AFL Draft Combine 2024: See the results and standouts from this year’s crop
Draft hopefuls for both the AFL and AFLW were put to the test at this year’s combine, with one Victorian key forward producing a stunning 20m sprint. See the results and more here.
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Two Northern Academy-linked players and an exciting Victorian key forward were the stars of the show during testing at the AFL’s national draft combine over the weekend.
Sydney Swans Academy defender Joel Cochran took out the 2km time trial in a strong time of 6min 5sec, while Gold Coast Suns Academy midfielder Leo Lombard won the agility test (7.812sec) and finished second in the 20m sprint (2.851sec).
Northern Knights key forward Gabriel Stumpf was the surprise packet of the testing, beating Lombard to finish first in the 20m sprint (2.81sec) and also placing first in the standing vertical jump (76cm).
Gippsland Power draft bolter Alix Tauru was best in the running vertical jump with a leap of 94cm, narrowly beating potential No. 1 draft pick Finn O’Sullivan (93cm).
In the AFLW draft combine, West Australian midfielder Zipporah Fish performed strongly across all testing, placing fifth in the 2km time trial (7min 51sec), second in the 20m sprint (3.185sec), first for agility (8.388sec) and equal-sixth for both standing vertical jump (49cm) and running vertical jump (61cm).
Oakleigh Chargers midfielder Sarah Poustie won the 2km time trial in 7min 2sec.
INSIDE THE 2024 AFL DRAFT COMBINE
THE TESTING
Some interstate draft prospects faced a test just getting to Melbourne on Friday, with flight delays pushing back plans.
However, the first big test for the boys came at the AIA Centre at 4pm on Friday afternoon.
Players were placed in groups for the 2km time trial around the track at Collingwood’s home base.
Club recruiters crossed the bridge from the MCG to watch the main event of the combine weekend.
“I think they just want to see how hard you push yourself,” one prospect said after the 2km, happy with his own time.
Some prospects certainly did push themselves hard, with many falling to the ground to suck in some air upon crossing the finish line.
St Kilda Next Generation Academy member Adrian Cole was one of those after the lockdown key defender impressed with a time of 6min 24sec.
The two players who finished first and second in the 2km time trail were in the same heat, with Bendigo Pioneers defender Tobie Travaglia (6min 13sec) taking an early lead before being beaten home by Sydney Swans Academy backman Joel Cochran (6min 5sec).
The rest of the testing was completed indoors at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Sunday, again under the watchful eyes of club scouts.
Northern Knights key forward Gabriel Stumpf won both the 20m sprint (2.815sec) and standing vertical jump (76cm) events.
THE MEETINGS
Some draft prospects met with as many as 16 clubs across the weekend in what could be described as a ‘speed dating’ exercise.
In addition to recruiting teams, some senior coaches were also present in meetings including Richmond’s Adem Yze, Melbourne’s Simon Goodwin, St Kilda’s Ross Lyon and Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell.
The curly questions which were once regularly asked of draft prospects are now rare, with most meetings quite “relaxed”.
“I think it’s just all about personality. What you’re like around an AFL club is obviously really important,” top prospect Harvey Langford said of the meetings.
Another draft prospect said the meetings were a little “repetitive”, with the line of questioning similar from many clubs.
“They’re all a bit the same,” they said.
In addition to the club meetings, most draft prospects also tell their stories to multiple journalists from different publications across Friday and Saturday.
THE INJURED COHORT
Many top draft prospects didn’t take part in testing as they recover from injury issues.
Brisbane Lions father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft had been scheduled to attend the combine but didn’t show after undergoing post-season shoulder surgery.
Ashcroft’s Sandringham Dragons teammates Murphy Reid (ankle), Taj Hotton (knee) and Luke Trainor (hip) were there but sat out testing.
Others who were sidelined for testing included Greater Western Victoria Rebels midfielder-forward Sam Lalor (hamstring), South Australian onballer Sid Draper and Essendon Next Generation Academy member Isaac Kako (ankle).
Kako had surgery in August after his foot got caught under a tackle.
“I’m about six and a half weeks post-op now and it’s gone pretty well,” Kako said.
“I’m running well and everything is on track and hopefully I’ll be fully fit for pre-season.”
THE FAMOUS NAMES
While Ashcroft wasn’t back at the MCG a week after his older brother Will won the Norm Smith Medal in the Grand Final, some other famous names attended the draft combine.
Carlton father-son prospects Ben and Lucas Camporeale were in Melbourne for the event, but only Lucas took part in testing as Ben recovers from a hamstring injury which saw him miss Glenelg’s finals series in the SANFL under-18s.
“I’m back running a bit now and I’m starting to get some high speed and change of direction stuff in so the body’s feeling great now,” Ben said.
“It was just a bit of a bummer when it happened in school footy at that time of the year.”
Taj Hotton – the son of former Collingwood and Carlton player Trent and the brother of 2022 St Kilda draftee Olli – was another familiar name at the combine.
Taj suffered an ACL injury in May but has remained in good spirits and has leant on his brother for advice this year.
“It’s been pretty good to learn from his experiences in the AFL,” Taj said.
“It’s made it a bit more of a reality, my dream of playing AFL.”
At the AFLW combine, there was another famous name Carlton name in Sophie McKay.
A father-daughter prospect for the Blues, McKay is the daughter of 1995 Carlton premiership player Andrew and the younger sister of current AFLW player Abbie.
THE CROSS-CODE ATHLETES
Men’s and women’s footy has become a choice sport for many talented athletes who have also reached high levels in other sports.
South Australian ruckman Alex Dodson has said no to college basketball offers in the United States, instead deciding to pursue an AFL career.
Dodson did not play football as a 17-year-old and won a gold medal playing basketball for Australia at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany earlier this year.
However, he returned to football this year and shapes as the leading ruckman in the draft pool.
Gold Coast Suns Academy member Havana Harris is a top AFLW draft prospect who was a national athletics champion at age 12 but is now fully focused on footy.
The daughter of former Australian tennis player and coach Roger Rasheed, India, also took part in the AFLW draft combine.
“I played tennis until I was 12, but I just really loved the team aspect of footy and it can be a bit of pressure and really individual, tennis,” India said.
“So I think footy’s definitely the right sport for me.”
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