North Melbourne missed out on Jordan De Goey three years ago but on Tuesday night drafted a teenager being touted as his second coming.
Brayden George, from the Murray Bushrangers, was the AFL draft’s ultimate risk versus reward prospect after an ACL rupture in his left knee in August ruined his hopes of being a top-10 selection.
That serious injury saw many recruiters draw a line through George’s name as a first-round option, and he eventually tumbled all the way to No.26, where the Roos pounced.
Brayden George is off to North Melbourne.Credit:Graham Denholm, AFL Photos
He is expected to spend next year recovering from his knee setback and instead turn his focus to trying to make his AFL debut in 2024.
George’s ACL tear came in just his second game back this year, after already spending 10 weeks out recovering from surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee.
But the 18-year-old’s upside is what North Melbourne is punting on.
De Goey, Christian Petracca and Jake Stringer have all been thrown up as comparisons for George, whose power, explosiveness and skill wowed recruiters throughout the season.
“He’s got more athletic traits than anyone else we’ve had come through our program in the time I’ve been involved, in the last seven years,” Bushrangers talent manager Mick Wilson told The Age.
“The way he kicks the footy – you know when you watch a good golfer, and it’s effortless, but their shot still goes further than everyone else and makes that nice sound?
“Him and [ex-Bushranger-turned-Crow] Josh Rachele kick the ball exceptionally well, just with timing and power.
“There’s no patience in footy nowadays … they want a ready-made player who can make an impact in his first season, especially in the first round.”
The Kangaroos already nabbed two of this year’s best teenagers in Harry Sheezel and George Wardlaw with the third and fourth picks on Monday night, so George’s arrival positions them as one of the potential draft winners.
AFL games record-holder Brent Harvey’s son, Cooper, rounds out North’s impressive draft haul.
Earlier, the Giants resisted the temptation to trade the first pick on night two and instead drafted Oakleigh Chargers swingman Max Gruzewski after strongly considering George.
West Coast then grabbed the draft crop’s best ruckman, South Australia’s Harry Barnett, knowing Nic Naitanui is nearing the end of his All-Australian career.
Barnett had interest from many other clubs, including Sydney, Collingwood, Melbourne, Fremantle and Adelaide, but the Eagles swooped first.
The Swans caused a major stir on the draft’s opening night after bidding on Giants Academy midfielder Harry Rowston and Adelaide father-son defender Max Michalanney with back-to-back picks.
They warned GWS of their looming bid and unsuccessfully tried to get a future first-round pick out of them.
Sydney was back at it on Tuesday, drafting Hawthorn’s Next Generation Academy product Cooper Vickery, a defensive speedster, with the No.27 selection.
The Hawks were unable to match a bid on Vickery unless he was still up for grabs after pick 40.
Collingwood was linked to defender Jakob Ryan in the first round but was able to select West Australian midfielder Ed Allan on Monday night and still secure Ryan at No.28.
They then sent pick 30 to Carlton for a future second-round selection, with the Blues bringing in surprise slider Lachie Cowan, a promising defender.
