So much was running power in vogue, that Barker became a first round selection despite carrying an ACL injury which will see him sit out much of his first year. New West Coast recruit Sam Allen<\/a> is in a similar boat, but that didn\u2019t stop the Eagles swooping at pick 29.<\/p>\n The fabled \u2018running power\u2019 ultimately comes down to two factors \u2013 speed and endurance. In an AFL setting, repeat sprint efforts are what allow teams to gain and sustain momentum over the opposition. Allen is a player who does exactly that, boasting high-end pace and a deep running tank.<\/p>\n There are those who rocket up the order by falling into one of the two categories \u2013 like Holmes for speed and Hawthorn\u2019s Jack Dalton<\/a> (pick 34) with endurance \u2013 but some set themselves apart in both categories. Enter Richmond bolter Sam Grlj<\/a>, taken at pick eight.<\/p>\n The Oakleigh Chargers speedster registered top 10 results in both the 20m sprint and 2km time trial at this year\u2019s National Draft Combine, a rare feat which solidifies his AFL potential. It translates on-field, where he\u2019s a highly damaging transitional weapon.<\/p>\n Many more players who connect the lines both frequently and fluently were taken early. Dylan Patterson<\/a> made himself the draft\u2019s most watchable prospect playing that way, while the likes of Oskar Taylor<\/a>, Harry Kyle<\/a>, and Cameron Nairn<\/a> bolted into the first round with their ability to feed end-to-end play.<\/p>\n Taylor landed at the club perhaps most renowned for aligning its selections to traits \u2013 Greater Western Sydney. The Giants didn\u2019t intend on picking on night two, but found a talent who \u201cplays the way that [they] want to play\u201d in Finn Davis<\/a> and snapped him up, purely on a traits bases. Speed wins.<\/p>\n Even small forwards must offer high-end running capacity to match their usual class and smarts. Lachy Dovaston<\/a> is a prime example of that, renowned for his ability to clear out the forward 50 and do damage on the way back. Similarly, Tylah Williams<\/a> often blew up the GPS with his work rate.<\/p>\n Likewise with the talls, Aidan Schubert<\/a> came into the draft renowned for his ability to continually compete \u2013 albeit lacking a turn of speed. South Australian teammate Mitchell Marsh<\/a> was the only other genuine tall forward taken in the first round, and boasts an elite running tank.<\/p>\n A little further down the order, Louis Emmett<\/a> was the second player taken on night two after registering an elite 6:07 2km time at the draft combine \u2013 at all of 199cm. 194cm key defender Blake Thredgold<\/a> was the first, having finished seventh overall in the 20m sprint (2.918 seconds).<\/p>\n On the flipside, those who struggle to flick the switch tended to slide down the order. Oliver Greeves<\/a> ultimately became a rookie and is quite potent in the attacking phase, but not overly quick nor reliable defensively. That doesn\u2019t quite cut it at the top level these days.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Jack-Dalton-VM-2025-AFL-U18s-1024x683.jpg\")
Jack Dalton is an elite endurance athlete | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Louis-Emmett-VM-2025-AFL-U18s-1024x680.jpg\")
Louis Emmett moves incredibly well for a 199cm athlete | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/p>\n