![\"ben-jarman\"](\"https:\/\/afldraftcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Ben-Jarman-1024x683.jpg\")
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FOR the draft crop of 2016, the National AFL Draft Combine is the first sign that their AFL dreams are a step closer to fruition. An invitation to the AFL Draft Combine means that at least five AFL clubs have expressed interest in the player. The AFL Draft Combine is a way for clubs to determine the players\u2019 physical strengths as well as getting one-on-one time through combine interviews.<\/p>\n
Draftees take on each other in a series of tests that challenge their speed, endurance, reflexes and skills to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Combine results are taken into account by clubs when deciding between players and whether they believe they can take the next step into the AFL. A total of 81 players have been invited to the 2016 AFL Draft Combine.<\/p>\n
Matt Balmer<\/strong> takes a look at who might be the standouts in the testing which runs from Friday to Sunday.<\/p>\n Thursday:<\/strong><\/p>\n Players will begin to arrive at Etihad Stadium before a welcome will be held for all 81 players in attendence. Not all players will be able to test due to injuries, but they will sit in on interviews and medicals with clubs early in the combine.<\/p>\n Thursday also sees heights and weight taken, along with all the body sizing and measurements such as skin folds and tricept sizes. My spies have told me Ollie Florent<\/strong> will be a likely winner for the biggest hands at the combine.<\/p>\n The media will also be in attendance on Thursday afternoon with Kevin Sheehan<\/strong> speaking alongside Jonty Scharenberg<\/strong>, Jy Simpkin<\/strong> and Sam Powell-Pepper<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Friday:<\/strong><\/p>\n More medicals and interviews for players when they arrive for another day. Friday night from 7pm-9.30pm will be the hand balling, kicking and goal kicking tests.<\/p>\n The Matthew Lloyd clean hands\/handpassing test measures how well a player collects the football and is able to dispose of it using a handball. There are three targets set up on both the left and right side at distances of 6m, 8m and 10m. An official will roll out or throw a ball at the player and instruct them where to handball the ball to. This is done six times and a score from 1-5 is allocated to each handball depending on how good it is.<\/em><\/p>\n Who could win?<\/strong>\u00a0Hugh McCluggage<\/strong>‘s hands in stoppages are outstanding, whilst Andrew McGrath<\/strong> has the highest TAC Cup handball efficiency with 93 per cent of his handballs hitting the target.<\/p>\n The Brad Johnson goal kicking test will measure a players accuracy kicking for goal. Four kicking points are designated with players taking five kicks in total; two set shots (35m out in either pocket), two snaps (20m out, one left foot and one right foot) and one kick on the run (40m out directly in front). The player has 70 seconds to complete the test. A score is then worked out from the amount of goals and behinds a player kicks.<\/em><\/p>\n Who could win?<\/strong> Vic Country forward Josh Battle<\/strong> has a superb kick on him from short or long range distances in front of goal. Again, Hugh McCluggage<\/strong> has shown he can push forward and hit the scoreboard throughout 2016.<\/p>\n The Nathan Buckley kicking test measures players kicking efficiency over six kicks. Six targets (three on each side) are set out at distances of 20m, 30m and 40m. An official will call out a target at random to the kick, who will then to proceed to hit the target. Each kick is given a score from one to five, with five being a perfect kick.<\/em><\/p>\n Who could win?<\/strong> West Australian Josh Rotham<\/strong>\u00a0is one of the best kicks in the draft pool, his teammate tall ruckman Tim English<\/strong> is another who uses the ball well. Harry Morrison<\/strong>, Sam Petrevski-Seton<\/strong>, Alex Villis<\/strong> and Harry Perryman<\/strong> are others that should perform well in this test.<\/p>\n Saturday:<\/strong><\/p>\n The biggest day of the carnival will see sprints, agility, jumps and the beep test held on the purpose built floor on Etihad.<\/p>\n Sprints will be held in the morning , whilst the afternoon will conclude with the beep test.<\/p>\n Who could win in the sprints?<\/strong> Exciting WA midfielder Shai Bolton<\/strong> will test extremely well in both the 20m sprint and the agility test. Back in 2014, Bolton ran a sub 3s 20m sprint and under 8s for the agility test, considered elite.<\/p>\n Brandan Parfitt<\/strong> and Cedric Cox<\/strong> are among others who has shown off their speed at times this season while Jordan Gallucci<\/strong> should perform well in the agility test. Vic Country teammates Ben Ainsworth<\/strong> (8.00 seconds) and Jarrod Berry<\/strong> (7.80 seconds) were superb in TAC Cup preseason testing, while Stingrays defender Bailey Morrish<\/strong> was just behind Berry running 7.81 seconds. Queenslander Josh Williams<\/strong> showed a remarkable dash of speed in a division two National Under 18s Championships game earlier in the season.<\/p>\n Murray Bushrangers tall Esava Ratugolea<\/strong> is another who tested well in the past\u00a0(2.92s) as has\u00a0South Australian excitement machine Kym Lebois<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The vertical leap test is always an interesting test with vertical jump and running vertical jump (left and right foot) measured.<\/p>\n Who could win in the jumps?<\/strong> South Australian tall utility Brennan Cox<\/strong> was superb in the preseason testing in the SANFL, recording over 90cm off either foot in the running vertical jump. Ruckman Tim English<\/strong>, Esava Ratugolea<\/strong> and Tony Olango<\/strong> could test well above their counterparts, but it was Stingrays defender Bailey Morrish<\/strong> who beat all comers in the TAC Cup preseason testing with a vertical leap of 81cm.<\/p>\n The shuttle run\/beep test or multistage fitness test depending on where you’re from is another that is closely watched by clubs. Most are looking for kids to push out one last level on the test, rather than take the easy option and drop out early. Sometimes the dedication and commitment from players can lead to them ‘spewing’ up their lunch- but an effect that some clubs might put down as a big tick in their notebook.<\/p>\n Who could win in the beep test?<\/strong> Tim Taranto<\/strong> will be an early front runner, having run a 15.9 in the preseason. His Sandringham Dragons team mate Ollie Florent<\/strong> is another who might perform well. If Jack Graham<\/strong> tests, he could be South Australia’s best.<\/p>\n Sunday:<\/strong><\/p>\n The final day of the combine will see the 3km time trial run in groups of 10-15. The 3km time trial is one of the most strutinised tests, players pushing themselves to the limit deserve a pat on the back- while those that cruse through without little effect might come under the eyes of recruiters when they pour over all their data.<\/p>\n The 3km time trial has gotten faster every season, with the record being broken for three years running.<\/p>\n Who could win the 3km time trial?<\/strong> Possible number one draft pick Andrew McGrath<\/strong> should run well, but will his heavy work load over the last few months affect him? Again Tim Taranto<\/strong> will be another who could perform well.<\/p>\n Invites:<\/strong><\/p>\n Small Defenders\/Midfielders\/Forwards<\/strong><\/p>\n Ben Ainsworth- Vic Country Medium Defenders\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Jarrod Berry- Vic Country Tall Defenders<\/strong><\/p>\n Brennan Cox- South Australia Medium Midfielders<\/strong><\/p>\n Jacob Allison- Queensland Medium Forwards<\/strong><\/p>\n Joshua Begley- Vic Metro Tall Forwards\/Rucks<\/strong><\/p>\n Josh Battle- Vic Country By the states:<\/strong><\/p>\n International (1): FOR the draft crop of 2016, the National AFL Draft Combine is the first sign that their AFL dreams are a step closer to fruition. An invitation to the AFL Draft Combine means that at least five AFL clubs have expressed interest in the player. The AFL Draft Combine is a way for clubs to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":24498,"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":[278,279,8],"tags":[25,329,235,331,334,365,366,257,94,414,165,421,427,461,463,471,163,517,535,630,659,705,721,727,814,129,834,843,844,891,904,913,916,919,923,927,936,960,982,237,1022,1027,1031,1032,1049,1051,1052,1053,95,1057,1082,1097,1107,1143,1179,1201,135,1216,1237,1302,1305,1320,1335,1336,1347,76,1382,1383,1384,1398,1408,1425,1427,1555,1556,1640,1655,1660,1663,1664,1666,1685,1693,234,1778,1799,1800,1806,1828,1829,1851,27,1879,1880,1921,1929,1930,1935,1937,1963,1972],"class_list":["post-24585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature-articles","category-headlines","category-news","tag-afl","tag-afl-combine","tag-afl-draft","tag-afl-draft-2016","tag-afl-draft-combine","tag-alex-villis","tag-alex-witherden","tag-andrew-mcgrath","tag-bailey-morrish","tag-ben-ainsworth","tag-ben-jarman","tag-ben-long","tag-benjamin-davis","tag-brad-scheer","tag-brandan-parfitt","tag-brennan-cox","tag-callum-brown","tag-cameron-zurhaar","tag-cedric-cox","tag-daniel-venables","tag-declan-watson","tag-dylan-clarke","tag-elliot-himmelberg","tag-esava-ratugolea","tag-griffin-logue","tag-hamish-brayshaw","tag-harrison-macreadie","tag-harry-morrison","tag-harry-perryman","tag-hugh-mccluggage","tag-isaac-cumming","tag-jack-bowes","tag-jack-graham","tag-jack-henry","tag-jack-maibaum","tag-jack-scrimshaw","tag-jacob-allison","tag-jake-waterman","tag-jarrod-berry","tag-jonty-scharenberg","tag-jordan-gallucci","tag-jordan-ridley","tag-joseph-atley","tag-josh-battle","tag-josh-williams","tag-joshua-begley","tag-joshua-daicos","tag-joshua-rotham","tag-judah-dundon","tag-jy-simpkin","tag-kevin-sheehan","tag-kobe-mutch","tag-kym-lebois","tag-liam-baker","tag-luke-ryan","tag-mark-oconnor","tag-matt-balmer","tag-matt-guelfi","tag-max-lynch","tag-mitchell-hinge","tag-mitchell-mccarthy","tag-myles-poholke","tag-national-combine","tag-national-combine-afl-draft","tag-new-south-wales","tag-northern-territory","tag-nsw","tag-nsw-act","tag-nswact","tag-oliver-florent","tag-oscar-junker","tag-patrick-kerr","tag-patrick-lipinski","tag-queensland","tag-quinton-narkle","tag-ryan-garthwaite","tag-sam-fisher","tag-sam-mclarty","tag-sam-petrevski-seton","tag-sam-powell-pepper","tag-sam-walker","tag-sean-darcy","tag-shai-bolton","tag-south-australia","tag-taylin-duman","tag-tim-taranto","tag-timothy-english","tag-todd-marshall","tag-tom-williamson","tag-tony-olango","tag-tyson-stengle","tag-vfl","tag-vic-country","tag-vic-metro","tag-western-australia","tag-will-brodie","tag-will-hayward","tag-will-setterfield","tag-willem-drew","tag-zac-fisher","tag-zachary-sproule"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24585","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\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24585"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24585\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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\nLiam Baker- Western Australia
\nShai Bolton- Western Australia
\nCallum Brown- Vic Metro
\nCedric Cox- Vic Country
\nJoshua Daicos- Vic Metro
\nZac Fisher- Western Australia
\nBen Jarman- South Australia
\nKym Lebois- South Australia
\nAndrew McGrath- Vic Metro
\nBrandan Parfitt- Northern Territory
\nTyson Stengle- South Australia<\/p>\n
\nIsaac Cumming- NSW\/ACT
\nTaylin Duman- Vic Metro
\nBen Long- NT
\nBailey Morrish- Vic Country
\nHarry Morrison- Vic Country
\nHarry Perryman- NSW\/ACT
\nSam Walker- South Australia
\nTom Williamson- Vic Country
\nAlex Witherden- Vic Country
\nAlex Villis- South Australia<\/p>\n
\nRyan Garthwaite- NSW\/ACT
\nElliot Himmelberg- Queensland
\nGriffin Logue- Western Australia
\nHarrison Macreadie- NSW\/ACT
\nJack Maibaum- Vic Metro
\nSam McLarty- Vic Metro
\nJordan Ridley- Vic Metro
\nJoshua Rotham- Western Australia
\nJack Scrimshaw- Vic Metro
\nDeclan Watson- Queensland<\/p>\n
\nJoseph Atley- Vic Country
\nHamish Brayshaw- Vic Metro
\nWill Brodie- Vic Country
\nJack Bowes- Queensland
\nDylan Clarke- Vic Metro
\nWillem Drew- Vic Country
\nJudah Dundon- Vic Metro
\nJordan Gallucci- Vic Metro
\nJack Graham- South Australia
\nMatt Guelfi- Western Australia
\nOscar Junker- Vic Metro
\nHugh McCluggage- Vic Country
\nKobe Mutch- NSW\/ACT
\nSam Petrevski-Seton- Western Australia
\nMyles Poholke- Vic Country
\nSam Powell-Pepper- Western Australia
\nLuke Ryan- VFL
\nJonty Scharenberg- South Australia
\nWill Setterfield- NSW\/ACT
\nDaniel Venables- Vic Metro
\nJosh Williams- Queensland<\/p>\n
\nBenjamin Davis- NSW\/ACT
\nSam Fisher- NSW\/ACT
\nOliver Florent- Vic Metro
\nWill Hayward- South Australia
\nMitchell Hinge- South Australia
\nPatrick Lipinski- Vic Metro
\nQuinton Narkle- Western Australia
\nMark O’Connor- International
\nBrad Scheer- Queensland
\nJy Simpkin- Vic Country
\nTim Taranto- Vic Metro
\nCameron Zurhaar- Western Australia<\/p>\n
\nSean Darcy- Vic Country
\nTimothy English- Western Australia
\nJack Henry- Vic Country
\nPatrick Kerr- Vic Metro
\nMax Lynch- NSW\/ACT
\nTodd Marshall- NSW\/ACT
\nMitchell McCarthy- Vic Country
\nTony Olango- NT
\nEsava Ratugolea- Vic Country
\nZachary Sproule- NSW\/ACT
\nJake Waterman- Western Australia<\/p>\n
\nNSW\/ACT (11):
\nNorthern Territory (3):
\nQueensland (6):
\nSouth Australia (10):
\nVic Country (18):
\nVFL (1):
\nVic Metro (19):
\nWestern Australia (12):<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"