Jarrod Brander will build his growing case for a senior call up with a good performance in this game, though he has a lot of other half back flankers in the squad to compete with directly for attention and TOG.
Jarrod Brander will build his growing case for a senior call up with a good performance in this game, though he has a lot of other half back flankers in the squad to compete with directly for attention and TOG.
Brander runs the logos
In year three Jarrod Brander managed to play senior games two and three, both in losses after which he returned to the WAFL where he averaged 17 disposals. A move from key forward to wing didn't appreciably improve his stat lines. He had hamstring tendon surgery last August. Being a fringe midfielder isn't much fun at West Coast, and the arrival of Tim Kelly will further dishearten young blokes like Brander whose form hadn't warranted much consideration from selectors anyway. A slow start to preseason won't help either.
Brander needs marketing
Playing at both ends in the WAFL for a goal from six marks per game, Jarrod Brander got one chance in the seniors where he didn't score from five touches. Brander appears to be strictly depth material in year two, one of those players who takes a while to find his ceiling. Let him stew for at least a year more.
Jarrod's got that swing
West Coast has loved a swingman ever since the halcyon days of Adam Hunter, and in Jarrod Brander they have another key position prospect who can play both ends. A former GWS academy member, he played mostly school football in 2017 with three TAC Cup appearances. It is hard to get a solid line on Brander's scoring potential as he chopped and changed his team and his role at junior levels. With a long line of more experienced players ahead of him on the depth charts, he is likely to start forward where his numbers fluctuate too wildly at this early stage.
