Draft Combine: Brother of Swans young gun impresses, Roos’ vertical record broken

126 hopeful AFL prospects have taken part in the 2021 Draft Combine over recent weeks ahead of November's National Draft.

This year's combine has seen talented teenagers across the nation undergo testing in their home states, while Vic Metro, New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory prospects have been forced to have most of their testing put on hold*.

The recent results have seen a number of familiar names, father-son prospects and NGA Academy graduates record strong results in the build-up to the National Draft as talent and recruitment scouts take further notice.

*Vic Metro, NSW and ACT talents were only able to be tested for the 2km time-trial via Strava, with the AFL looking to resume full testing for players from these regions in the coming weeks.

All results via AFL Talent and VFL/W Media Manager Will Carter.

2km Time-Trial

Bendigo Pioneers prospect Cooper Hamilton led the way for the 2km time-trial, finishing 10 seconds ahead of next best and fellow Vic Country representative Hamish Sinnott for the mantle.

Corey Warner, brother of Swans young gun Chad, Sam Butler, brother of Saints forward Dan, and Jai Serong, brother to Dockers midfielder Caleb, also featured in the top 10 for the time trial.

NAME	STATE	CLUB	RESULT
Hamilton, Cooper	VC	Bendigo Pioneers	5:48
Sinnott, Hamish	VC	GWV Rebels	5:58
Knevitt, Mitchell	VC	Geelong Falcons	6:18
Ballantyne, Jamieson	VC	GWV Rebels	6:19
Lohmann, Kai	VC	GWV Rebels	6:19
Warner, Corey	WA	East Fremantle	6:20
Linke, Shay	SA	Central Districts	6:22
Butler, Sam	VC	GWV Rebels	6:23
Serong, Jai	VC	Gippsland Power	6:24
Whitelum, Luca	SA	Central Districts	6:26

 

2km Time-Trial*

Northern Knights bolter and likely top 10 selection Josh Ward was able to lead the VIC Metro, NSW and ACT pack with a time three seconds under the six-minute mark.

Giants Academy graduate Josh Fahey managed to also pass the barrier by one second, while highly-touted midfielder and Sandringham Dragons best and fairest Finn Callaghan amassed a top 10 time.

2021 Fothergill-Round-Mitchell medallist and Williamstown defender Charlie Dean was also among those with top results.

NAME	STATE	CLUB	RESULT
Ward, Josh	VM	Northern Knights	5:57
Fahey, Josh	NSW/ACT	GWS Giants Academy	5:59
Long, Ned	VM	Northern Knights	6:05
Worner, Karl	VM	Oakleigh Chargers	6:07
Howes, Blake	VM	Sandringham Dragons	6:08
MacDonald, Connor	VM	Dandenong Stingrays	6:08
Callaghan, Finn	VM	Sandringham Dragons	6:10
Dean, Charlie	VM	Williamstown VFL	6:11
Rule, Jed	VM	Oakleigh Chargers	6:13
Anderson, Angus	NSW/ACT	Sydney Swans Academy	6:14

*VIC Metro, NSW and ACT prospects completed time-trial via Strava

Agility

Western Australian prospects dominated the agility testing, with Alastair Lord, Bryce Watson, Matt Johnson and Jesse Motlop finishing first through fourth respectively.

Johnson firms as a top 20 selection ahead of next month's draft and could break into the top 10 with a consistent string of combine results.

Brisbane academy prospect Toby Triffett was also among those finishing in the top 10.

NAME	STATE	CLUB	RESULT
Lord, Alastair	WA	Norwood	7.940
Watson, Bryce	WA	Swan Districts	8.006
Johnson, Matt	WA	West Perth	8.061
Motlop, Jesse	WA	South Fremantle	8.063
Beecken, Cooper	SA	Glenelg	8.070
Fejo Jnr, Ronald	NT	West Adelaide	8.080
Jones, Arthur	WA	Claremont	8.189
Murley, Cooper	SA	Norwood	8.200
Triffett, Toby	QLD	Brisbane Lions Academy	8.226
Mcvee, Judd	WA	East Fremantle	8.238

 

20m Sprint

Demons father-son prospect Taj Woewodin, son of Brownlow medallist Shane, came second to North Adelaide's Harvey Harrison for the 20m sprint, recording a time of 2.898 seconds.

The aforementioned younger brothers of AFL names Corey Warner and Sam Butler featured in the top 10 results once again, while Peel Thunder's Luke Polson rounded out the podium behind Harrison and Woewodin.

NAME	STATE	CLUB	RESULT
Harrison, Harvey	SA	North Adelaide	2.845
Woewodin, Taj	WA	East Fremantle	2.898
Polson, Luke	WA	Peel Thunder	2.900
Stagg, Hugh	SA	Glenelg	2.910
Pegoraro, Noah	WA	West Perth	2.926
Watson, Bryce	WA	Swan Districts	2.951
Hough, Brady	WA	Peel Thunder	2.960
Warner, Corey	WA	East Fremantle	2.969
Butler, Sam	VC	GWV Rebels	2.974
Knevitt, Mitchell	VC	Geelong Falcons	2.976

 

Vertical Jump

Warner's combine continued to impress at the vertical jump, recording a jump of 76 cm, edging past Suns Academy graduate William Bella, South Australia's Leek Alleer and West Perth's Noah Pegoraro.

Lochlan Paton, Tom Brown and Matt Jonson joined teammate Pegoraro in the top 10, while fellow WA talent Brady Hough snuck onto the leaderboard.

NAME	STATE	CLUB	RESULT
Warner, Corey	WA	East Fremantle	76
Bella, William	QLD	Gold Coast Academy	75
Alleer, Leek	SA	Central Districts	75
Pegoraro, Noah	WA	West Perth	75
Paton, Lochlan	WA	West Perth	73
Brown, Tom	WA	West Perth	72
Johnson, Matt	WA	West Perth	72
Polson, Luke	WA	Peel Thunder	72
Butler, Sam	VC	GWV Rebels	71
Farmer, Richard	WA	Subiaco	71
Hough, Brady	WA	Peel Thunder	71

 

Running Vertical Jump

Alleer set a combine record in the running vertical jump, surpassing Kangaroo Kyron Hayden's record of 103cm from 2017.

Warner managed another podium finish, while highly-rated defender Josh Gibcus rounded out the top three.

Johnson, Polson, Butler and Pegoraro also recorded further strong results in the vertical jump.

NAME	STATE	CLUB	RESULT
Alleer, Leek	SA	Central Districts	107
Warner, Corey	WA	East Fremantle	100
Gibcus, Josh	VC	GWV Rebels	95
Stretch, Jahmal	WA	Claremont	93
Pegoraro, Noah	WA	West Perth	92
McGinniss, Tyler	TAS	North Hobart	91
Johnson, Matt	WA	West Perth	89
Lohmann, Kai	VC	GWV Rebels	88
Polson, Luke	WA	Peel Thunder	88
Butler, Sam	VC	GWV Rebels	87