Norwood midfielder Dylan Stephens highlights running power as AFL Draft hopefuls are put through their paces at national combine
SA’s Andrew Gaff-like draft prospect highlighted his top-10 credentials, breaking the 2km time-trial record at the combine. But it was broken again just minutes later. See the results.
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Norwood midfielder Dylan Stephens further highlighted his top-10 credentials with an impressive showing at this week’s AFL Draft Combine testing in Melbourne.
After two days of interviews, left-field questions and medicals, the 79 players from across the country were put through their paces in the 20m sprint, agility test and vertical jump on Thursday before finishing with the 2km time-trial on Friday.
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And Stephens, whose game style mirrors that of West Coast’s Andrew Gaff, again put his running power on show breaking the combine record for the 2km in his heat with a time of 6.01mins.
That record was broken again in the next group with former basketballer Jay Rantall clocking an impressive time of 5.50, edging out Hawthorn father-son prospect Finn Maginness by one second.
What a finale to the 2km time trial ... Rantall @GWVRebels 5m50 followed by Maginness @Sandy_Dragons 5m51! @AFLDraft @NAB pic.twitter.com/isxxMTJIBc
— #NABLeagueBoys / #NABLeagueGirls (@NABLeague) October 4, 2019
Stephens also showed off his speed in front of AFL recruiters completing the 20m sprint in 2.972 seconds — the best of the South Australian invitees and 10th overall — on Thursday.
Dylan Stephens @NorwoodFC 20m Sprint pic.twitter.com/DL0kQpM7AJ
— SANFL (@SANFL) October 3, 2019
Woodville West-Torrens forward Josh Morris, Glenelg’s Callum Park and talented Norwood matchwinner Cam Taheny were the other South Australians tobreak three-seconds.
Cam Taheny @NorwoodFC 20m Sprint pic.twitter.com/CIdygIlmUM
— SANFL (@SANFL) October 2, 2019
Exceptional speed from @TorrensUni SA U18 forwards Callum Park @GlenelgFC Josh Morris @EAGLES_WWTFC and Cam Taheny @NorwoodFC who all broke the 3 second mark in 20m Sprint Test at #AFLCombine #AFLDraft @SANFL pic.twitter.com/28gSB5uPcB
— Zac Milbank (@zacmilbank) October 2, 2019
Northern Knights’ midfielder Sam Philp, who was overlooked for Vic Metro’s under-18 squad this year, was the quickest for the day with a time of 2.87 secs.
.@NthKnights midfielder Sam Philp the clubhouse leader in the 20m sprint so far. A time of 2.87s his best. @FOXFOOTY #AFLDraft
— Matt Balmer (@MattBalmer7) October 3, 2019
With a time of 8.24 seconds, Stephens also clocked the 10th-best time of all draft hopefuls in the agility test, before recording a 21.2 score in the Yo-Yo endurance test — Rantall, the day’s leader,posted a 21.8.
Dylan Stephens @Norwoodfc Agility pic.twitter.com/dcxn2GifBS
— SANFL (@SANFL) October 3, 2019
Dashing Dandenong Stingrays defender — and likely top-five pick — Hayden Young took out the agility test in a time of 7.940 seconds, finishing the day as the only player to break the eight-second mark.
Possible top-five pick Hayden Young completes the agility test. Time of 8.199s. @FOXFOOTY pic.twitter.com/pOtEqZwa0s
— Matt Balmer (@MattBalmer7) October 2, 2019
Other South Australia’s to impress were West Adelaide’s Will Day and Eagles forward Kysiah Pickett who reached 83cm in the running vertical jump to finish in the top-10. Vic Country wingman Brady Rowles leapt 98cm — eight higher than any other player and five short of the combine record — to finish at No. 1 after placing second in the standing jump test.
Will Day @WestAdelaideFC Running Vertical Jump pic.twitter.com/VKCFLdNhVW
— SANFL (@SANFL) October 2, 2019
A further 21 players from South Australia, including Magarey Medallist Luke Partington, will test at the state draft combine on October 12, before the draft takes place on November 27-28.
