Darley dynamo Brian Graham will split playing duties between the Devils and Essendon in the VFL for the rest of the season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bombers have added Graham to their list to get a closer look at him in the lead up to the end of year AFL drafts.
Graham, 25, has stamped himself as one of the recruits of the year in the Ballarat Football League.
He has been a constant match-winner for the Devils as a heavy possession-getter and goalkicker.
Darley coach Heath Scotland, who lured Brian Graham and his older brother Chris from Wyndhamvale in the Western Region league this year, has enormous time for him – believing he has all the attributes required to play in the AFL.
Scotland believes that preparing in a higher system for six months Graham had the skill set that would stand up.
Scotland rates him higher than Graham’s younger brother Nick, who is on the Carlton AFL list and has played 30 games since 2013.
Scotland, who played with Nick Graham at the Blues, said Graham had attracted some interest from several AFL recruiters.
While there is uncertainty how many games he will play with Essendon, Darley says he will be available for finals.
Graham has been a major factor in Darley’s improvement.
He was shaping as one of the favourites for the Henderson Medal, but this move will change the complexion of the best and fairest voting.
Graham was also sitting third behind Nick Peters (Lake Wendouree) and Mark Lynch (Melton South) in The Courier BFL player of the year award going into round 10 at the weekend.
His absence will also have an impact on Darley, which has lost an edge over the past month with two losses after an unbeaten early run.
The Essendon VFL team already a strong Ballarat flavour, with former East Point champion goalkicker Dan Jordan an assistant and development coach.
Joel Ottavi joined the Bombers from Buninyong this year, while Nick Hind joined the club from East Point last year after impressing with the BFL representative team.
Nick O’Brien, who was drafted by the Bombers from Carngham-Linton, is Essendon’s VFL captain.