He will come in and play a decent stint and somebody will offer him a big contract. Ruckman are just hard to find, if there is a guy who shows he can compete at AFL level, he’ll get snapped up.
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Anyone else not particularly worried? I want him to have a good year in the 2s and improve, but Goldy won’t be on the list next year.
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What’s to be worried about?
Bryan played a few games last year.
His biggest problem was getting across the ground.
He’s had an injury free pre-season. With some hope, he plays the majority of VFL games (and maybe a few more AFL games). He’ll have another pre-season to work on his fitness.
Should be fine to get games next year to progress his development.
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He played well towards the end of the year when he was given a run of games. Sadly with Goldstein, he is back down the pecking order
Disappointed not to see him in the team this week to replace Draper
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Or big vigo for past him in the off season and he becomes fodder with no currency
Goldy is very short odds to play next year IMO. Wouldn’t surprise me to see him play in 2026.
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Goldy has already moved past Draper. Not gonna happen.
hes done at the efc
This is unnecessary panic.
Nothing wrong with spending a pick in the late 30s on a ruck. Picks in the late 30s are sketchy at best, there wasn’t some massive opportunity loss. (And don’t hindsight me, there’s always hindsight, but u less you had Warner in your top 10 at the time it’s just 20/20 vision 5 years later)
And he’s progressing fine.
He’s 22. Rucks always take time. He’s shown year on year improvement (he started a little slow this year, but is right into it now). He leads the VFL in hotouts by some margin, and is in the top 3 in terms of hitouts per game. He’s clearly a ruck rather than a forward/ruck. Just learning off Goldstein this year is a great situation. He’ll be primed to give Goldstein some rest in the second half of the year and then be first choice ruck next year with Draper and his injuries and questionable tank being the forward/ruck option.
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EFC article from last year. I dunno how much faith to put into what’s being said because the article refers to Bryan and Voss, and we know what happened to Voss.
Rewarding form is not always as straight forward as it may seem.
On the back of strong performances in the VFL, many Bomber fans would expect the likes of Pat Voss and Nick Bryan to find their way into the Bombers’ senior side.
For GM of Football Josh Mahoney, it is not that simple - with a longterm approach still the preferred method.
“I think people get really impatient with these young guys sometimes,” Mahoney said.
"It can be expected that if they play a couple of good VFL games they have to be called up to the AFL.
“We’re trying to set these guys up for long AFL careers, we don’t want them playing AFL if they aren’t ready for it.”
Voss has become a fan favourite, kicking 12 goals from five games, gaining consistent support from fans for the young forward to make his debut.
Fourth-year ruckman Bryan will be looking to add to his six AFL games having returned from injury in strong form, producing 76 hit-outs and 34 disposals from two games.
Mahoney says that consistency will be key to allowing both players to come in and hit the ground running.
“Nick Bryan and Pat Voss are playing good footy, but it’s still about making sure they are ready for AFL footy,” Mahoney said.
“Even if that takes a little bit longer, we think it will benefit them more in the long run.”
The excitement and potential is definitely there for the two young players, with Mahoney admitting that the problem of selection is definitely a good one to have.
“We can definitely understand why people get excited, especially when guys like Voss are kicking multiple goals each week,” Mahoney said.
“It is a good problem to have.”
Excerpts from an EFC article, also from last year, from when Bryan re-signed.
Bryan continued to develop strongly throughout the 2023 season, featuring in a career-high eight games at AFL level and averaging 17 hit-outs per game.
Registering a career-high 15 disposals and 29 hit-outs against the Swans in round 20, the 21-year-old continues to show the attributes which make him such an exciting prospect for the Bombers alongside ruck partner Sam Draper.
Being a part of the progression of the Bombers’ young core was a key factor in Bryan’s decision to ink a new deal.
“I’ve loved my time at Essendon and I’m excited to recommit for a further two years. I’ve got great faith in what we’re building at the club, and we have a young list coming through together who will play their best footy in the years ahead,” Bryan said.
“As a group we’re hungry for success and we’re committed to driving each other so that we can bring success back to Essendon members and fans.”
With veteran ruck Andrew Phillips announcing his retirement this season, Bryan is shaping as an integral piece to the Bombers’ tall stocks in 2024 and beyond.
GM of List and Recruiting Adrian Dodoro is thrilled to see the pair commit to the club, citing it as further reason for excitement among the Bombers faithful.
“Nick continues to impress with his dedication to getting better and he was justly rewarded with senior opportunities this season. Nick’s best footy is ahead of him and we look forward to seeing him continue to grow within our football environment,” Dodoro said.
Draper out for 6-8 weeks. Time to give this kid a run in the seniors and see if hes got the goods while Goldy can support him.
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There was just a show on Fox footy (no idea what it was called) that basically said Bryan is gone and will be seeking a trade.
Anyone know anything about this?
Geez we’d want this Vigo kid to be alright.
Vigo has shown a bit, especially as a forward, and Bryan has been around the same level for about 18 months now. It is what it is.
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It’s the nature of the beast that other clubs will be sniffing about for him, and Bryan will have the choice between being promised a first gig ruck elsewhere or potentilly playing side by side with Draper, or perhaps even sitting in the VFL for next year until Goldy retires. This was the downside of Goldy, increased likelyhood that Bryan leaves us.
Can’t see this happening. No 2/3 with us or go be no 2 somewhere else.
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He’d be offered number 1 elsewhere
Name a club?
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Did you actually watch it?
It was more mayo Ralph saying he thinks Bryan will have to leave to get an opportunity elsewhere.
He’s not going on any factual information.
Btw Bryan is contracted for next year. If we was to leave it would be on our terms and is not the end of the world.
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Geelong