Girgarre product Brayden George becomes a Kangaroo

By Zac Standish

Nov 29, 2022

AFL bound: Goulburn Valley export Brayden George has been drafted to North Melbourne. Photo by Megan Fisher

Local football product Brayden George will officially call North Melbourne home after he was selected with pick 26 in tonight’s AFL national draft.

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George, who hails from Girgarre, is a damaging medium-sized forward renowned for his athleticism and class around goal.

The 18-year-old was a stand-out when he took the field for the Murray Bushrangers at NAB League level in 2022 and kicked 19 goals from his eight matches.

Injury did curtail his draft year however, as he missed the under-18 national championships due to a knee injury and a ruptured ACL brought an end to his season.

As a result, George is unlikely to take the field in 2023 as he recovers from a knee reconstruction.

Over his junior career George played for Stanhope Girgarre Rushworth Giants, Tatura and Girgarre before moving to Wangaratta to complete his schooling.

He is the fourth player from Tatura to be drafted to an AFL club ‒ following in the footsteps of Alistair Burke, Gary Merritt and Adrian Battiston ‒ and the first from Girgarre.

George joins a North Melbourne team that claimed the wooden spoon in 2022 and is in the middle of a rebuilding phase.