Brayden Ainsworth

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Brayden ain't worth a lot

Largely absent from the Eagles' 2018 flag run despite some excellent WAFL form, Brayden Ainsworth experienced a serious case of second year syndrome last season. His rates dropped by three marks, four disposals and a massive 26 fantasy points, and he never got near senior selection. He had hamstring surgery in September.
Ainsworth is a sleeper who almost literally went to sleep last year. Perhaps a preseason finger injury can be blamed, though he got through a full season. The Eagles tend not to run many mids through their bench so he's well behind in a queue where there aren't many best 22 spots available. Look elsewhere.

Brayden ain't worth a lot

Largely absent from the Eagles' 2018 flag run despite some excellent WAFL form, Brayden Ainsworth experienced a serious case of second year syndrome last season. His rates dropped by three marks, four disposals and a massive 26 fantasy points, and he never got near senior selection. He had hamstring surgery in September.
Ainsworth is a sleeper who almost literally went to sleep last year. Perhaps a preseason finger injury can be blamed, though he got through a full season. The Eagles tend not to run many mids through their bench so he's well behind in a queue where there aren't many best 22 spots available. Look elsewhere.

Gains from Ainsworth

The Eagles had one of the shorter injury lists on their way to a flag last year, as is often the case, so they called upon Brayden Ainsworth only three times as cover despite an impressive set of figures in the WAFL at rates of 25 disposals and 111 fantasy points. He could not broach 15 touches in the seniors, with low TOG.
Ainsworth was a bit of a victim of the Eagles' decision to fill their bench with flankers rather than extra mids, a high-risk strategy that eventually paid off handsomely. Absent misadventure, he is going to have to bang down the door even harder in 2019 to earn selection, starting with the JLT. Someone in your league should pick him up with a flier.

Brayden raiding mines

It's not often you get coached by the bloke you are set to replace in an AFL team, but Sam Mitchell is now an assistant coach who will take Brayden Ainsworth under his wing to teach him how to extract like a titanium miner in the Pilbara. Ainsworth played WAFL last season with averages of 27 disposals plus six marks for 107 fantasy points at Colts level, then 18 touches and 73 points in the reserves with a focus more on tackles.
Ainsworth already has experience with bodies bigger than his own, though the step up to AFL level may be too large for him to recreate that form from last season. Waiting an extra year before joining a club list means he should start at a higher level than the average draftee, though we're not talking Michael Barlow levels as he's still only 20 years old. Worth a look in the JLT for a late flier, though you'd probably drop him soon after.