AFL draft 2015: Fitness concern on Sam Weideman remains
SAM Weideman’s underwhelming fitness test suddenly has clubs down the draft order going back to school on the key forward.
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SAM Weideman’s underwhelming fitness test suddenly has clubs down the draft order going back to school on the key forward.
Melbourne is still eyeing Weideman with its pair of top-10 selections.
Jesse Hogan’s running power would help offset Weideman’s questionable endurance should he join the Demons.
But it emerged on Thursday some clubs with top-20 picks were preparing for the slide scenario.
Weideman ran a 12.4 beep test and recorded 3.21sec in the 20m sprint at Wednesday’s AFL-supervised private testing.
The Matthew Pavlich-type has not played since a second bout of ankle surgery in May and battled an iron deficiency in 2014.
His stamina remains a concern with Weideman previously recording a 10.5 beep and he is yet to produce concrete data to allay fears he will struggle to build endurance.
Interested clubs also completed a fresh medical on Weideman.
While opinions can vary, some clubs believe his ankle poses no short or medium-term problems and he is manageable long-term.
Clubs will also digest a wealth of other factors when they analyse Weideman’s results.
“If they’re heavier and bigger, they’re carrying more weight,” one expert said.
“If they’re a chance to lose some body fat it makes it easier to run. But if you’re running a 12.4 and you’ve got to put on muscle then that’s going to be a challenge.”
One club said it would be “real nervous” taking Weideman at No.3, but added the Demons would likely feel more comfortable given they would partner him with Hogan.
But a different club said the Dees should simply lock him in at No.3.
“At that spot in the draft you just take talls and he’s a rare forward talent with great character,” he said.
The Dees might be able to hold their nerve and draft Weideman at No.7 instead.
Gold Coast holds picks six and 16 and is considering the strong contested mark as a Charlie Dixon replacement who could pinch-hit in the ruck, while the Bombers remain in the hunt with picks four and five.
Should the Demons baulk twice he would enter calculations for Carlton at No.8. Struggling Blues forward Liam Jones also has a history of poor endurance testing.
“There are reasons players have good and bad beep tests,” recruiting expert Chris Pelchen said.
“Ideally, you want them running better than 12.4, that’s a given. But having said that, a number of reasons could have contributed to the result.”
Originally published as AFL draft 2015: Fitness concern on Sam Weideman remains
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