Despite taking a few cheeky swipes at brother Angus, Andrew Brayshaw gave a touching tribute to his brothers before he and Angus will go head to head in Saturday night’s clash between Fremantle and Darwin at TIO Stadium.
Andrew (18) and Angus (22) make two of a trio of Brayshaw brothers in the AFL, with Hamish (20) on the list at the West Coast Eagles.
While Andrew did his best to stir the pot in their interview with the NT News, Melbourne’s Angus said he’ll be on his best behaviour as a promise made to their mother.
“I think Angus has brought it up on more than one occasion but I guess for me it’s just another game,” joked Andrew to start the interview with the NT News.
“One memory comes to mind from school. I reckon I was in year three and Angus was in year six and he was the biggest bloke in the school.
“I tackled him and got him holding the ball and five minutes later I got absolutely decked by him off the play.”
“Hopefully, something like that doesn’t happen tomorrow as I don’t want him to get suspended or fined.”
Angus was quick to pour cold water on the suggestion.
“It’s all in good fun,” Angus said.
“Mum and Dad are coming up to watch and Mum’s been telling me all week not to hurt him too bad so I can’t do that to her.”
Despite going up against each other numerous times in the school or backyard, Angus said it will be the first time in an official game.
Andrew’s already played against West Coast’s Hamish, with the pair starting for opposing sides this pre-season.
“You’ve played with Hamish and I’ve played with (older brother) Will but we’ve never really played with or against each other before,” Angus said.
“I’m certainly looking forward to it. Playing in the back yard growing up, we’ve had a kick together but now it’s for real so I’ve been looking forward to it for ages.”
Andrew and Angus are both top draft picks in their respective drafts, with Andrew going at no.2 in 2017 and Angus at no.3 in 2014.
With father Mark working at Fremantle in the late nineties, Angus grew up a Freo fan and said he was thrilled to see Andrew learning off the likes of Nat Fyfe.
“I remember my first game against Fremantle at the MCG and (Aaron) Sandilands, (Matthew) Pavlich and Fyfe were running out and my jaw was on the ground,” Angus said.
“Now for Andrew to get to play with some of them, I think it’s awesome. We’ve got family in Perth too, so it’s worked out really well.”
Andrew, the youngest of the four, said he wouldn’t be anywhere near the footballer he is today without his family.
“I feel like if I didn’t have the brothers I do have I wouldn’t be where I am,” Andrew said.
“We were just lucky to have four boys who all loved keeping healthy and staying fit.
“We’d go for runs together down at the beach, kick the footy out the back and do the little things you might not get with every family.
“I wouldn’t change my family for the world.”
