{"id":209156,"date":"2026-02-24T11:42:48","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T01:42:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=209156"},"modified":"2026-02-24T11:42:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T01:42:50","slug":"top-5s-2026-tasmanian-preseason-testing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/02\/24\/top-5s-2026-tasmanian-preseason-testing\/","title":{"rendered":"TOP 5s | 2026 Tasmanian Preseason Testing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>THE BUDDING class of 2027 is shaping up nicely for Tasmania, if the recent preseason testing combine is anything to go by. Several 2009-born prospects produced top-five results across the event held in Hobart, headlined by dual-podium finisher <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"180870\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/benjamin-russell\/\" target=\"_blank\">Benjamin Russell<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>>> <strong>SCROLL to see the Top 5s for each test<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lauderdale&#8217;s Russell exhibited his elite speed with a second-place finish in the agility test (7.846 seconds), and third-place 20m sprint time of 2.919 seconds. He also popped up with the fifth best standing vertical jump (66cm) to outline his all-round athleticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clarence top-ager <a href=\"\/afl\/player\/thomas-crossin\/\" data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"209168\" class=\"_dc_spo\" target=\"_blank\">Thomas Crossin<\/a><strong> <\/strong>joined Russell in featuring across three different leaderboards. He ran second in the 20m sprint (2.902 seconds), while showing strong endurance to place equal-fifth in the yo-yo test (20.8). He also notched the third best running vertical jump (83cm).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last year&#8217;s Under 16 Pool B MVP <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"198785\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/max-gulliver\/\" target=\"_blank\">Max Gulliver<\/a> showed out in the power-based tests. He took out the 20m sprint with a scintillating time of 2.825 seconds, and was equal-third in the standing jumps (67cm). The Glenorchy product is arguably Tasmania&#8217;s leading prospect for next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/afl\/player\/lucas-heazlewood\/\" data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"209170\" class=\"_dc_spo\" target=\"_blank\">Lucas Heazlewood<\/a> joined him with a first place finish in the agility test (7.79 seconds), while also placing third in the yo-yo test (21.2) in a feat of top-end speed and endurance. The Ulverstone native was Tasmania&#8217;s Under 16 MVP last year after a productive carnival up forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also among the most impressive performances was that of South Launceston&#8217;s <a href=\"\/afl\/player\/prince-williams\/\" data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"209172\" class=\"_dc_spo\" target=\"_blank\">Prince Williams<\/a>. The 14-year-old, born in 2011, took out both the standing (70cm) and running (92cm) vertical jumps. Measuring up at just 167cm, he&#8217;ll certainly be one to watch for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"637\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Max-Gulliver-TAS-2025-AFL-U16s-1024x637.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-195256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Max-Gulliver-TAS-2025-AFL-U16s-1024x637.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Max-Gulliver-TAS-2025-AFL-U16s-300x187.jpg 300w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Max-Gulliver-TAS-2025-AFL-U16s-768x478.jpg 768w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Max-Gulliver-TAS-2025-AFL-U16s-1536x956.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Max-Gulliver-TAS-2025-AFL-U16s-2048x1274.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Max-Gulliver-TAS-2025-AFL-U16s-128x80.jpg 128w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Max-Gulliver-TAS-2025-AFL-U16s-32x20.jpg 32w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Max Gulliver in action for Tasmania | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-top-5s-2026-tasmanian-preseason-testing\">TOP 5s: 2026 TASMANIAN PRESEASON TESTING<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>STANDING VERTICAL JUMP:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Prince Williams (South Launceston) &#8211; 70cm<br>2. Jess Bula (Launceston) &#8211; 68cm<br>Eq. 3. Max Gulliver (Glenorchy) &#8211; 67cm<br>Eq. 3. Jaxon Hay (Devonport) &#8211; 67cm<br>5. Benjamin Russell (Lauderdale) &#8211; 66cm<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RUNNING VERTICAL JUMP:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Prince Williams (South Launceston) &#8211; 92cm<br>2. Oliver Freeland (South Launceston) &#8211; 87cm<br>Eq. 3. Campbell Barwick (Clarence) &#8211; 83cm<br>Eq. 3. Ewan Dillon (Glenorchy) &#8211; 83cm<br>Eq. 3. Thomas Crossin (Clarence) &#8211; 83cm<br>Eq. 3. Noah Hedger (Launceston) &#8211; 83cm<br>Eq. 3. Tom Munting (South Launceston) &#8211; 83cm<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>20m SPRINT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Max Gulliver (Glenorchy) &#8211; 2.825 seconds<br>2. Thomas Crossin (Clarence) &#8211; 2.902 seconds<br>3. Benjamin Russell (Lauderdale) &#8211; 2.919 seconds<br>4. Benjamin Barwick (Glenorchy) &#8211; 2.946 seconds<br>5. Jack Ritter (Latrobe) &#8211; 2.973 seconds<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>AFL AGILITY TEST:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Lucas Heazlewood (Ulverstone) &#8211; 7.79 seconds<br>2. Benjamin Russell (Lauderdale) &#8211; 7.846 seconds<br>3. Max Fuglsang (North Hobart) &#8211; 7.98 seconds<br>4. Tommy Geappen (Clarence) &#8211; 8.008 seconds<br>5. Benjamin Barwick (Glenorchy) &#8211; 8.107 seconds<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>YO-YO TEST:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Jacob Stretton (Burnie) &#8211; 21.4<br>2. Ryder Jones (Clarence) &#8211; 21.3<br>3. Lucas Heazlewood (Ulverstone) &#8211; 21.2<br>4. Coby Praciak (Launceston) &#8211; 21.1<br>Eq. 5. Thomas Crossin (Clarence) &#8211; 20.8<br>Eq. 5. Tommy Geappen (Clarence) &#8211; 20.8<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-dc-block-dc-mention _dc_mention\"><div class=\"section-heading_wrap\"><span class=\"section-heading is-small\">Mentions<\/span><span class=\"hor-border\"><\/span><\/div><ul class=\"js-overflow-list overflow-list\"><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/benjamin-russell\/\">Benjamin Russell<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/thomas-crossin\/\">Thomas Crossin<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/max-gulliver\/\">Max Gulliver<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/lucas-heazlewood\/\">Lucas Heazlewood<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/prince-williams\/\">Prince Williams<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"js-dropdown dropdown overflowed\"><button class=\"btn btn-icon-only\"><span class=\"icon btn-icon\">\n                    <!-- icon - plus circle - 20px-->\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\">\n                        <path d=\"M15,9.28h-4.3V5h0A.72.72,0,1,0,9.28,5h0V9.28H5a.72.72,0,0,0,0,1.43H9.28V15a.72.72,0,0,0,1.43,0h0V10.71H15a.72.72,0,0,0,0-1.43Z\"\/>\n                        <path d=\"M10,0A10,10,0,1,0,20,10,10,10,0,0,0,10,0Zm0,18.57A8.57,8.57,0,0,1,10,1.43h0a8.57,8.57,0,0,1,0,17.14Z\"\/>\n                    <\/svg>\n                <\/span><\/button><div class=\"popover\"><div class=\"popover-content\"><ul class=\"popover-menu\"><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>THE BUDDING class of 2027 is shaping up nicely for Tasmania, if the recent preseason testing combine is anything to go by. Several 2009-born prospects produced top-five results across the event held in Hobart, headlined by dual-podium finisher Benjamin Russell. >> SCROLL to see the Top 5s for each test Lauderdale&#8217;s Russell exhibited his elite [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":195557,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18050,8,21270,20172,3133,11597],"tags":[23229,23231,22978,23232,23230],"class_list":["post-209156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-afl-draft","category-news","category-preseason-testing","category-talent-league","category-tasmania","category-tasmania-devils","tag-benjamin-russell","tag-lucas-heazlewood","tag-max-gulliver","tag-prince-williams","tag-thomas-crossin"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=209156"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209156\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":209180,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209156\/revisions\/209180"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/195557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=209156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=209156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=209156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}