AFL Draft Combine
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The AFL Draft Combine, formerly known as the AFL Draft Camp, is a gathering of prospective talent, where selected potential draftees display their athletic prowess and relevant Australian rules football skills. Over four days participants are required to undergo a series of medical, psychomotor, athletic and fitness tests as well as interviews conducted by the 18 clubs in the Australian Football League.[1] The first AFL Draft Camp was held in 1994 at Wavereley Park, it then moved to Canberra in 1999 where it was hosted by the Australian Institute of Sport, and in 2011 it was moved to Docklands Stadium. Each year the Draft Combine is held in the following week following the AFL Grand Final.[2]
Purpose
The testing results measured at the combine are used to inform recruiters of players athletic attributes and skills heading into the AFL Draft which is held in November. Recruiters also have the opportunity to interview participants whom they may potentially want to draft. Clubs are able to send a representative to the combine where they are able to conduct a medical screening on participants. This screening gives clubs an idea of a players past injuries and future injury concerns.[3]
Invitations
To be eligible for the AFL Draft Combine, a player must receive at least 5 of nominations from AFL clubs. Leading into the combine, AFL recruiting managers are expected to submit a list of 70 players from the draft pool that they would like to screen at the national combine. Approximately 100 invitees will attend the draft combine. Draft hopefuls who don't receive enough nominations for the national combine, but still receive 3 or 4 nominations will have the opportunity to attend their respective state screening.[4]
Physical Tests Conducted
The following tests performed at the combine are associated with the attributes required to perform in the AFL.[5]
The Beep Test (Shuttle Run)
Players are to finish a 20-metre leg before the sound of the beep, they continue to run back and forth as the time in between each beep gets shorter. The test starts at level 1 and finishes at level 21. When a person fails to make the line before the beep, they no longer are allowed to continue.[6]
3km Time Trial
In groups of 10-20, players are to complete a 3000-metre run as quick as they possibly can. The finishing time is then recorded.[6]
Repeat Sprint Test
This test is designed to measure both speed and endurance. Here players complete six 30 metre sprints, with the cumulative time recorded.[6]
Agility Test
The player will start standing upright, once they pass through the gates, the player is to navigate around a series of poles (without touching them or knocking them down) and reach the finishing gates as quickly as possible.[6]
20 Metre Sprint
This is to measure a players speed. The individual being tested begins in a crouched position. They are then to sprint as fast as they can up to 20 metrers. Sensors are used to measure the time taken to the 5m,10m and 20m mark. Each player will be given 3 attempts at this with the quickest time being recorded.[6]
Running Vertical Jump
In this test an instrument called a vertec is used to measure a player jumping off one leg from a running start. The person being tested will aim to hit the 'fingers' on the vertec as high up as possible.[6]
Standing Vertical Jump
This is similar to the running veritcal jump, however, the player will instead take-off on two feet from a stationary start.The aim again is to hit the fingers as high up as possible on the vertec.[6]
Nathan Buckley Kicking Test
This test was devised by Nathan Buckley and is used measure a players kicking efficiency over six kicks. Six targets are set out at distances of 20m, 30m and 40m. An official is designated to request a target at random and call the instructions out to the kicker. The kicker then proceeds hit the target. Each kick is given a score from one to five (five being the perfect kick).[6]
Matthew Lloyd Clean Hands Test
Matthew Lloyd designed this test to measure how well a player takes possession of a football and is able to dispose of it using a handball. There will be three targets set up on both the left and right sides at distances of 6m, 8m and 10m. The test will start with an official either rolling or throwing a football at the player, an instruction of what target to hit is then called out by the official. The player then attempts to handball the ball at the target. This six times and a score from one to five is allocated for each handball.[6]
Brad Johnson Goal Kicking Test
This test was constructed by Brad Johnson and measures a players accuracy kicking for goal. This test is to take place on an oval with four markers placed at different angles and distances to kick from. Five kicks will be taken in total: two set shots, two snaps (one left and one right) and one kick on the run. A score is then derived from the amount of goals and behinds a player kicks.[6]
Physical
Measurements of a players height, weight, skinfolds, arm length and hand span are all recorded.[6]
Testing Records
| Best Performances: 3 km Time Trial | Time | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Hiscox | 9.17 | 2014 |
| Josh Kelly | 9.32 | 2013 |
| Tim Houlihan | 9.37 | 2006 |
| Tom Lamb | 9.45 | 2014 |
| Nick Robertson | 9.46 | 2013 |
| Best Performances: Beep Test | Level | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Billy Hartung | 16.06 | 2013 |
| Caleb Daniel | 16.01 | 2014 |
| Bradley Hill | 16.01 | 2011 |
| Jack Hiscox | 16.01 | 2014 |
| Will Hoskin-Elliot | 15.12 | 2011 |
| Best Performances: Agility | Time (seconds) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen Hill | 7.77 | 2008 |
| Danyle Pearce | 7.79 | 2004 |
| Nathan Van Berlo | 7.80 | 2004 |
| Elliot Yeo | 7.80 | 2011 |
| Ahmed Saad | 7.86 | 2011 |
| Best Performances: Standing Vertical Jump | Height (cm) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Marvin Baynham | 88 | 2014 |
| Dean Towers | 85 | 2012 |
| Jesse Lonergan | 83 | 2012 |
| Spencer White | 82 | 2012 |
| Eric Wallace | 80 | 2012 |
- The highest standing vertical jump ever recorded at any AFL combine was 91.4 cm by American prospect Justin Wesley at the 2014 US International Combine in Los Angeles.[6]
| Best Performances: Running Vertical Jump | Height (cm) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Jared Brennan | 102 | 2002 |
| Nic Naitanui | 102 | 2008 |
| Evan Bruinsma | 97 | 2014 |
| Kade Kolodjashnij | 97 | 2013 |
| Marvin Baynham | 95 | 2014 |
| Best Performances: Repeat Sprint | Time (seconds) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Joel Wilkinson | 23.40 | 2010 |
| Brad Harvey | 23.46 | 2010 |
| Shaun Atley | 23.69 | 2010 |
| Kieran Harper | 23.84 | 2010 |
| Jack Fitzpatrick | 23.91 | 2009 |
| Best Performances: 20m Sprint | Time (seconds) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Joel Wilkinson | 2.75 | 2010 |
| Jonathan Marsh | 2.78 | 2013 |
| Danyle Pearce | 2.79 | 2004 |
| Ashley Smith | 2.80 | 2008 |
| Marvin Baynham | 2.81 | 2014 |
- Justin Wesley recorded a 2.81 at the 2014 US International Combine.[7]
AFL International Combine
The AFL has increasingly looked to expand the game beyond Australia in recent years. It is estimated over 100,000 people participate in the sport outside Australia.[9] The Australian Football International Cup takes place every three years in Melbourne where teams from 18 countries compete against each other.[10] The growth of the game and the prospective talent overseas has led to the AFL establishing combines internationally.
US Combine
The US AFL Combine is currently held at IMG Academy in Florida. All 15 participants from the 2015 combine were from a college basketball background. Each year a minimum of two of the group will be chosen to partake in the AFL National Combine held in Melbourne. Eric Wallace, Mason Cox and Jason Holmes are all AFL listed players who were former US Combine graduates.[11]
European Combine
The European Combine is held in Dublin and overseen by AFL International Talent Manager, Tadgh Kennelly, a former player for the Sydney Swans and originally drafted from Ireland. Among those who try out, a large proportion are Gaelic footballers. The skill set of Gaelic football is considered similar to that of AFL.[12] The two best performed participants at the combine are then given the opportunity to attend the AFL National Combine. Sean Hurley, Paddy Brophy, Daniel Flynn, Ciarán Byrne, Ciarán Sheehan and Cian Hanley are some notable people who have previously attended the combine.[13]
References
- ↑ "AFL Draft". WA Football. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
- ↑ "AFL Draft Camp Testing". www.topendsports.com. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
- ↑ Burgess, Darren; Naughton, Geraldine; Hopkins, Will (2012-01-01). "Draft-camp predictors of subsequent career success in the Australian Football League". Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 15 (6). doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2012.01.006.
- ↑ "UPDATED: 2013 National Draft Combine Invites Announced + Important Draft Dates". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
- ↑ NAB AFL Draft Combine, retrieved 2015-09-04
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Inside the Draft Combine - AFL.com.au". afl.com.au. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
- 1 2 Twomey, Callum (28 April 2014). "Taller than Sandi: Basketballer shines at US combine". Australian Football League. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ↑ "Draft Combine - AFL.com.au". afl.com.au. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
- ↑ Williams, Grant (5 October 2012). "Participation Numbers Boom".
- ↑ "AFL International Cup 2014 - AFL.com.au". afl.com.au. Retrieved 2015-09-04.
- ↑ "AFL US Combine Comes to IMG Academy". Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ↑ "AFL looks to Europe for fresh talent". Retrieved 2015-09-04.
- ↑ "Kennelly set to host fourth AFL international combine - Independent.ie". Retrieved 2015-09-04.