Glenelg Magarey medallist, ex-West Coast Eagle Luke Partington on AFL radar, ready for another shot after starring at draft combine
Magarey medallist Luke Partington was already on the radar of AFL clubs after his dominant SANFL season. But his SA state combine screening has enhanced his credentials even further.
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“He’s saying pick me, I’m ready to have another go at it”.
They were the words of AFL talent guru Kevin Sheehan after Glenelg star Luke Partington impressed in testing at the SA state draft combine at Prince Alfred College on Saturday.
Partington, 22, finished with a score of 21.2 in the yoyo endurance test — equalling last week’s national combine result of possible top SA draft pick Dylan Stephens — and clocked 2.87 secs in the 20m sprint, which would have placed him second behind Victorian midfielder Sam Philp at the Melbourne screening.
The results are further proof Partington is better prepared for another shot at AFL level — 12 months on from West Coast delisting him after six games in three seasons.
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Partington cannot have done any more to impress recruiters since then, winning the Magarey Medal and helping Glenelg break a 33-year SANFL premiership drought.
He has attracted interest from three AFL clubs and is able to land on a list outside the draft during the delisted free agency periods, starting on November 11.
“If I was given another opportunity, I have no doubt that I could make a bigger impact,” Partington said at the combine.
“Having a year at Glenelg I’ve learnt so much about myself and the way I play.”
Partington says he celebrated the Tigers’ flag win “hard enough”, so surprised himself with his combine performance.
“I went a lot better than I thought I would,” he says.
“It’s been three weeks (since the premiership) and I probably didn’t prepare myself as well as I probably should.
“To come out and perform the way I did, I was pretty happy.”
Partington arrived at the Bay after not playing a senior game for West Coast in 2018, despite averaging 26 disposals in 30 WAFL matches for East Perth the previous two seasons.
This year, he polled five more votes than Crow Patrick Wilson to win the Magarey.
Partington, who won the ball at the contest and away from it, averaged 29 disposals at 82 per cent efficiency, six inside 50s, five clearances and five tackles per game.
He also booted 18 goals, including four against Port Adelaide in round 14, from 19 matches this past season.
Glenelg Magarey medallist Luke Partington finished with 3rd-best result (21.2) in yoyo test at today's SA #draft combine.
— Matt Turner (@mattturner1986) October 12, 2019
Said he tested better than expected, 3 weeks after winning a flag.
Hopes for another crack in the #AFL after 6 games at West Coast.#SANFL#AFLDraft pic.twitter.com/8LU0hPUrPz
After a hamstring injury interrupted his first month, Partington exploded in round seven when he gathered 35 disposals against Central District.
He polled three Magarey votes in that game and in six of the next, finishing with at least 30 disposals in all but one.
Partington’s most dominant display came against the Eagles in round 12 (43 disposals, nine clearances, nine inside-50s, eight marks, five tackles, two goals).
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Then in Glenelg’s three finals, Partington rose to the occasion, averaging 25 disposals, seven tackles, five inside 50s and one goal despite close attention to from Port tagger Cam Sutcliffe in two of them.
Time will tell if he gets another opportunity at the highest level.