West Coast father-son prospect Noah Braun smashes WAFL colts record with 52 disposals

West Coast father-son prospect Noah Braun has set an incredible record in the WAFL colts, racking up a whopping 52 disposals for Claremont on Saturday night. The young midfielder produced a game to remember, collecting 52 touches at 73 per cent efficiency including 36 kicks and 16 handballs. This was to go with 12 marks, six tackles, 10 clearances and three goal assists in the Tigers’ 66-point win against Perth at Mineral Resources Park.

Braun smashed the previous record as a result which was held by former Claremont and Port Adelaide midfielder Jake Patmore, Collingwood draftee and West Perth product Sam Swadling as well as East Perth’s Harley Sparks who all collected 47 touches in a game. Noah is the son of Eagles’ premiership wingman Michael, who played 228 games from 1997 to 2008 after being drafted with pick No.53 in the 1996 draft.

It was Noah’s 23rd game at the level, having played 18 last year including the grand final win against South Fremantle. Remarkably, he only averaged 11 touches last year and coming into his incredible performance against the Demons he had collected only 84 touches in the first five games of this season.

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The West Australian understands Braun could still end up representing WA at the Under-18 Championships despite missing out on the initial squad. They have three more trial matches scheduled before they begin their campaign against South Australia at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday, June 13.

Claremont talent boss Lachlan Davis said Braun’s performance would be hard to ignore for WA Under-18 selectors. “It was outstanding. He’s been put inside in the past three weeks with the state and PSA boys out of the line up,” he told The West Australian. “He was disappointed to not be included in the initial under-18 squad, but his ability to respond has been first class. Noah had played mostly wing and half-back for first few weeks because that was where he was likely to be picked in the WA squad, but his contest was seen as a slight on him, so we put him in as an inside midfielder and he’s proven that wrong.”

It eclipses the career-best for his father Michael, who had 41 disposals for the Eagles in an 82-point thumping of Adelaide at Subiaco Oval in 2006. Braun isn’t the only potential West Coast father-son who could find himself on an AFL list, with Harper Banfield set to represent WA. Banfield is the youngest son of dual premiership Eagle Drew, who’s middle son Charlie was drafted by St Kilda last year after West Coast chose not to match a bid on the utility.

West Coast also have access to one of the best prospects out of WA this year in East Perth half-back Garrison Kenh who is tied to the club through their next generation academy. Kehn missed the trial match against South Fremantle’s reserves side on Saturday because of a slight hamstring niggle but is set to be fit in the coming weeks.