CLUBS and prospects will gather at Etihad Stadium on Thursday for the first day of this year's NAB AFL Draft Combine.
The four-day screening presents another chance for recruiters to interview the leading draft hopefuls ahead of having their names called, and in many cases the first time senior AFL coaches will be present for the chats.
But it will also see the group of more than 80 possible draftees take part in athletic and skills testing.
Check out the off-season key dates
Here are a few players who we think could be in the mix to take out the tests, which start on Friday night and run through to Sunday.
Standing vertical jump (from 9am on Saturday, October 8)
Record: Marvin Baynham (88cm, 2014)
Bailey Morrish caught the eye of recruiters more towards the end of a strong season for the Dandenong Stingrays. He might do that again this weekend, having recorded a vertical jump of 81cm earlier this year. Taller types Esava Ratugolea and Tim English should contend well here, but it will be hard to set a new combine benchmark.
Esava Ratugolea should be a contender in the standing jump. Picture: AFL Photos
Running vertical jump (from 9am on Saturday, October 8)
Record: Jared Brennan (102cm, 2002)
All Australian backman Brennan Cox recorded a running vertical jump of 94cm earlier this year at the South Australian, so should go into this test on day three of the national combine with some confidence. Another player who might be in the mix to take it out is Northern Territory big man Tony Olango, whose athleticism and ruck work was on show last week at the NAB All Stars game. It will be interesting to see how lively small forward Shai Bolton, who has shown he can leap high to take big marks, goes in this one.
20-metre sprint (from 9am on Saturday, October 8)
Record: Joel Wilkinson (2.75 seconds, 2010)
West Australian defender Josh Rotham has great pace and long strides so could take it out. Fellow defensive prospect Brennan Cox should also get off the mark in good time, and his first 10m are as quick as nearly anyone. They might face some stiff competition from Murray Bushrangers big man Esava Ratugolea, though. The Fijian ruck prospect, who played in last month's TAC Cup Grand Final and has developed nicely across the year, ran 2.91 at the start of the season.
Agility (from 9am on Saturday, October 8)
Record: Stephen Hill (7.77 seconds, 2008)
This could be a battle between two North Ballarat players, and Hill's record could be in danger. Rebels captain Jarrod Berry dominated this field at state level earlier in the year, recording a time of 7.80 in the agility test. His teammate Tom Williamson wasn't far behind either at 8.01. Also it's worth looking out for star small forward Ben Ainsworth, whose sharp feet and smarts are good in tight space. Ainsworth scored a time of 8.00 seconds in the TAC's agility test in March.
Jarrod Berry may threaten Stephen Hill's agility test record. Picture: AFL Photos
Repeat sprint (1pm on Saturday, October 8)
Record: Joel Wilkinson (23.4, 2010)
This is another hard one to predict given it's a test only conducted at the combine. Cedric Cox could go well at this test with a good mix of speed and endurance, while Oliver Florent also has the top-end pace that may see him excel if he can sustain it over four separate 30-metre sprints. Sam Powell-Pepper's power out of the blocks might make him another one to watch in this category.
Beep test/shuttle run (4pm on Saturday, October 8)
Record: Billy Hartung (level 16.6, 2013)
Tim Taranto is a good bet for this one, having recorded a 15.9 beep test earlier this year at TAC Cup testing day. The Sandringham Dragons prospect has had a long season, guiding the Dragons to their under-18 season with an excellent finals series, so he might be a little tired by now. But his match conditioning will hold him in good stead. Sam Powell-Pepper is another prospect with a good engine, while Jarrod Berry (level 15.4) and Willem Drew (level 15.5) also impressed at the start of the year.
3km time trial (10am on Sunday, October 9)
Record: Josh Schoenfeld (9:15, 2015)
There's not much of a precedent for 3km time trials, because they are rarely run at state level before the national combine. But the NAB AFL Academy program does take prospects through it, and earlier this year key forward Josh Battle (10:03) beat the field. Another key forward, Giants academy prospect Zach Sproule, has a great engine, while his fellow GWS product Kobe Mutch is an excellent long-distance runner.
Josh Battle should be a strong chance in the 3km time trial. Picture: AFL Photos
Kicking test (7-9.30pm on Friday, October 7)
These are difficult tests to predict, because one kick that doesn't hit the target can rule out even the best users of the ball. But here are a few of the better kicks to have played this season at under-18 level who may challenge for this title. No.1 pick contender Hugh McCluggage is very tidy by foot and neat enough on his non-preferred left side, while West Australian midfielder Zac Fisher also rated well at the championships for his kicking. Queensland captain Jack Bowes is a really nice and balanced kick, as is Victorian small forward Ben Ainsworth. Jack Scrimshaw is an excellent left-foot kick but doesn't use his right side much, while Harry Perryman and Alex Villis' ability to pinpoint targets on both feet could bode well for them in this test.
Clean hands (7-9.30pm on Friday, October 7)
Will Brodie's handballing is top shelf – the common image of his footy is him reaching into a pack, lifting his arms above his head and shooting off a handball while being tackled. He should go well here. Gold Coast academy prospect Brad Scheer is another player who excels with his quick and clean hands, while Myles Poholke also is good when the ball is at ground level.
Goalkicking test (7-9.30pm on Friday, October 7)
Josh Battle's goalkicking has impressed throughout the year. The Stingrays product kicked 24.13 in the TAC Cup this year and showed he can kick them from any angle with a precise and simple routine. When on song, Patrick Kerr is a solid finisher in front of goal, while Todd Marshall is also a very good kick in front of the big sticks. Marshall has proved many times that he doesn't waste too many chances, and is a great around-the-body snapper of the ball. Ben Ainsworth, Hugh McCluggage, Will Hayward and Pies father-son prospect Josh Daicos are smaller types deadly around goal.
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