Tassie gun eyes AFL after testing through roof
Chats with an AFL-drafted mate has helped give a Tassie gun confidence to chase his dream after testing through the roof at the National Combine. Get the state’s best testing results here.
His athletic profile is off the charts, but some words of support from a former clubmate who’s walked in his shoes helped Launceston talent Avery Thomas post huge numbers at the AFL Draft Combine.
The only Tasmanian at the national combine over the weekend, the Launceston Blues junior showcased the gifts which made him a strong decathlete by finishing top ten in four tests.
The 18-year-old was fourth best in the 20-metre sprint (2.898 seconds), fifth in agility (7.887 seconds), second in vertical jump (75cm) and tenth in running vertical jump (84cm).
A speedy half-back who can play above his height as a defender, spoke to up to 15 AFL clubs as he looks set to be picked up in next month’s draft.
Fellow late bloomer James Leake, one of three Blues juniors drafted in 2023, has been a handy sounding board for Thomas.
Leake made his AFL debut with the Giants this year and can relate to Thomas’ journey.
“I talk to Leakey a fair bit, he’s good to chat to about stuff like that,” Thomas said.
“He was checking in on me when I was over there (at combine), seeing how I was going and how I’m feeling.
“He just backs me in to go and do what I do best, and show off what I can do against the best guys in the country.
“He’s very similar, I feel like my trajectory is a bit the same as a late bloomer. Hopefully I can go in the 20 to 40 range (in the draft). But you never know how I tested, I think I might bolt up a little bit.”
While always confident his athletic prowess would come to the fore, Thomas is relieved to tick that box and also left talks with clubs confident his AFL dream will come true.
“Obviously I wanted to put pretty good numbers up and was able to do that, I’m pretty happy,” he said.
“You get a bit of a ‘pinch me’ feeling walking in, but it was pretty chill after that and I didn’t get too stressed out at all.
“The majority (of questions) are pretty straightforward. You get the odd curly question but I felt capable enough to get across what I wanted to say.
“All the clubs I met with were telling me I had an awesome year and I should be super proud of what I’ve achieved. That’s made me feel really good and all the clubs I’ve met with seem pretty keen, I’m very hopeful.”
Quick and creative half-backs have become vital for success in the AFL, and Thomas hopes his draft year comes at the right time.
“A lot of clubs are looking for a couple of guys who can use speed and power coming off half-back, and break some lines,” he said.
“As a hybrid defender I feel like I can play tall or small. You can put me as a running half back and can come off and intercept, or I can play key defender on bigger guys and be able to hold my own.”
Thomas said he’s likely to accept an invite from Tasmania’s VFL team to train with them in coming weeks.
“I reckon I’ll join in with the VFL guys once their pre season starts,” he said.
“There’s some good guys who I can chat to who’ve been there and done it.”
Three Tasmanians also took part in the AFLW national combine, and put up impressive results.
Clarence’s Mia Anderson (7:49) and Lauderdale’s Mischa Barwin (7:50) posted the seventh and eighth-best 2km time trials.
Lauderdale’s Priya Bowering topped the vertical jump results (59cm) was fifth in agility (8.569 seconds) and third in running vertical jump (66cm).
Jack Miller, Ava Read, Jasper Hay, Harriet Bingley and Lucas Wootton all took part in the state draft combine.
Earlier: How athletics put Launceston gun on track for AFL
Avery Thomas will be the only Tasmaniaan at the national draft combine, but it wasn’t until he quit athletics last year that his football burst out of the blocks.
A speedy and powerful athlete who plays mostly half-back, the 18-year-old’s eye-catching displays for the Devils, the Allies and Launceston has him primed to continue the Blues’ strong recent record of developing AFL draftees.
After he suffered a second head knock of the year late this season, Thomas’ camp opted to put him in cotton wool before the combine in Melbourne from October 3-5.
It meant he missed Launceston’s NTFA Premier League grand final loss, but he has bigger fish to fry.
“I copped a knock going into the second last game of the year. Just to be extra cautious I didn’t want to risk it so I put myself on ice a little bit,” he said.
“I found out a couple of days later after the most recent concussion I did a couple of ligaments in my thumb.”
Thomas should be confident of testing well at the combine, given he’s a former decathlete who finished fifth at nationals level just two years ago.
But it’s his football which has jumped out of the ground this year after he made it his only focus.
“I’m pretty confident were tings are heading and if I can test pretty well, I feel like I’m a very good chance,” Thomas said.
“I’ve had a few chats (with AFL clubs) the last couple of months over Zoom and a couple in person, but I’ll have meetings again with them again next week at the combine.
“I’ve been playing footy since I was ten, but it was probably not until this year it took full priority.
“Last year I was still doing footy and athletics at the same time and it was only this year I decided to go all in.
“I definitely think that’s why I’ve been able to take my footy to another level, because that’s where my focus has been the whole time.
“I’d definitely say it was the last two years where I had to put some work in. I played one game in the 16s national champs and then got dropped for the next one. I worked my butt off and I probably knew from the first game (this year) it felt different.”
Thomas’ father Clyde has West Indian heritage but he credits his athletic gifts to his mother Alison, who represented Tasmania in netball.
“I didn’t expect it (combine invite) at all. It was a shock at first, but when I think about it opportunity has arisen over hard work and put me in a pretty good spot.”
Thomas said giving up athletics was a decision he wrestled over, but was made easier once he got the blessing of long-time coach Susan McClenaghan.
“It was definitely a hard decision to completely stop athletics, but she backed me in.
“I was definitely an athlete first and going along I’ve added football to my repertoire and keep enhancing that a little bit.
“I definitely feel like having that athletics background gives me an advantage in a few things being powerful and explosive and also running mechanics.”
Thomas said he’s taken lessons from how fellow Launceston products Colby McKercher, James Leake and Arie Schoenmaker have burst into the AFL.
“Coming up through Devils with them and watching how they go about it, it’s definitely helped,” he said.
“I feel like I could slot into an AFL club, and use my speed and power to come off half-back. With the change of the game and it’s quickness, it should suit me pretty nicely.”
Clarence’s Jasper Hay, North Hobart’s Jack Miller and Launceston’s Lucas Wootton will all attend the state draft combine at Melbourne on Sunday.
