TOP 5s | 2024 AFL State Draft Combines
CLUB-TIED talent and fast rising prospects have dominated the AFL State Draft Combines, held in Victoria, South and Western Australia over the last fortnight. Essendon Next Generation Academy (NGA) member Jayden Nguyen dominated the Victorian event, achieving top five results in four tests.
>> TOP 10s: 2024 AFL National Draft Combine
Nguyen, a 178cm utility, placed equal-second in the standing vertical jump (73cm), third in the 20m sprint (2.897 seconds), equal-fourth in the running vertical jump (86cm), and fifth in the agility test (8.126 seconds). The only other athlete to match such feats was West Australian Hugh Boxshall.
The Claremont midfielder proved somewhat of a surprise packet, slotting in alongside Nguyen for second in the standing vertical jump, and fourth in the running vertical jump. Boxshall also achieved podium finishes in the 2km time trial (second, 6:08) and agility test (third, 7.980 seconds).
Draft bolter Oliver Hannaford showcased his turn of speed with the top agility test time of 7.922 seconds. He joined Nguyen and Boxshall as the third player to notch an 86cm running vertical jump – good enough for equal-fourth. His late-season exploits have him firmly in top 25 calculations.
Another club-tied star to have shone was St Kilda NGA product Lennox Hofmann, who ran the quickest 20m sprint (2.861 seconds). Vic Metro teammate Patrick Retschko topped the 2km time sheet at 6:07, while leading Coates Talent League goalkicker Joshua Murphy posted an elite 74cm standing vert.
STATE DRAFT COMBINES TOP 5s
2KM TIME TRIAL:
| Name | State | State League Club | Time (min:sec) |
| Patrick Retschko | VIC M | Oakleigh Chargers | 6:07 |
| Hugh Boxshall | WA | Claremont | 6:08 |
| Luke Kennedy | VIC M | Sandringham Dragons | 6:08 |
| Sam Davidson | VIC M | Richmond (VFL) | 6:12 |
| Nathaniel Sulzberger | TAS | Sandringham Dragons | 6:17 |
20M SPRINT:
| Name | State | State League Club | Time (sec) |
| Lennox Hofmann | VIC M | Sandringham Dragons | 2.861 |
| Blake Leidler | VIC M | Oakleigh Chargers | 2.887 |
| Jayden Nguyen | VIC M | Calder Cannons | 2.897 |
| Benny Barrett | SA | South Adelaide | 2.913 |
| Jacob Molier | SA | Sturt | 2.920 |
AFL AGILITY TEST:
| Name | State | State League Club | Time (sec) |
| Oliver Hannaford | VIC C | GWV Rebels | 7.922 |
| Lucca Grego | VIC M | Western Jets | 7.961 |
| Hugh Boxshall | WA | Claremont | 7.980 |
| Joel Brown | WA | Peel Thunder | 8.075 |
| Jayden Nguyen | VIC M | Calder Cannons | 8.126 |
STANDING VERTICAL JUMP:
| Name | State | State League Club | Height (cm) |
| Josh Murphy | NSW | Murray Bushrangers | 74 |
| Hugh Boxshall | WA | Claremont | 73 |
| Jayden Nguyen | VIC M | Calder Cannons | 73 |
| Keighton Matofai-Forbes | VIC M | Western Jets | 70 |
| Loch Mactaggart | WA | Perth | 70 |
| Sam Toner | VIC C | Dandenong Stingrays | 70 |
RUNNING VERTICAL JUMP:
| Name | State | State League Club | Height (cm) |
| Ajang Kuol mun | VIC C | Geelong Cats (VFL) | 90 |
| Loch Mactaggart | WA | Perth | 89 |
| Luke Quaynor | VIC M | Oakleigh Chargers | 89 |
| Hugh Boxshall | WA | Claremont | 86 |
| Oliver Hannaford | VIC C | GWV Rebels | 86 |
| Jayden Nguyen | VIC M | Calder Cannons | 86 |
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