ANGUS Brayshaw says he was surprised to hear he had won the round 10 NAB AFL Rising Star award – just a couple of hours after he played in Melbourne’s Queen’s Birthday loss to Collingwood at the MCG.

The outstanding young Demon produced a fine display on the big stage, continuing a strong first season, which has seen his form go to another level in recent weeks.

Brayshaw, who had 18 touches, six tackles, five scoring assists and a goal against the Pies, said it was a positive result from the defeat. 

“It was good to be able to take something positive from the game. It was a disappointing result, but we’ve been stringing a few games together, so it’s pleasing in that sense,” he said at AAMI Park on Tuesday.

“Hopefully the team can bounce back and have a crack against St Kilda on Sunday.”

Brayshaw said his father Mark, who played for North Melbourne and is now the AFL coaches association chief executive, his mum and uncle James Brayshaw, the Kangaroos president and co-host of The Footy Show, were at home “having a beer” when he arrived back from the ‘G.

“I got a call on the way home and I was driving home, so I couldn’t answer it and then I got a message from Mahns (Josh Mahoney) when I got home saying I’d won it, so it was a bit of a surprise, but a good surprise,” he said.

“They were just happy that I’ve been playing, and playing all right.

“I think they’ll be a bit happier when we start playing good footy, as long as we don’t knock off North, so we’ll see how that goes down.”