THE LIONS Academy convened in Queensland this month to partake in their annual preseason testing event, under the eye of Rookie Me. Under 18 talent from both the boys and girls squads underwent a range of physical tests; from vertical jumps, to sprints and endurance running.

>> SCROLL for all top five results

There were standouts across all age groups in the boys’ portion of testing, with several top players also proving their athletic prowess. Among those to impress was over-ager Matthew Hollier, who topped both the standing vertical jump and 20m sprint categories.

Hollier achieved top five results in all three leaps, while bottom-ager Alex Pope was right up there in jumps off both his left and right foot. The latter also snuck in a podium finish for the agility test, ranking third overall.

No one could beat diminutive top-ager Sonny Ashley for speed though. He finished third in a competitive 20m sprint meet and top of the agility test, as the only athlete to register a sub-eight second time in the latter.

Meanwhile, small forward Maverick Garaicoa aced all the running events with top five results in the sprint, agility test, and yo-yo test. Among the talls to fare well was Bradley McDonald, who featured in last year’s Under 17 Futures game and topped the running vertical jump scores at 91cm.

On the girls’ side of testing, it was the younger athletes who shone brightest. A particular quartet dominated across the board, representing the two youngest age groups (2007 and 2008-born) in exciting fashion.

Lataya De Pauw topped the standing vertical jump, while also ranking among the top five players for her agility test time and yo-yo test score. She was beaten by Mia Geere for the best running vertical jump scores, with Geere also achieving top five results in the agility and yo-yo tests.

Elsewhere, Monique Corrigan was another standout in the leaps and featured in the top five for all three events. Raffael Baviello also showed her wares, topping the timesheet in both the 20m sprint and agility test.

TOP 5 RESULTS – BOYS

STANDING VERTICAL JUMP

Matthew Hollier – 82cm
Elijah Glass – 80cm
Callum Ferguson – 76cm
Jett Jessen – 72cm
Sonny Ashley – 70cm

RUNNING VERTICAL JUMP (R)

Bradley McDonald – 91cm
Matthew Hollier – 89cm
Alex Pope – 87cm
Tom Gillett – 87cm
Elijah Glass – 86cm

RUNNING VERTICAL JUMP (L)

Harrison Ronchi – 86cm
Matthew Hollier – 84cm
Callum Ferguson – 83cm
Alex Pope – 82cm
Wyatt Greenaway – 79cm

20M SPRINT

Matthew Hollier – 2.854 seconds
Benjo Lambert – 2.907 seconds
Sonny Ashley – 2.924 seconds
Maverick Garaicoa – 2.924 seconds
Ryan Gilder – 2.95 seconds

AGILITY TEST

Sonny Ashley – 7.875 seconds
Ryan Gilder – 8.129 seconds
Alex Pope – 8.203 seconds
Maverick Garaicoa – 8.241 seconds
Daniel Annable – 8.296 seconds

YO-YO TEST (level)

Thomas Prole – 21.04
Daniel Annable – 21.03
Hugo Crawford – 20.08
Maverick Garaicoa – 20.08
Cooper Delaney – 20.08

>> Q&A: Billy Richardson (Lions Academy)

TOP 5 RESULTS – GIRLS

STANDING VERTICAL JUMP

Lataya De Pauw – 57cm
Nickkie Shaw – 49cm
Sophia Allen – 48cm
Lilly Baker – 48cm
Monique Corrigan – 48cm

RUNNING VERTICAL JUMP (R)

Mia Geere – 67cm
Harlee McIlwain – 63cm
Nickkie Shaw – 62cm
Monique Corrigan – 61cm
Sophia Allen – 60cm

RUNNING VERTICAL JUMP (L)

Mia Geere – 62cm
Lataya De Pauw – 60cm
Jemma Foley – 52cm
Monique Corrigan – 52cm
Enah Desic – 51cm

20M SPRINT

Raffael Baviello – 3.25 seconds
Lilly Baker – 3.251 seconds
Molly Ferguson – 3.281 seconds
Sophie Schulze – 3.281 seconds
Zoe Petrides – 3.372 seconds

AGILITY TEST

Raffael Baviello – 8.926 seconds
Sienna Ibrahim – 8.931 seconds
Lataya De Pauw – 8.992 seconds
Sophia Allen – 8.995 seconds
Mia Geere – 9.006 seconds

YO-YO TEST (level)

Molly Ferguson – 16.02
Lilly Baker – 15.07
Sophie Schulze – 15.05
Lataya De Pauw – 15.02
Mia Geere – 15.02