Twelve months ago, Brayden Sier was well down the pecking order when it came to the players at Collingwood waiting to debut in the AFL.

The situation was by no means Sier’s fault.

He had been a very young draftee (he was a month shy of his 18th birthday when selected) and he had suffered a number of injury problems in his first two years at the club, including a back complaint that required surgery.

But the reality was that he found himself a long way off playing his first game at the highest level.

“There would’ve been a few people saying, ‘Gee, he’s a long way back,’” the Magpies’ VFL coach, Jared Rivers, told Collingwood Media.

How times have changed.

After enjoying his first injury-free pre-season, Sier is now fitter and more focussed than ever. And he is pushing his way towards the top of the list of potential debutants.

“He’s had his best pre-season thus far,” Rivers said.

“He understands he’s had a bit to work on with his transition and his running – getting fit enough to play at the elite level.

“He has worked hard, he understands where he’s at, and he’s just getting better and better each week.

“He knows he’s still a bit off, in terms of getting to the AFL standard, but he’s progressing upwards. For a young kid, that’s a good sign.”

Sier, who hails from Melbourne’s north-eastern suburbs, was something of a shock selection when Magpies recruiting guru Derek Hine used the club’s first pick (No. 32) to snare him in the 2015 national draft.

Although he had performed well in his two TAC Cup matches with the Northern Knights, he was widely viewed as youngster who was going to take a lot of time to reach the standard needed to compete in the AFL.

A big-bodied midfielder, Sier was handed Dane Swan’s fabled No. 36 guernsey upon his arrival at the Holden Centre.

However, the aforementioned injuries meant he was rarely able to show off his talent during his first two seasons on the Pies’ list.

“He had quite a bit of bad luck,” Rivers said.

“People need to understand that he was a younger draftee, so he’s going to take time to develop.

“I understand that some of the fans might be getting a bit frustrated with his progress, but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel with him, and I think he’s starting to see that as well.

“His belief is starting to rise and he’s just got to keep playing good VFL footy.”



Injuries kept Sier to just 18 VFL games in his first two seasons.

Sier is renowned at the club as a young man who marches to the beat of his own drum, and he demonstrated this when he decided to take a different approach to his off-season late last year.

“Me and my girlfriend went over to Thailand for a week to do like a Muay Thai camp … and it was probably one of the best trips I’ve ever done,” the 20-year-old explained.

“At times I regretted it because I was completely drenched in the 100 per cent humidity over there.

“But it was well worth it and I’m pretty sure I can see myself doing it again.”

Sier returned to the club for pre-season training feeling on top of the world.

“Coming back, I felt as light as I’ve ever felt,” he said.

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“I’ve always had really bad stiff hips and I remember coming back, after all the kicking they teach you, and I felt as loose as I’ve ever felt.

“It has helped my running. I feel so much lighter and stronger.”

Collingwood’s coaches and fitness staff have grown to appreciate that Sier has his own way of doing things and his own way of interacting with the others at the club.

“He’s not loud and he’s not outspoken. He just goes about his business himself,” Rivers said.

“But you can clearly tell he’s confident in his own ability and he knows what to do. That’s a good strength to have as a young kid.

“He’s an exciting project. He’s different. He’s a different kid. But I love those types of players. Not everyone’s the same.

“We let him express himself in the way that he wants to.”



Sier performed well in Collingwood's VFL practice match win over Box Hill last Friday. Photo: Shane Barrie.

After impressing in the Magpies’ recent VFL practice matches, Sier is aiming to continue his good form when he lines up in Collingwood’s last VFL practice game against North Melbourne at the Holden Centre on Saturday.

Another good performance will have him one step closer to achieving his goal of making his AFL debut in 2018.

“You look at our midfield at AFL-level and it’s probably hard to break in there at this stage,” Rivers said.

“But he’s just got to keep getting his body right and keep playing his role each week at VFL-level.

“Then those opportunities will come sooner rather than later for him.”