JUNIOR athletics star Mason McGroder has showed out at the recent Swans Academy preseason combine, achieving three top five finishes. A long jump bronze medalist at the 2024 U20 World Championships, it was no surprise to see the top-ager top the running vertical jump leaderboard.

>> SCROLL to see the Top 5s for each test

McGroder was the only player to breach triple-digits in said event across the Swans and Giants Academies, soaring a remarkable 103cm. He also placed second in the standing vertical jump with an effort of 84cm, and fifth in the 20m sprint (2.911 seconds) to showcase his all-round athleticism.

Fellow Swan Thomas Epis went toe-to-toe with McGroder and held up extremely well despite being a bottom-ager (2009-born). Epis scored the best standing vertical jump (85cm) and was second to McGroder in the running leap (97cm), while placing third in the 20m sprint (2.91 seconds).

Sydney-tied talent dominated the combined leaderboards, with a further three athletes achieving top five results across multiple tests. That included Jake Medved, who took out the 20m sprint with a scintillating time of 2.859 seconds. He was also equal-third in the yo-yo test (20.8).

Meanwhile, Brady Mackay was the sole Giant to feature atop any leaderboard. His 7.926-second agility test time was the only one below eight seconds. Mackay also ran third in the 20m sprint, stopping the clock at 2.91 seconds to further outline his high-end speed.

Also among those to notch top five results in multiple tests was 2010-born Giants Academy prospect Darcy Borghouts. Not eligible to be drafted until 2028, he finished the yo-yo test at level 20.8 – good enough for equal-third – while placing fourth in the agility test (8.192 seconds).

TOP 5s: 2026 NSW/ACT PRESEASON TESTING

STANDING VERTICAL JUMP:

1. Thomas Epis (Swans Academy) – 85cm
2. Mason McGroder (Swans Academy) – 84cm
3. Eamon Henderson (Giants Academy) – 79cm
4. Sebastian Mok (Swans Academy) – 75cm
eq. 5. Thomas Coughlin (Swans Academy) – 72cm
eq. 5. Ricky Meyrick (Swans Academy) – 72cm

RUNNING VERTICAL JUMP:

1. Mason McGroder (Swans Academy) – 103cm
2. Thomas Epis (Swans Academy) – 97cm
3. Tallis McMillan (Giants Academy) – 96cm
4. Sebastian Mok (Swans Academy) – 92cm
5. Will Morahan (Swans Academy) – 88cm

20M SPRINT:

1. Jake Medved (Swans Academy) – 2.859 seconds
2. Matthew Davies (Giants Academy) – 2.891 seconds
eq. 3. Thomas Epis (Swans Academy) – 2.91 seconds
eq. 3. Brady Mackay (Giants Academy) – 2.91 seconds
5. Mason McGroder (Swans Academy) – 2.911 seconds

AFL AGILITY TEST:

1. Brady Mackay (Giants Academy) – 7.926 seconds
2. Seth Marinkovic (Giants Academy) – 8.053 seconds
3. Isaac Luke (Swans Academy) – 8.11 seconds
4. Darcy Borghouts (Giants Academy) – 8.192 seconds
5. Matthew MacDonald (Giants Academy) – 8.234 seconds

YO-YO TEST (LEVEL):

1. Henry Meaney (Swans Academy) – 21.3
2. Alex Norris (Swans Academy) – 21.1
eq. 3. Darcy Borghouts (Giants Academy) – 20.8
eq. 3. Jim Houston (Giants Academy) – 20.8
eq. 3. Brody Kane (Giants Academy) – 20.8
eq. 3. Hayden McAusland (Swans Academy) – 20.8
eq. 3. Jake Medved (Swans Academy) – 20.8
eq. 3. Will Morahan (Swans Academy) – 20.8