Easter Ranges midfielder Christian Moraes entered the year as a top 10 draft chance for this year's intake but now looms as a potential bargain buy in the later stages of the count.
The versatile midfielder might not have hit the heights some would've expected but he still managed to leave his mark across commitments with the Ranges, Vic Metro and the AFL Academy.
Moraes is among the handful of exciting inside-outside midfield options available to clubs via this year's draft, with the 183cm tall onballer shifting between the engine room and the win across his campaign.
Waxing with midfield bulls Josh Smillie and Cody Anderson in the Talent League, Moraes was able to show off his ability to play as an inside accumulator or running option on the periphery of stoppages.
Moraes averaged 23.8 disposals, 4.1 clearances, 6.8 score involvements and 3.8 tackles per game across his dozen appearances for the Eastern Ranges while also going at 1.5 goals per game to make his forward impact known.
The Knox native played all four games in Vic Metro's undefeated U18s National Championships run and featured in both matches for the AFL Academy against VFL opposition.
Moraes' draft range could still cover the first round of the draft as a late selection on night one, while he could fall close to the Pick 50 range as well, showcasing the evenness of this year's class.
The Western Bulldogs have a trio of picks in that bracket, while Hawthorn and GWS are other clubs who could have an interest in Moraes.
A hard-working midfielder, Moraes may earn comparisons to Essendon onballer Jye Caldwell or Gold Coast star Noah Anderson.
Position:ย Midfielder
Height:ย 183cm
State:ย Victoria
Club: Knox
Strengths
Clean Hands
Ball-Winning
Inside-Outside Threat
Aerobic Capacity
Draft Range
Pick 25-50
Potential Landing Spots
Western Bulldogs (Picks 25, 35 and 48)
Hawthorn (Pick 33)
GWS (Pick 37)
AFL Comparison
Expert Comments
"A running machine who is prepared to work deep into defence as well as push forward to create options for his team. Also has clean hands and is composed with the ball." - Kevin Sheehan
