AFL DRAFT combines have wrapped up around the nation, giving an insight into how each elite level hopeful stacks up athletically. For most prospects, it was a chance to showcase just how much they had improved since preseason, especially after a full season of football – albeit compromised. For the Victorians in action, they finally got to show their wares after a substantial amount of time away from the field, with a number of them registering results indicative of remarkably hard work in the meantime.
Having taken a look at the top 10 results from each test, we now look back at the combines as a whole to further put under the microscope those who performed well across the board. Needless to say, these athletes can certainly play too, with plenty of first round prospects scattered across the pointy end of each leaderboard. Furthermore, these are the players who have earned National Combine invites; meaning they have done so at the request of at least three-four AFL clubs, or by having previously earned passage into their respective academy hubs.
>> SCROLL for all the top 10 results
Among the top overall performers, three West Australians managed top 10 results across four different tests. Peel Thunder’s Isiah Winder is arguably the best draft prospect of the lot, a classy small midfielder who achieved top two results in the standing vertical jump and running vertical jump (right). To top it off, he also came fifth in the 20m sprint and sixth in the agility test. He uses all those traits on-field too, and looms as a potential second round pick. West Perth defender Kellen Johnson and Fremantle Next Generation Academy (NGA) member Chris Walker were the other two WA products to complete the feat, doing so in all three jumps and the agility test.
Godfrey Okerenyang, who took out the 2018 AFL Grand Final sprint and comes from a strong athletics background, was the only other player to manage top 10 results in four different tests. The GWS Academy hopeful leapt for the biggest standing vertical jump (84cm) and running vertical jump (right, 92cm), while also placing third in the 20m sprint. His podium finish in the running vertical jump (left) rounded out the four-peat. He looms as a more prospective pick at this year’s draft, having only recently committed to pursuing a footballing career.
Another two high-upside late chances who are already tied to clubs in Josh Eyre (Essendon, NGA) and Aiden Fyfe (Gold Coast, Academy) each racked up hat-tricks of top 10 features. Like most of the others, they were prominent in the jumping tests, while also respectively running the eight and ninth-best 20m times. In the most compromised draft crop ever, the likes of Reef McInnes (Collingwood NGA) took out first place in the speed test with a searing time of 2.78 seconds, while Sydney Academy member Braeden Campbell and Bulldogs NGA gun Jamarra Ugle-Hagan were also among that top 10 with equal times of 2.90 seconds. The latter two are expected to attract bids within the top 10.
There were plenty of other first round prospects to light up the track, too. WA key defenders Denver Grainger-Barras and Heath Chapman showed their wares in the agility and endurance departments respectively, while fellow sandgroper Jack Carroll was a standout jumper – even while sporting a cast on his broken wrist. Archie Perkins was another to impress in multiple categories, with Vic Metro hub teammates Finlay Macrae and Nikolas Cox acing the 2km time trial. Others to excel across the board included Nathan O’Driscoll, a second round candidate, and Brodie Lake, who hails from the Northern Territory but made the move to South Australia this year. He is eligible to be pre-listed by the Gold Coast Suns via their access to the Darwin zone.
NATIONWIDE AFL DRAFT COMBINE TOP 10s
Standing Vertical Jump:
1. Godfrey Okerenyang (GWS Academy) – 84cm
=2. Isiah Winder (Peel Thunder) – 76cm
=2. Pierce Roseby (Sydney Academy) – 76cm
=4. Jack Carroll (East Fremantle) – 74cm
=4. Chris Walker (East Fremantle) – 74cm
=6. Kellen Johnson (West Perth) – 73cm
=6. Shannon Neale (South Fremantle) – 73cm
8. Harry Grant (GWS Academy) – 70cm
=9. Jaiden Hunter (Perth) – 69cm
=9. Sam Frost (GWS Academy) – 69cm
A FULL four games take place tomorrow in the WAFL Women’s as more State Academy members have a rest, and others return in what promises to be a huge day of action. We preview each of the matches.
TWO matches remain in the SANFL Women’s competition for Round 8 with reigning premiers Central District hoping to bounce back against Woodville-West Torrens with the Eagles shooting for a record fourth win, as West Adelaide and the winless North Adelaide do battle at Prospect Oval.
TWO more Northern Academies enter the fray as Round 5 of the Coates Talent League gets underway on Saturday. In our featured match of the round, 2023 grand finalists Eastern Ranges take on the Swans Academy, while the Northern Territory Academy bows out, and the Suns and Lions host Victorian sides. AROUND THE GROUNDS Saturday’s […]
GOLD Coast Suns Academy enter the Coates Talent League Girls competition this weekend with a massive clash against reigning premiers Oakleigh Chargers, while the Swans Academy take on grand finalists Eastern Ranges, and it is an all-country clash out at Shepley Oval tomorrow. FORM: The Suns play their first game of the 2024 Coates Talent […]
PREVIEW | VFLW Round 6 – Is a ladder shake up coming?
THIS week’s VFLW fixture is back to being a little bit more spread out, with about half the fixture slated for Sunday. Southern Saints vs Casey DemonsSaturday at 9:45amTrevor Barker Oval Things went far from to plan for both these sides last week, so in what will be a nice, early start for both sides […]
COORPAROO is basking in the glory of an upset, taking down ladder leaders Bond University by a goal in a thriller on Anzac Day yesterday. One of two Anzac Day clashes on the menu – with Maroochydore also winning its first match of the season courtesy of a 46-point smashing of cellar dwellers Yeronga South […]
AFTER Glenelg won last night to retain top spot on the ladder, all eyes will be on whether on not South Adelaide can keep just two points behind when they travel to The Parade to take on Norwood. The Redlegs will be desperate to bounce back following their loss to West Adelaide last week which […]
MID-SEASON Draft hopefuls will continue to take centre stage as the Young Guns series comes to a close on Sunday morning. The squad, comprised of 2005-born prospects from the VFL and Coates Talent League, takes on Vic Country at Highgate Recreation Reserve. >> SCROLL to see the full squads The second and final game of […]
AN UNLUCKY Parramatta Goannas side will be raring to get back on the winners list against a Pennant Hills team keen to impress in the opening match of the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division. We preview that clash along with the other three featured matches tomorrow. PARRAMATTA GOANNAS vs. PENNANT HILLS DEMONSSaturday, April 27 @ […]
Stay informed
If you like the content that Draft Central provides and don’t want to miss any of it, then sign up to our subscriber list where you can be emailed out the latest AFL Draft Guide or sport-specific magazines, as well as the option to sign up to a monthly newsletter.