{"id":208806,"date":"2026-02-20T15:23:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T05:23:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=208806"},"modified":"2026-02-20T16:47:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T06:47:06","slug":"top-5s-2026-nsw-act-preseason-testing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/02\/20\/top-5s-2026-nsw-act-preseason-testing\/","title":{"rendered":"TOP 5s | 2026 NSW\/ACT Preseason Testing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

JUNIOR athletics star Mason McGroder<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> SCROLL to see the Top 5s for each test<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fellow Swan Thomas Epis<\/a> 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sydney-tied talent dominated the combined leaderboards, with a further three athletes achieving top five results across multiple tests. That included Jake Medved<\/a>, 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Brady Mackay<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also among those to notch top five results in multiple tests was 2010-born Giants Academy prospect Darcy Borghouts<\/a>. 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tallis McMillan in Allies colours | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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TOP 5s: 2026 NSW\/ACT PRESEASON TESTING<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RUNNING VERTICAL JUMP:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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