck it will happen

And if it doesn’t then you just let him use next year rehabbing then training when ready but not playing

 

[Sphynx]

You can move him back to the main list if someone else gets a LTI next year and knowing our luck it will happen

And if it doesn’t then you just let him use next year rehabbing then training when ready but not playing

That's not a decision you make without certainty.

These guys aren't chess pieces on a whiteboard.

They don't deserve to have 6 months of their playing career stripped off them because it gives the club flexibility, especially from a guy who has already missed large chunks of his career.

Won't happen in reality.

 

[bennymate]

Hopefully they give him a 1 year deal.

We gave Garner 10 years ffs

Yeah and it was a total piss take and waste of salary space, no more handouts.

 

[bennymate]

Comben's baton has been handed over.

Chom didn't do his knee twice, players rarely come back from it.

 

[Uncle_Leo]

Yeah and it was a total piss take and waste of salary space, no more handouts.

High draft pick, I'm sure we can offer him at least 1-2 years.

 

[trooroo4life]

He's OOC at the end of the year, club should probably delist and relist as a rookie with a commitment with his management of another 2 years (1 year recovery, plus another).

Only downside to this is he would be a UFA for the remainder of his career, but you would think that wouldn't be an issue given the faith the club would have shown to that point.

Playing with fire doing that. Clubs would pounce before we got the chance to rookie him. Just give him the 2 years, take the weight off his mind and back him in.

 

[Only Forwards]

If we’re offering George 2 years based on perceived potential output then by comparison would should be offering Phillips 4 based upon his current output to date.

And if I had to choose I know which way I am picking.

 

[The Nostradamus]

That's not a decision you make without certainty.

These guys aren't chess pieces on a whiteboard.

They don't deserve to have 6 months of their playing career stripped off them because it gives the club flexibility, especially from a guy who has already missed large chunks of his career.

Won't happen in reality.

Would be more like 3 months

And like I said I’d guess more often than not we have a LTI in the first half of a year

But worst case be extra cautious the second time around and having an extra 3 months to train might be the smarter way anyway

 

[leighlee13]

ACL just confirmed by the club

Brayden George: Scans confirm ACL injury for luckless Roo

North Melbourne can confirm Brayden George suffered an ACL injury in Sunday's VFL match

www.nmfc.com.au

 

[BlueandWhiteinmyBlood]

Easy for me to sit here and say yes or no to contracts, how long they are and how much people should receive - it’s not my money, it’s not my list to balance and build but what I do know for sure is we are a genuine, loving, caring, family club. There are times to be ruthless and there are times to put our arms around one of our own, and this time it’s the latter. We have had far worse on our list in the past taking up a spot and I would hope, and I would be shocked if Brayden wasn’t given a 2 year contract in the next week or so - so he can put his mind to ease, focus on his recovery and have it be known that the club loves him and will back him in. Ratten thought he was the most talented player on the list, that’s enough for me.

 

[Ardent Roo]

Easy for me to sit here and say yes or no to contracts, how long they are and how much people should receive - it’s not my money, it’s not my list to balance and build but what I do know for sure is we are a genuine, loving, caring, family club. There are times to be ruthless and there are times to put our arms around one of our own, and this time it’s the latter. We have had far worse on our list in the past taking up a spot and I would hope, and I would be shocked if Brayden wasn’t given a 2 year contract in the next week or so - so he can put his mind to ease, focus on his recovery and have it be known that the club loves him and will back him in. Ratten thought he was the most talented player on the list, that’s enough for me.

Ratts said he "could be the pick" of the 2022 Draft Class that included Sheez and Wardlaw, not the whole list. Irrespective, I agree - we are spoilt for choice with other delisting options, I'd give him another 2yrs.

 

[hsquid]

Ratts said he "could be the pick" of the 2022 Draft Class that included Sheez and Wardlaw, not the whole list. Irrespective, I agree - we are spoilt for choice with other delisting options, I'd give him another 2yrs.

You're really threading the needle to find space between 'better than Sheez and Wardlaw' and 'best on the list'.