{"id":125355,"date":"2023-02-27T14:33:09","date_gmt":"2023-02-27T04:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=125355"},"modified":"2023-02-27T14:33:12","modified_gmt":"2023-02-27T04:33:12","slug":"2023-preseason-testing-top-5s-suns-academy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2023\/02\/27\/2023-preseason-testing-top-5s-suns-academy\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 Preseason Testing Top 5s \u2013 Suns Academy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

>> SCROLL for all top five results<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top prospects from the boys’ squad strutted their stuff, from Under 16 MVPs to AFL Academy members. It was Josh Zanker-Close<\/a> who dominated though, with the tall defender achieving top five results in five of the six events. In a wonderful all-round showcase of athleticism, he finished top in the 20m sprint, standing vertical jump, and running vertical jump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with Zanker-Close, over-ager Campbell Lake<\/a> was unbeaten in multiple events as the best performed athlete in the running vertical jump (R) and yo-yo test. Meanwhile 2007-born jet Zeke Uwland<\/strong>, the brother of Bodhi<\/strong>, blitzed the jumps with top five results in each variation, while also polling third in the agility test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Midfielder Will Graham<\/a> was another to impress by snatching podium spots in the 20m sprint and agility test, which 2022 U16 MVP Leonardo Lombard<\/a> topped. AFL Academy member Jake Rogers<\/a> snuck into fifth place in said test. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> Squad: Suns U18 Boys Academy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image Credit: Rookie Me<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the girls’ portion of testing, which saw only the Under 16s put through their paces, Sienna Burnham<\/strong> was the star of the show. She featured in the top five for all-bar one event, including all three jumping tests in a dominant display of her athleticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were a couple of familiar names to have stood out, too. Sunny Lappin<\/strong>, the daughter of Matthew<\/em><\/strong>, was another high leaper who soared to top five results off both feet. She’ll be eligible for selection via the Suns Academy, or as a father-daughter to both Carlton and St Kilda in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Georja Davies<\/strong> is the latest of her clan to come through the ranks. She’ll look to follow elder sisters Giselle<\/strong> and Fleur<\/strong> into the big leagues, while Darcie<\/strong> is a top-ager this year. Also eligible in 2025, the youngest sibling notched the highest running vertical jump among her Suns teammates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> Squad: Suns U18 Girls Academy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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TOP 5 RESULTS \u2013 BOYS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

STANDING VERTICAL JUMP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Josh Zanker-Close – 77cm
Nick Williams – 77cm
Zeke Uwland – 72cm
Will Graham – 72cm
Marlin Corbett – 71cm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RUNNING VERTICAL JUMP (R)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campbell Lake – 96cm
Zeke Uwland – 95cm
Josh Zanker-Close – 93cm
Beau Addinsall – 91cm
Kyle Greenwood – 91cm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RUNNING VERTICAL JUMP (L)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Josh Zanker-Close – 99cm
Zeke Uwland – 92cm
Nick Williams – 87cm
Campbell Lake – 86cm
Taine Dawson – 82cm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

20M SPRINT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Josh Zanker-Close – 2.875 seconds
Charlie Elliott – 2.927 seconds
Will Graham – 2.928 seconds
Finn Hay – 2.946 seconds
Leonardo Lombard – 2.971 seconds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AGILITY TEST<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leonardo Lombard – 8.014 seconds
Will Graham – 8.022 seconds
Zeke Uwland – 8.042 seconds
Josh Zanker-Close – 8.094 seconds
Jake Rogers – 8.212 seconds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

YO-YO TEST (level)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campbell Lake – 21.06
Finn Hay – 21.04
Nick Williams – 21.03
Marlin Corbett – 21.02
Zac Eckersley – 20.08<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> Q&A’s:<\/strong> Ethan Read & Jake Rogers<\/a> | Will Graham<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image Credit: Rookie Me<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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TOP 5 RESULTS \u2013 GIRLS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

STANDING VERTICAL JUMP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amelia Ella – 55cm
Sienna Burnham – 51cm
Georja Davies – 49cm
Dekota Baron – 48cm
Rhianna Ingram – 46cm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RUNNING VERTICAL JUMP (R)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Georja Davies – 60cm
Sunny Lappin – 57cm
Lilly-Ann Ryder – 56cm
Dekota Baron – 55cm
Sienna Burnham – 54cm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RUNNING VERTICAL JUMP (L)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rhianna Ingram – 59cm
Bronte Parker – 57cm
Sunny Lappin – 54cm
Sienna Burnham – 52cm
Lilly-Ann Ryder – 51cm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

20M SPRINT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Billi Hutton – 3.148 seconds
Sienna Burnham – 3.205 seconds
Scarlett Featherstone – 3.219 seconds
Lilly-Ann Ryder – 3.283 seconds
Dekota Baron – 3.32 seconds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AGILITY TEST<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amelia Ella – 8.68 seconds
Rhianna Ingram – 8.756 seconds
Scarlett Featherstone – 8.871 seconds
Mikayla Nurse – 8.891 seconds
Tayla Simpson – 8.985 seconds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

YO-YO TEST (level)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sienna Burnham – 17.06
Georja Davies – 16.04
Lilly-Ann Ryder – 16.01
Mikayla Nurse – 15.08
Amelia Ella – 15.07<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mentions<\/span><\/span><\/div>