Preliminary results from a raft of AFL Draft Combine test have been made available, although they await verification.
The spring-heeled Sam Gayfer, nephew of Collingwood premiership hero Mick, has re-written combine history, with his left-footed running vertical jump surpassing the mark set by athletic GWS defender Leek Aleer at the 2021 iteration of the event – pending verification.
Two of Gayfer’s three attempts broke the record, with his last attempt registering 114cm – seven centimeters clear of Aleer’s 107cm mark.
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Gayfer memorably took an absolute screamer while playing for the Northern Knights in the Talent League earleir this season, and franked those hops with his efforts at the Combine.
Sydney Swans academy prospect Mason McGroder – a national-level long jumper leaning towards football as his chosen pursuit – equalled Aleer’s mark, whilst also notching the fastest time in the 20m sprint, in a showcase of his athletic wares.
Greater Western Victoria Rebels product Ethan Drever – viewed by many as a potential first-overall pick contender – posted the fifth-fastest 20m sprint time, in a real statement from the big bodied midfielder.
Western Jets utility Lachlan Hicks won the agility test and finished top 10 for the 20m sprint himself – especially fitting given his sprinting background.
Clubs view Hicks as a player on the fringes of first-round selection.
Ivanhoe product, and Pick 1 contender Harry Van Hattum finished inside the top six for the left and right-footed running vertical leaps, further pushing his “unicorn” status in front of recruiters.
Van Hattum, at the event, told Zero Hanger that he views himself as the “best player of the open pool”.
Dandenong Stingrays defender Darcy Szersyn, whose start to the year was heavily delayed by a shoulder injury, put his best foot forward at the Combine, finishing inside the top 10 in multiple disciplines.
Szersyn’s Stingrays skipper Gus Kennedy did his draft prospects no harm, despite bravely battling an illness that he kept him bedridden in the lead up to the three-day testing window.
Kennedy has drawn Jordan Dawson comparisons throughout his draft year, and showed some of Dawson’s trademark grit in running a 6:35 2km time trial, after failing to finish a 10-minute run earlier in the week, such was his condition.
Haileybury’s school and football captain in George Dimer showed off his pace and agility – two traits that are non-negotiable pre-requisites for a small forward. Dimer finished third in the agility test, while also posting an impressive standing jump.
PRELIMINARY, UNVERIFIED TEST RESULTS:
Right-footed running vertical jump
Player
Distance
Sam Gayfer
94cm
Gus Kennedy
92cm
Mason McGroder
91cm
Tyson Bradley
90cm
Sam Devers
90cm
Harry Van Hattum
88cm
Ethan Drever
87cm
Will Antrobus
87cm
Sonny Smiler
86cm
Andrio Sousa
85cm
Left-footed running vertical jump
Player
Distance
Sam Gayfer
114cm
Mason McGroder
107cm
Sam Devers
97cm
Gus Kennedy
97cm
Ethan Drever
96cm
Harry Van Hattum
95cm
Xavier Ladbrook
92cm
Ethan Herbert
91cm
Darcy Szersyn
89cm
Andrio Sousa
89cm
Standing / Counter-movement jump
Player
Distance
Sam Gayfer
88cm
Sam Devers
85cm
Mason McGroder
85cm
Gus Kennedy
82cm
Andrio Sousa
80cm
Darcy Szersyn
78cm
Ethan Drever
77cm
Lewis Houndsome
76cm
Tyson Bradley
75cm
George Dimer
75cm
Agility Test
Player
Time
Lachlan Hicks
7.8s
Wil Malady
7.833s
George Dimer
7.893s
Archie Spencer
7.905s
Harvie Cooke
7.962s
Jordan Knapp
7.999s
Leo Steed
8.068s
Andrio Sousa
8.095s
Darcy Szersyn
8.103s
Toby Krasna
8.104s
20m sprint
Player
Time
Mason McGroder
2.827s
Cameron Maynard
2.898s
Wil Malady
2.9s
Andrio Sousa
2.902s
Ethan Drever
2.905s
Darcy Szersyn
2.914s
Sam Devers
2.925s
Anthony Long
2.94s
Lachlan Hicks
2.948s
Gus Kennedy
2.965s