IMPRESSED by his outstanding form in the second half of the season, the Gold Coast Suns had little hesitation selecting Brayden Fiorini in the 2015 AFL National Draft.
The former Research and Greensborough junior was recruited with the Suns’ second selection at pick No. 20.
Fiorini was one of two Northern Football League players selected in the top 20 of Tuesday night’s draft, with his Northern Knights teammate Jade Gresham taken at pick 18 by St Kilda.
After playing every game for the Knights in his first season in the TAC Cup last year, Fiorini enhanced his game further in 2015.
A ball magnet, he averaged more possessions per game than any player in the TAC Cup –averaging 30 possessions per game at a disposal efficiency of 77.5 per cent.
Originally touted as a second or third-round pick, Northern Knights talent manager Peter Kennedy said Fiorini’s strong finish to the season helped push him up the draft order.
“This year he took his game to another level over pre-season,” Kennedy said.
“At the end of the season we were thinking he’d be a second-round pick, which is between 18 and 30.
“When the end of the season stats came through from Champion Data his stocks rose and that’s when at number 20 Gold Coast became keen on him.”
Kennedy said the confidence Fiorini gained representing Vic Metro at the AFL Under-18 National Championships was noticeable when he returned to the Knights in the second half of the year.
However it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Fiorini, who was made to fight for his place in the Vic Metro team after being overlooked in the initial squad announced in January.
Strong practice match form coupled with standout performances early in the TAC Cup season ensured he eventually forced his way into the squad.
He went on to represent Vic Metro’s in three games at the championships, before a broken hand curtailed his campaign.
“After the nationals he realised he could play at that level and when he came back to TAC Cup he really developed and became more of a midfielder,” Kennedy said.
“He was comfortable there because he’s such a good decision maker and reads the play. He was winning the ball inside, but his best was when someone else won the ball and he was the first there to give to.
“In the second half of the year he really developed his inside game and became more damaging, kicking goals.
“He’s a player who just finds space and reads the play. He always seems to be where the ball is.”
Gold Coast list manager Scott Clayton said Fiorini’s ability to find space and rack up high possession numbers had attracted the club to him.
“We really think he can be an inside-outside midfielder. His back half of the season was outstanding,” Clayton told Goldcoastfc.com.au.
“His improvement from the championships, where he had a broken hand, into the back half of the year where he averaged nearly 40 possessions for the Northern Knights.
“He’s got great feeling and time, he goes and fills defensive spaces for the team just naturally.
“(He’s) another really high quality young athlete.”
The Northern Football League congratulates Brayden on being drafted and wishes him the best of luck with the Gold Coast Football Club.
