BRISBANE Lions Academy prospect Jethro Grills had a day out at the recent Queensland preseason testing combine, achieving top-five results in every event. What’s more, the 176cm top-ager finished first on the leaderboard in four of those tests to showcase his all-round athleticism.

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

Grills notched up the best standing (75cm) and running (97cm) vertical jumps, before stopping the clock quickest in the 20m sprint (2.946 seconds) and agility test (8.085 seconds). He also featured on the yo-yo test podium having lasted until level 20.01, complimenting his speed with an endurance feat.

Suns Academy pair Elijah Welsh and Taj Murray (brother of Jai) were the only players to better Grills in the yo-yo test, while Leroy Kaesler matched his run. Kaesler, a top-age midfielder/forward, also snuck in with the fifth-best agility test time (8.27 seconds) to outline his speed-endurance attributes.

Fellow Suns Joshua Hall, Lachlan Cramp, and Brae Agrums were others who bagged top-five finishes in multiple tests. Hall’s feats were particularly impressive given his status as a bottom-ager, featuring on the podium for both jumps and second in the 20m sprint (2.946 seconds) to rival Grills.

Among the standouts from Queensland this year, Lions trio Caylen Murray, Matthew Owen, and Cooper Hodge were all absent from testing. Running defender Archie Hill and 190cm midfielder Jake Callinan are considered among the Suns’ leading prospects, along with bottom-ager Murray.

TOP 5s: 2026 QUEENSLAND PRESEASON TESTING

STANDING VERTICAL JUMP:

1. Jethro Grills (Lions Academy) – 75cm
2. Maximus Holden (Lions Academy) – 72cm
3. Joshua Hall (Suns Academy) – 71cm
4. Lachlan Cramp (Suns Academy) – 70cm
eq. 5. Brae Agrums (Suns Academy) – 67cm
eq. 5. Grady Turner (Suns Academy) – 67cm

RUNNING VERTICAL JUMP:

1. Jethro Grills (Lions Academy) – 97cm
eq. 2. Jesse Wenzel (Suns Academy) – 94cm
eq. 2. Joshua Hall (Suns Academy) – 94cm
eq. 4. Lachlan Cramp (Suns Academy) – 86cm
eq. 4. Riley Mackay (Lions Academy) – 86cm

20M SPRINT:

1. Jethro Grills (Lions Academy) – 2.916 seconds
eq. 2. Joshua Hall (Suns Academy) – 2.946 seconds
eq. 2. Noah Rafter (Lions Academy) – 2.946 seconds
4. Caleb Williams (Suns Academy) – 2.968 seconds
5. Reave Gehling (Suns Academy) – 2.995 seconds

AFL AGILITY TEST:

1. Jethro Grills (Lions Academy) – 8.085 seconds
2. Oliver Morgan (Lions Academy) – 8.088 seconds
3. Oliver Watters (Suns Academy) – 8.101 seconds
4. Hunter Deighton (Lions Academy) – 8.225 seconds
5. Leroy Kaesler (Suns Academy) – 8.27 seconds

YO-YO TEST:

1. Elijah Welsh (Suns Academy) – 21.03
2. Taj Murray (Suns Academy) – 21.02
eq. 3. Jethro Grills (Lions Academy) – 21.01
eq. 3. Leroy Kaesler (Suns Academy) – 21.01
eq. 5. Brae Agrums (Suns Academy) – 20.08
eq. 5. Lachlan Cramp (Suns Academy) – 20.08
eq. 5. Ethan Duke (Lions Academy) – 20.08