MIDFIELDER Will Brodie has again stamped himself as a potential early pick at this year's draft with another strong showing for the NAB AFL Academy in its 15-point loss to Geelong's VFL side.
A week after winning best-afield honours in the Academy's loss to Werribee's VFL team, the Murray Bushrangers on-baller again controlled the midfield in the Academy's 10.9 (69) to 8.6 (54) loss at Simonds Stadium on Saturday.
Brodie gathered a team-high 22 disposals, had three clearances, four rebound-50s and showed his courage in the air to match it with the more mature VFL opposition, which included a handful of Geelong's AFL-listed players.
Gold Coast academy prospect Brad Scheer also performed well, kicking two goals from 11 disposals to be awarded the best player for the national Academy.
Hugh McCluggage continued his impressive start to the season with 11 disposals and two goals, and showed his evasiveness and composure through traffic on several occasions. Sam Petrevski-Seton was classy, particularly in the first half, while defender Alex Witherden (11 disposals) and Josh Rotham (three marks) also contributed.
It was a much more competitive effort from the Academy a week after being blown away by Werribee, with Geelong's VFL team only really looking comfortable winners towards the end of the game, which had shortened 23-minute quarters.
The contest was the end-point of a busy 10-day camp in Melbourne for the group of 2016 draft prospects, and the last time they will come together as an Academy team after a program that for many has lasted nearly 18 months.
The evenness across the Academy's two VFL hit-outs underlined how many view this year's draft crop, with nobody yet to take a hold as the likely No.1 pick. In previous years by this stage the likes of Tom Boyd, Jacob Weitering and Lachie Whitfield had been anointed as the likely first selection of their respective years, but this season there are several contenders.
One such player, Ben Ainsworth, didn't play on Saturday as he manages a knee injury.
Geelong would have liked the showing from first-year midfielder James Parsons, himself a graduate of the AFL Academy, who gathered 19 disposals to claim his side's best player award.
George Horlin-Smith continued his push for senior selection with 30 disposals and seven clearances, while Michael Luxford had 24 touches and gave good zip throughout the contest.
NAB AFL ACADEMY 1.1 2.4 5.6 8.6 (54)
GEELONG VFL 2.1 4.3 7.5 10.9 (69)
GOALS
NAB AFL Academy: McCluggage 2, Scheer 2, Rolls, Waterman, Allison, Parfitt
Geelong VFL: Abbott 2, Robinson 2, Paliouras 2, Williams, Lucey, Hayball, Tudor
AFL.COM.AU'S BEST
NAB AFL Academy: Brodie, Scheer, McCluggage, Witherden, Parfitt, Berry
Geelong VFL: Horlin-Smith, Parsons, Luxford, Tsitas, Farrelly
