4. Brayden Fowler
Club: Manly-Warringah
Position: Full Forward
Previous Clubs: Gippsland (TAC Cup 2008-10), Drouin (Gippsland 2009, 11), Casey (VFL 2011-13)
Number in last years count: Number 3
Analysis:
Fowler is the most important figure if anyone is to topple the Eagles juggernaut this year. While things haven’t been quite as easy this year, that comes with the territory of the increased attention from opposition coaches. You need to also consider the delivery probably hasn’t been as frequent and of as high quality this year with the departure of Tyrone Armitage and Lachlan Kilpatrick to the Northern Blues.
The 22 year old has already achieved a lot in his short football career, including spearheading the GIANTS to a Premier Division title last year. He has kicked 117 goals in 29 games in his AFL Sydney career and is averaging 3.5 goals a game in 2015, with his highest haul being seven goals. Arguably the best contested mark in the local competition, Fowler has also performed on the big stage and would feature in Canberra’s nightmares, backing up an eight goal haul last year in a best on ground showing with a five-goal first half performance to see AFL Sydney edge home this year.
It is up for debate but he would definitely feature in the discussion about the best key forwards to have played in AFL Sydney such is his ability.
After initially planning to move to Frankston in the VFL at the beginning of this year, the Manly-Warringah faithful would have been delighted to hear he decided that he didn’t want to leave the harbour city and would be the key target for a side looking to make it a Premier Division three-peat.
As dominant a player in the competition at his best, if he gets enough football down in the forward line he will cause defences plenty of havoc and give his side a huge chance of further premiership glory.
The count so far:
20. Tom Larby (UTS)
19. Alexander Wynn (St George)
18. Kieran Wright (Pennant Hills)
17. Taran Etto (Western Suburbs)
16. Blake Anderson (East Coast)
15. Jamie Vlatko (East Coast)
14. Kieran Emery (East Coast)
13. Damian Bonney (Manly Warringah)
12. Matt Carey (Pennant Hills)
11. Anthony Robertson (Manly Warringah)
10. Blake Guthrie (St George)
9. Andrew Browning (East Coast)
8. Stuart Turner (East Coast)
7. Paul Bevan (Western Suburbs)
6. James Brain (Manly Warringah)
5. Jack Dimery (East Coast)
Last Modified on 23/07/2015 12:00
