Potential top-three draft pick Angus Brayshaw says a recent foot injury isn't serious and he will be ready to go from day one of the pre-season.
The talented midfielder averaged 21.8 disposals, five inside 50s and four tackles during the under-18 championships for Vic Metro but was unable to test at the draft combine due to a foot injury.
But Brayshaw told NAB AFL Trade Radio that he would be ready to go for his first pre-season should he be drafted.
"There was a lot of bone bruising so it's basically just taking time to make sure it all settles down," Brayshaw said.
"It can hang around for a long time if I don't manage it well. So I've just been taking a bit of time off. Hopefully I can start running some time next week.
"I'll be cherry ripe for pre-season."
Brayshaw is working hard to develop his speed in order to make the step up from under-18s to the AFL. The clearance specialist got a taste of the standard when playing for the AIS Academy team this year.
"The AIS played against the Collingwood VFL team earlier in the year and the step up in speed was obviously noticeable," Brayshaw said.
"But it will obviously go up more and more the higher you go, so that's something I'll look to do, bring my speed in a bit more into games."
Brayshaw was only nine days shy of being eligible for the 2013 NAB AFL draft, but the extra year has allowed him begin a commerce and engineering degree at Monash University.
Despite the workload of a double degree, Brayshaw believed the flexibility of university life has allowed him more time to focus on his football and has him better prepared for this year's draft.
As a leader at the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup, Brayshaw has tried to model his game on Geelong captain Joel Selwood.
"The way he goes about it on and off the field is something I've tried to emulate a lot," Brayshaw said.
"Ollie Wines is another. The way he's able to spread and work hard as well as being great on the inside is probably something I've tried to develop as well to become a better, well-rounded midfielder."
