2020 Trade & Free Agency Spotlight | Will Brodie
Written by Joseph Addamo
Throughout the 2020 off-season, Blue Abroad will be providing content to cover everything you need to know about the Carlton Football Club.
Looking to take the next step in 2021, the success of this off-season’s recruiting is critical. We will be looking at various opposition players on the open market that could add another dimension to the current crop of players.
This is the Blue Abroad Trade & Free Agency Player Spotlight for Gold Coast’s #7 – Will Brodie.
WHO IS WILL BRODIE?
Junior Club: Murray Bushrangers, U18 TAC Cup
AFL Selection: Pick 9, 2016 AFL National Draft by the Gold Coast Suns
Age (@ Round 1, 2021): 22
Height: 189cm
Weight: 89kg
Position(s): Midfielder
Career Games: 20
Career Goals: 1
WHAT IS WILL BRODIE’S STRONGEST ATTRIBUTE?
Will Brodie made a name for himself at U18 level as a prolific in-and-under ball-winner. He’s a big-bodied type that knows how to win a clearance. When you think of Will Brodie you think of Matt Kennedy, with very similar attributes as a midfielder.
While not as dynamic as Kennedy has proved to be in attack, Brodie in his career to date among midfielders ranks elite for handballs per game (10.9), centre clearances (1.9), total clearances (4) and tackles (4.9). He also ranks above average for disposals (19), pressure acts (18), contested possessions (8.3) and ground ball gets (5.9).
He has had limited opportunities and fallen out of favour at the Suns at many stages of his career there. His skillset as a midfielder and ceiling as a footballer is a tantalizing prospect for any club that might land his services this offseason.
WHERE WOULD WILL BRODIE FIT IN CARLTON’S STARTING 22?
As aforementioned, think Matt Kennedy when you think of Will Brodie. If not in the starting 22 as a walk-up, Brodie would add to Carlton’s depth in the midfield behind the likes of Will Setterfield and Ed Curnow.
At his absolute best, Brodie can push for selection every week in the Blues’ starting lineup. His best was on show in a 27-point loss to North Melbourne in Round 12, 2019, where Brodie put together his career game to date. He gathered 29 disposals, took 9 marks, laid 9 tackles, won 6 clearances, had 4 inside 50s and was involved in 4 scoring chains including kicking a goal of his own. In addition to the 9 tackles he had 27 pressure acts in a dominant midfield display.
Carlton could do much worse this offseason than adding Will Brodie to their playing list. If he unlocks the full potential that he showed at U18 level, there’s no telling what Brodie might be able to bring to the Blues’ midfield unit.
WHAT IS WILL BRODIE’S CONTRACT STATUS?
Brodie extended his contract with the Suns in 2019. His current deal will expire at the end of 2022, so a trade would have to be agreed to in order to secure Brodie’s signature.
In July 2020, it was widely reported that numerous Victorian clubs were circling Brodie and his Suns key-forward counterpart, Peter Wright. After playing just one game in 2020, and only mustering 20 in total to date in his career, it is clear that the native Victorian is on the outer at the Gold Coast. This becomes even more apparent with the recent additions of Noah Anderson, Hugh Greenwood and Matt Rowell to the Suns’ midfield for the immediate and long-term future of the Suns’ midfield. Considering Brodie’s maligned prospects at the Suns, a 2020 or 2021 fourth round pick should get this deal done.
It wouldn’t be an offseason for Carlton without being linked to Will Brodie. Almost since the time he was drafted, Brodie has been linked with a move back to Victoria, with Carlton at the forefront of these rumours time and again. While Essendon look to be at the front of the queue this offseason, don’t count out the Carlton connection in potentially luring Brodie to Ikon Park.
REALISTIC ACQUISITION RATING
6 / 10
