With the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft looming, five Hyundai Help for Kids Academy products and two Brisbane Lions High-Performance Squad members impressed at Sunday's 2021 NAB AFLW Combine.
Abby Hewett, Bella Smith, Christine Okesene, Madison Goodwin, Maggie Harmer, Mikayla Pauga and Steph O’Brien were put through their paces in the 20-metre sprint, two-kilometre time-trial, agility test and vertical jumps.
Goodwin, part of the Lions’ Women’s High-Performance Squad, broke the combine Vertical Jump record by three centimetres with a massive 64cm jump. The previous record of 61cm was shared by the Giant’s Jess Allan (2017) and former West Coast Eagle Julie-Anne Norrish (2020).
Fellow squad mate and dual sport prospect Steph O’Brien blitzed the 20m sprint and agility tests to record the fastest times of the day, with the USQ Ipswich Jets netball co-captain also performing well in the vertical jumps.
Lions’ Academy product Abbey Hewett topped the 2km time trial on Sunday, producing an 08:19 and the fastest time of the day. Academy and Maroochydore duo Maggie Harmer and Bella Smith closely followed, putting down 08:25 and 08:33, respectively.
While Bond University’s Mikayla Pauga ranked in the Top 3 for Vertical Jump Right Foot, 20m sprint and agility tests.
The 2021 NAB AFLW Draft Combine seeks to showcase the physical prowess of some of the best and brightest AFLW prospects ahead of the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft on Tuesday July 27.
In a change to previous years, athletes participated in state-based Combines. Players were assessed on their strength and skills through testing, including a 20-metre sprint, two-kilometre time-trial, agility tests and vertical jump.
Queensland Results
Vertical Jump
Madison Goodwin**, 64cm – new record
Teagan Levi, 62cm
Steph O’Brien**, 57cm
Running Vertical Jump – Right foot
Madison Goodwin**, 74cm
Steph O’Brien**, 63cm
Mikayla Pauga*, 63cm
Running Vertical Jump – Left foot
Madison Goodwin**, 70cm
Teagan Levi, 70cm
Steph O’Brien**, 66cm
20m Sprint
Steph O’Brien**, 3.28sec
Teagan Levi, 3.29sec
Mikayla Pauga*, 3.34sec
Agility
Steph O’Brien**, 8.69sec
Teagan Levi, 8.86sec
Mikayla Pauga*, 8.94sec
2km Time Trial
Abbey Hewett*, 08:19
Maggie Harmer*, 08:25
Bella Smith*, 08:33
*denotes Hyundai Helps for Kids Academy Athlete
**denotes Brisbane Lions Women’s High Performance Squad Athlete