AFL Draft 2024: Full results from the Coates Talent League pre-season testing day

More than 450 of Victoria’s best young footballers were put through their paces at the Coates Talent League pre-season testing day – and there were a few clear standouts. See all the results.

AFL draft prospects are getting fitter and faster as the game continues to demand more from players athletically.

Over 450 of Victoria’s finest young players were put through their paces at the Coates Talent League pre-season testing day in Thornbury last Saturday, with overall results showing some interesting trends.

The average score in the Yo-Yo endurance test was 20.6 – the highest result across the past four years.

The average time in the 20m sprint test was 3.09 seconds, a figure which has trended down over recent years.

Highlighting the lack of top-end talls in this year’s draft pool, the average height recorded was just 184.7cm – making this the shortest group of Victorian players in the past four years.

Only eight players measured more than 200cm and only 46 topped 195cm.

Taj Hotton in action for Haleybury. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Players from the 12 Victorian Coates Talent League clubs took part in the testing, including both 2024 and 2025 draft prospects.

Recruiters from most AFL clubs observed the testing and spoke to some players and coaches who were present.

Among the standouts individually, Northern Knights small forward Jett Mclaughlan took out the Yo-Yo test with a level of 22.4, while Greater Western Victoria Rebels midfielder Archie Taylor was the quickest player on the day as he clocked a time of 2.796sec in the 20m sprint.

Rebels forward Harley Hicks leapt the highest in the vertical jump with a result of 83cm, while Oakleigh Chargers midfielder Douglas Kerr topped the agility test with a time of 7.724sec.

Sandringham Dragons’ Taj Hotton also caught the eye on the day as he recorded top-10 finishes in the 20m sprint, agility test and both running vertical jumps.

Hotton is the younger brother of St Kilda’s Olli Hotton and the son of former Collingwood and Carlton tall Trent Hotton.

Potential No.1 draft pick Finn O’Sullivan placed equal-third in the right-foot running vertical jump and also recorded strong results in the Yo-Yo and agility tests.

Originally published as AFL Draft 2024: Full results from the Coates Talent League pre-season testing day