EASTERN Ranges midfielder Christian Moraes is being spurred on by team success in 2024, hoping to go one better after helping his side to last year’s Coates Talent League Grand Final. The top-ager produced a sparkling run of form in the back-end of the season to put his name in lights.

Now a National Academy member after being overlooked for Vic Metro Under 18 honours as a bottom-ager, Moraes shapes as a top 10 prospect in this year’s draft pool. He got to train with Hawthorn during preseason and although his father is Brazilian-born, looks like being denied NGA status at the Hawks.

We spoke to Moraes about the year ahead at last week’s preseason testing event.

FULL Q&A

Q: Christian, you’ve been part of plenty of great programs during preseason, what have you learned from them?

A: Just how competitive it is and how much playing with those other elite players drives the standards. Everyone really wants to get better, we’re all training hard and trying to get everything out of it.

Q: Having missed out on the Vic Metro squad last year as a bottom-ager, did that spur you on to perform as well as you did towards the back-end of the season?

A: A little bit, yeah. Obviously it would have been a great opportunity to play in the Metro side, but I understood why I wasn’t in it. My first four games were probably a little slower than I would’ve liked. Trying to prove I could’ve been there was definitely part of the reason for that back-end form.

Q: There were plenty of highlights to speak of last year, what was the best aspect of your bottom-age season?

A: I just think the culture of our team really coming together, especially towards that back-end. The coaches really pushed that kind of culture and team-first environment, which was really great to be a part of. Unfortunately we couldn’t get (a premiership) in the end, but hopefully the mateships we built through the year can lead into this season and we can go one better.

Q: Do you think Eastern has a strong enough group to go that far again?

A: Yeah, I think we’ve got a really strong group. We’re a really deep side and we’ll have a really strong midfield as well. We don’t lose many to private school as well, which always helps just us jell together.

Q: In terms of your own game, where do you expect to play most of your footy this year?

A: I’ll definitely spend the most time in midfield and I’ll probably go forward a little bit. I’ve been trialled as an attacking half-back in some practice games, so I might get thrown there a little bit just to test it out.

Q: What are your best traits?

A: I think my ability to run and carry, break the lines, and just having clean hands.

Q: What are you still looking to work on?

A: I just want to get a little bit stronger.

Q: You’ve grown up playing basketball as well, was there any particular thing that made you choose footy?

A: I think at the back-end of the year, seeing teammates like ‘Watto’ (Nick Watson) and Caleb (Windsor) getting drafted… I love footy and I’m very grateful for the position I’m in now. But I think that prospect of being able to play AFL football was just really draw, draw me – playing in front of 90-100,000 people would be an unreal experience and I think that kind of drove the decision.

Q: Who do you support in the AFL?

A: Sydney Swans. My grandpa went for them when they were South Melbourne.

Q: You also had the opportunity to train with Hawthorn over preseason?

A: Yeah, with the AFL Academy. It was a really great opportunity for me, getting to see how the elite players train and even just building connections with some of them was really cool. You almost pinch yourself.

Q: Did anyone take you under their wing?

A: Well, ‘Watto’ a little bit, he was driving me around. But then also Josh Bennetts and Clay Tucker, some of those ex-Eastern boys… Massimo D’Ambrosio was really good as well.

Q: Are there any players you try and mould your game on?

A: I’d say Scott Pendlebury and Zak Butters, I really like the way that they play. Pendlebury’s ability to find time and space, and Zak’s ability to run and carry are two traits that I think I really want to aspire to be like.

Q: What kind of goals have you set up for the year?

A: The main goal is to go one more with the Ranges. That would be amazing to win the flag, it would be a great experience. Also to really develop my football and become the best player I can be to give myself the best chance come draft time.