The stats

AFL games: 17

Disposals per game: 16

Marks: 6.1

Kicks: 9.5

Tackles: 1.1

Total goals: 0

Review

At football clubs, with injuries to senior players comes opportunities to younger players.

When James Frawley got injured in Round 8 against the Brisbane Lions, Kaiden Brand was playing at VFL level, having played just 15 AFL games in his career.

A fortnight later, Brand was given the call up to the senior side, where he would remain to play the last 13 games of the year.

Brand received an accelerated rate of development as he was tasked with opposing some of the best forwards in the competition.

At 23 years of age, Brand now takes confidence into the upcoming preseason that he can match it with the likes of these players.

A word from: Adem Yze

“When Frawley got injured, a lot of the focus went onto ‘Brandy’ to play on some of the best forwards in the competition.

“I thought, especially in the second half of the year, he held down that position really strongly. He had some great games on some of the best players in the comp.

“He obviously has things that he is working on but some of his attributes in reading the ball, his leg speed and his strength are right up there at the footy club.

“We were really happy with how he finished off the year and hopefully now he can keep that momentum and have a really strong preseason and set himself to be a general down back.”