With the AFL Grand Final being run and won, all eyes will now be focussed on Etihad Stadium from this Tuesday when the country’s most promising young talents are put under the microscope as part of the 2013 AFL Draft Combine.

111 draft hopefuls will be attempting to set themselves apart from the rest by performing well in the range of tests designed to measure their skills and athletic ability.

Neither of the Brisbane Lions’ three selections at last year’s AFL National Draft – Sam Mayes, Michael Close and Marco Paparone – tested at the 2012 AFL Draft Combine, although Close did impress at the South Australian state screening.

Lions rookie selection Jordon Bourke, however, was one of the standouts at last year’s Combine – particularly with his sprint and agility results.

Bourke ranked equal third in agility (8.30 seconds), equal fifth in the clean hands test (90%) and ninth in the 20m sprint (2.92 seconds).

Elliot Yeo is another recent example of how results at the Draft Combine can elevate your status among AFL recruiters.

Yeo’s outstanding performance in 2011 certainly caught the Lions’ eye, with his 7.8 second agility run the third best result in the history of Combine testing.

Although the drafting process is about more than just a player’s physical ability, the Draft Combine certainly plays an important role in helping clubs make decisions on some individuals. 

Lions.com.au takes a look back at some of the best results throughout Combine history.

ALL-TIME AFL DRAFT COMBINE RECORDS

Standing Vertical Jump
85cm – Dean Towers (Sydney)
83cm - Trent Croad (Hawthorn)
83cm – Jesse Lonergan (Gold Coast)
82cm – Spencer White (St Kilda)
81cm - David Gourdis (Richmond)

Running Vertical Jump
102cm - Jared Brennan (Brisbane Lions / Gold Coast)
102cm - Nic Naitanui (West Coast)
101cm - David Gourdis (Richmond)
100cm – Spencer White (St Kilda)
96cm - Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide)

Agility Run (sec)
7.77 - Stephen Hill (Fremantle)
7.79 - Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide)
7.80 - Elliot Yeo (Brisbane Lions)
7.80 - Nathan van Berlo (Adelaide)
7.86 - Ahmed Saad (St Kilda)

20m Sprint (sec)
2.75 - Joel Wilkinson (Gold Coast)
2.78 - Brad Harvey (Brisbane Lions)
2.79 - Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide)
2.80 - Ashley Smith (West Coast)
2.81 - Nathan Batley (Not Drafted)
2.81 – Adam Saad (Not Drafted)

Shuttle Run (Beep Test)
16.1 - Bradley Hill (Hawthorn)
15.12 - Will Hoskin-Elliott (GWS Giants)
15.8 - Mark Berts (Not Drafted)
15.8 - Tom Rischbieth (Port Adelaide)
15.7 - Tom Sheridan (Fremantle)
15.7 - Hayden Hector (Not Drafted)

3km Time Trial
9:30 - Tom Rieschbieth (Port Adelaide)
9:37 - Tim Houlihan (West Coast)
9:43 - Callan Geary (Not Drafted)
9:48 – Josh Kelly (Not Drafted)
9:52 - Bradley Hill (Hawthorn)


2012 AFL DRAFT COMBINE RESULTS

Standing Vertical Jump (cm)
85cm – Dean Towers (Sydney)
83cm – Jesse Lonergan (Gold Coast)
82cm – Spencer White (St Kilda)
80cm – Eric Wallace (North Melbourne)
75cm – Laine Wilkins (Not Drafted)

Running Vertical Jump Result (cm)
100cm – Spencer White (St Kilda)
97cm – Laine Wilkins (Not Drafted)
91cm – Jesse Lonergan (Gold Coast)
89cm – Jake McKenzie (Not Drafted)
87cm – Jed Anderson (Hawthorn)

20 Meter Sprint Result (sec)
2.81 – Adam Saad (Not Drafted)
2.84 – Kurt Heatherley (Hawthorn)
2.86 – Leigh Osborne (Gold Coast)
2.88 – Matthew Dick (Sydney)
2.89 – Dean Towers  (Sydney)
2.89 – Matthew Haynes (Not Drafted)
2.89 – Aiden Corr (GWS Giants)

Agility Run (sec)
8.00 – Lachie Hunter (Western Bulldogs)
8.25 – Jesse Lonergan (Gold Coast)
8.30 – Tim O’Brien (Hawthorn)
8.30 – Jordon Bourke (Brisbane Lions)
8.31 – Emmett Bradley (Not Drafted)

Repeat sprints (sec)
23.91 – Matthew Haynes (Not Drafted)
24.32 – Harrison Marsh (Sydney)
24.48 – Dean Towers (Sydney)
24.74 – Leigh Osborne (Gold Coast)
24.91 – Josh Kelly (Not Drafted)

Shuttle Run (Beep Test)
15.01 – Tom Clurey (Port Adelaide)
14.09 – Mitchell Van Den Berg (Not Drafted)
14.08 – Kamdyn McIntosh (Richmond)
14.06 – Josh Kelly (Not Drafted)
14.04 – Will Hams (Essendon)
14.04 – Jonathan O’Rourke (GWS Giants)
14.04 – Sam Siggins (Adelaide)

3km Time Trial (min:sec)
9.48 – Josh Kelly (Not Drafted)
10.01 – Tom Clurey (Port Adelaide)
10.09 – Dom Barry (Melbourne)
10.14 – Kamdyn McIntosh (Richmond)
10.16 – Jake Neade (Port Adelaide)

Kicking Test (Efficiency %)
29 – Laine Wilkins (Not Drafted)
29 – Rory Atkins (Adelaide)
29 – Josh Simpson (Fremantle)
28 – Jack Martin (Gold Coast)
28 – Will Hams (Essendon)
28 – Brodie Murdoch (Geelong)