Twelve to test in Draft Combine
NSW/ACT has produced its biggest crop of talented prospects, with twelve players participating in the Draft Combine and two in the following State Combine this Saturday.
Draft prospects will participate in an in-depth evaluation of their potential to play AFL. Testing will measure athletic attributes such as speed, agility and endurance along with refined drills to assess football skills.
AFL National and International Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan said 101 prospects will attend the Draft Combine this year.
“With the NAB All Stars match on Saturday being the final match around Australia for players to showcase their playing ability, it is now down to the analysis of the physical abilities and personalities at the Draft Combine,” he said.
“The next week will be a up close and very personal look for a player’s ‘X’ factor or competitive advantage which could help him become a draftee. Over 150 recruiting staff will observe the players’ every move over the next four days.”
Highlights of the 2014 NAB AFL Draft Combine:
Tuesday September 30
12.45pm NAB AFL Draft Combine Welcome
Kevin Sheehan, Angus Brayshaw, Patrick McCartin & St Kilda Recruiting Manager Tony Elshaug will be available for interview
Victory Room B
Vision opportunities:
12.45pm Draft Combine welcome – all players in attendance – Victory Room
1pm OPSM eye test – Studio
Wednesday October 1
11am Sprints/Agility – Stadium surface
Thursday October 2
9am Matthew Lloyd clean hands/handpassing test
Nathan Buckley kicking test
Brad Johnson goal-kicking test
Stadium surface
1.30pm Shuttle (beep) Test – Stadium surface
Friday October 3
1.30pm 3km time trial – Stadium surface
Media is reminded they will require their 2014 AFL Media Accreditation to access the venue. Access to Etihad Stadium during the Draft Combine will be via Gate 9. A media room will be available in Victory Room E.
Michelle Clyne from the AFL Media Department will be attending the NAB AFL Draft Combine and can be contacted on 0411 96 41 41.
The 2014 NAB AFL Draft Combine booklet is available upon request.
The AFL website will run extensive coverage of the 2014 NAB AFL Draft Combine. Coverage will include daily video wraps of all the combine tests and will feature interviews with key AFL figures and combine invitees. The first results, interviews and images from the combine will be on http://www.afl.com.au/news/event-news/combine from Tuesday, October 1.
The NAB AFL Draft Combine is part of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.
NAB has been Footifying Australia since 2002 through the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program which comprises the following elements:
• NAB AFL Rising Star
• NAB AFL Draft
• NAB AFL Draft Combine
• NAB AFL Under-18 Championships
• NAB AFL Academy
• NAB AFL Under-16 Championships
