Braydon Preuss Biography

Braydon Preuss says he would be keen to find a new home at a fourth club after being delisted by the Giants last month.

"I'm pretty realistic about it," Preuss. said.

"I think most clubs just want to see me play and get through games of football.

"I feel like my avenue is to play VFL next year, but yeah if any club comes calling I'd take it with both hands."

Braydon Preuss is delisted by Greater Western Sydney, with the ruckman bidding farewell to a third AFL club.

"Unfortunately, Braydon struggled with ongoing injuries during his time with the club which impacted his ability to play consistent footy," Giants list manager Jason McCartney said.

"Braydon continued to support his teammates throughout his challenges with injury and in the back half of this season stepped into a role in our VFL program."

Braydon Preuss will undergo surgery after tearing his right pectoral muscle while using the bench press in the Giant's gym. He is expected to miss at least three months, and up to five.

Braydon Preuss is set to miss half of the 2021 season after being booked in for surgery on his shoulder.

The 208cm ruckman hurt his shoulder at training and subsequent scans revealed he will require a full reconstruction.

Melbourne trade Braydon Preuss to Greater Western Sydney in exchange for pick No.31.

Preuss is expected to finally get the opportunity to lead the ruck at the Giants after spending his career thus far as a back-up to Todd Goldstein and Max Gawn while at North Melbourne and Melbourne respectively.

"We were in the market for a ruckman and earmarked Braydon very early as someone who could add significantly to our list," Giants football manager Jason McCartney said.

"Braydon has had a tremendous apprenticeship under star rucks Todd Goldstein and Max Gawn and is ready to take his game to the next level."

Braydon Preuss could be headed for a third AFL home, with Greater Western Sydney and Sydney among the clubs interested in the Melbourne ruckman.

Preuss has two years to run on his deal with the Demons but has dipped to third in line in the club's ruck stocks behind captain Max Gawn and top draft pick Luke Jackson.

Braydon Preuss will be sidelined for the early part of the 2020 season after suffering a knee injury at training.

"Unfortunately during training yesterday, Braydon landed awkwardly on his right knee, with scans revealing that he has sustained a medial meniscus tear," Demons head of football Josh Mahoney said.

"Braydon underwent surgery to his right knee on Tuesday afternoon. We felt this was the best course of action to prevent any further issues moving forward."

Demons coach Simon Goodwin says he is dissatisfied with Braydon Preuss' lack of forward presence after trialing him alongside fellow ruckman Max Gawn for two games.

Preuss had a quiet fortnight and clunked just two marks against the Western Bulldogs and West Coast to go with a combined 14 disposals and 35 hitouts before being dropped from the senior side.

"We need our big men marking the ball inside 50 and at the moment Braydon probably isn't doing that for us," Goodwin said.

Demon recruit Braydon Preuss believes there is room for two ruckman at Melbourne and is looking forward to playing alongside Max Gawn.

"I want to play beside Maxy. Everyone thinks I want to play as his back up, but I want to play beside him," Preuss said.

"I feel like I can develop it (ruck craft) a lot more than it is now. Training against and with the best you seem to get better [and that's what I hope to do]."

North Melbourne acquires Melbourne midfielder Dom Tyson in a deal that has also seen ruckman Braydon Preuss join the Demons.

As part of the trade, the Demons will also receive a fourth-round pick (currently No.62) from the Kangaroos.

It is understood the Roos initially baulked at the inclusion of Tyson in the deal, but when they missed out on West Coast free agent Andrew Gaff, they were more open to taking on the former Demon's significant salary.

Braydon Preuss looks almost certain to be a Demon in 2019 after him and his management have reportedly told other clubs not to pursue him.

Braydon Preuss admits he is upset at not yet having played a game for North Melbourne in 2018.

"It would annoy anyone playing in the twos, because we're here to play AFL not VFL," Preuss told AFL.com.au this week.

"But 'Goldy' is in good form and why change a winning formula? As much as it pisses me off, it's understandable."

Preuss' main focus this year has been on improving his play around the ground.

"(I'm) just trying to get around the ground, they want me to try to take those contested marks," he said.

"The ruck work has always got to be there, but you look at (Brodie) Grundy and (Max) Gawn and all those sort of boys getting 20-plus touches a game. Yeah, (I'm) just trying to do that pretty much."

Braydon Preuss signs a two-year contract extension with North Melbourne to remain at the club until the end of 2020.

"I'm bloody excited, it's really good to get [the contract] done," Preuss said.

"We've got heaps of young guys coming through and everyone here obviously wants to stay because we're all re-signing, so the players obviously know there is something big happening."

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says Todd Goldstein remains the club's No.1 ruckman.

Goldstein was the 2015 All Australian ruckman, but has failed to reach those heights this season as Braydon Preuss emerges as a challenger within the club.

"I think Preuss is going to develop really strongly and we've seen only a glimpse of what he's going to be capable of," Scott said.

"But Goldy at his best is as good as any ruckman in the competition, in my view, so Goldy's got to get back to that and Preussy's got a long way to go to bridge the gap to Goldy's best.

"So we'll just keep working with them. We're in a really fortunate position as a club where we've got both of them on our list."

North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein says he and newcomer Braydon Preuss can play in the same side.

Goldstein is an elite runner for a man of 201cm, while 207cm Preuss is a man-mountain that possesses a physical presence.

"There is no reason why we can't play together and we've played three games together (this season)," Goldstein said.

"We both feel we can play in the same side, and we have such different strengths (that) really compliment each other in the way we play our footy.

"(But) having competition for spots is always good, it does keep you pushing."

Braydon Preuss says his partnership with Todd Goldstein remains a work in progress, but the North Melbourne ruck revelation believes they have complementary skill sets that can be deployed against opponents on a horses-for-courses basis.

After spending 2015 and 2016 on North's rookie list, Preuss' development this year has taken North and the 206cm Queenslander, himself, by surprise.

"The good thing with us is that we're very different types of ruckmen. Goldy is more that athletic type and I'm just more of a big body," Preuss says.

"So we can probably change (who spends most of the game in the ruck) depending on our opponent.

"There will be opponents Todd is more suited to and there will be opponents I'm perhaps more suited to.

"We're still trying to learn how to change on the field. We tried it a bit in the JLT, which worked pretty well and I reckon every game we're playing together we're just getting better at it."

Braydon Preuss makes his AFL debut for North Melbourne at Docklands Stadium with 5 disposals (4 kicks and a handball), 2 marks, 2 tackles, 19 hitouts and a goal in a 43-point loss to West Coast.

Todd Goldstein says fellow North Melbourne ruckman Braydon Preuss has improved his fitness significantly.

"He's worked so hard over the last 18 months to get his body in shape," Goldstein said.

"Obviously he's always been a pretty big lad but it's really the way he moves around the ground where he let himself down.

"He's been using me as his rabbit, he's been trying to chase me down for the last 18 months and he's made great ground.

"It's been a test for me to make sure I keep beating him."

Andrew Swallow admits he didn't like Braydon Preuss' tackle on him during North Melbourne's intraclub game on Friday, but he holds no grudges and wants the ruckman to continue to be aggressive on the field.

Preuss lifted and dumped Swallow to the ground in a tackle during the first quarter of Friday's game between 'Country' and 'City' teams.

Although the former North skipper was not injured in the incident, he understandably reacted angrily, immediately remonstrating with the ruckman.

However, Swallow told reporters after the game Preuss' tackle had been the result of poor technique rather than any malicious intent.

"We want Preussy to be really aggressive and he's a big fella and he didn't quite get the technique right but he's going to continue to refine that," Swallow said.

"I didn't like it, but it's all good."

North Melbourne rookie ruckman Braydon Preuss recommits for two years and will be elevated to the club's senior list in 2017.

North Melbourne selects Braydon Preuss with pick No.15 in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft.

"He shows an aptitude for tap work, has ability to get around the ground and is reasonably coordinated," Kangaroos recruiting manager Bryce Lewis said.

"He still has a bit to learn but has made steady improvement over the course of the year.

"With his attributes we can put time into him and work with him."