THIS year's NAB AFL Draft Combine has been run and won, with clubs and prospects finishing up at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Here's AFL.com.au's take on the past four days and who took the eye in the draft hopefuls' longest job interview.
Who boosted their stocks?
It was a good few days for many prospects. Griffin Logue was outstanding. The key defender from Western Australia finished third overall in the 3km time trial (with a time of 9:58), he was one of three joint winners of the beep test and placed in the top 10 for the repeat sprints and standing vertical jump. It highlighted his athleticism and drive, and showed why many see him as a first-round pick.
Jarrod Berry and Ben Ainsworth reminded everyone of their talents. The 2015 All Australians, who had indifferent seasons in stages during 2016 for varying reasons, were among the best performed. Berry won the 3km time trial (9:46), shared the beep test honours and was also top five in the clean hands and kicking assessments.
Ainsworth broke personal bests in the beep test (level 14.4) and sprint (2.90 seconds) to prove he has an engine and the speed to match. He's a quality player who is ready for the challenge of the top level, and he also finished top 10 in the repeat sprints, running vertical jump and agility tests.
Oliver Florent was equally good, showing his mix of speed, agility and endurance, while Shai Bolton's explosiveness and Dylan Clarke's hard running stood out. Aside from some of the top-end prospects, others pushed their names up. Tom Williamson took out the agility test and is a versatile medium-defender who intercept marks, while Jordan Gallucci, Bailey Morrish, Harry Morrison, Sam Powell-Pepper, Myles Poholke and Ben Jarman were others to highlight their attributes.
Griffin Logue gave it everything he had and looms as a first-round pick. Picture: AFL Photos
Who didn't test?
There were a few here. Hugh McCluggage came out of last week's NAB All Stars match with a sore quad that ruled him out of testing, even though he would have loved to be out there. Tim Taranto was also forced out after his four-goal performance last week, injuring his hamstring days before testing got underway.
Will Setterfield's AC joint injury didn't recover in time to be fit for the combine, while a knee complaint saw Josh Daicos pulled from the events. Jy Simpkin and Alex Witherden continue their recovery from respective broken legs, but aren't at the stage of full testing so didn't compete. A skills session was planned for the pair to have a run in front of recruiters on the third night but it was cancelled as they were not able to use the Etihad Stadium surface.
Daniel Venables would have been an interesting tester given his speed and power but he is still nursing a foot problem, while Brad Scheer's heel injury forced him out. Will Brodie was ruled out of the All Stars game after finishing the year with a sore ankle, meaning his time at the combine was also spent on the sidelines.
Hamish Brayshaw, the younger brother of Melbourne's Angus, arrived at the combine on Friday in a wheelchair after foot surgery earlier in the week. VFL prospect Luke Ryan didn't test after recent shoulder surgery, while Larke medallist Jack Graham, tall forward Todd Marshall, Elliot Himmelberg and Willem Drew also sat things out.
Hugh McCluggage didn't test due to injury but is still a favourite to go at pick No.1. Picture: AFL Photos
What does it all mean?
That will depend on which recruiter you ask. Each ranks the combine testing a little differently in terms of the overall picture, but all will agree that it offers more pieces of information to add to their already loaded databases.
Some see the psychological and medical testing (including skinfold reads) as the most important elements of the combine, along with another set of interviews that in many cases will be attended by senior coaches.
The testing offers some evidence to what the scouts see with their eye. They wanted to see how Cedric Cox would test, having not been a part of the top under-18 system for a couple of years and he was solid.
The testing results won't mean much to the absolute top-end players and which pick they are chosen, but for latter-placed prospects they can be vital to being selected or overlooked.
Cedric Cox impressed during the combine testing. Picture: AFL Photos
Are we any closer to knowing who will be the No.1 pick?
In short, yes. It's been a wide open field for the No.1 spot all year but most recruiters tend to think it is now a race in two: Hugh McCluggage and Andrew McGrath.
Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro said over the weekend if the Bombers keep the selection they'll take a midfielder, but have not decided whether it is a defensive midfielder or a forward midfielder. That points to McGrath, who was an All Australian half-back, and McCluggage, who kicked 25 goals in 12 TAC Cup matches this year, being the main contenders.
McGrath's stocks have kept on rising throughout the past month, and he claimed the best afield medal in Sandringham's TAC Cup premiership win. As expected, he tested well, coming second in the repeat sprints and winning the running vertical jump (off the left foot). Clubs also say he impressed in their interviews.
But McCluggage didn't need the testing to show his wares and he remains a strong chance to be taken first. He is calm in the spotlight, confident in himself and composed under any pressure.
Brodie, Ben Ainsworth, Jack Bowes, Setterfield, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Jack Scrimshaw and Tim English (who ran a good time trial) all appear likely to be early picks, but the race for No.1 has certainly narrowed.
Who is coming with a rush?
Will Hayward is a name to follow. The South Australian half-forward kicked nine goals in a SANFL under-18 preliminary final and backed it up with four goals in his team's Grand Final loss. He enjoyed a good combine (he was top 10 in the 20-metre sprint, vertical jumps and clean hands tests) and is likely to be the first player drafted from his state, potentially in the top 25.
Florent's excellent end to the season will see some clubs consider him as a top-15 prospect. He brings rare speed and class to the draft crop, while his Sandringham teammate Taranto keeps climbing as a top-10 option. Jordan Ridley won the kicking test but his versatility is appealing to clubs, and Scrimshaw has pushed himself into the conversation as a very early pick with his consistent finish to the year.
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