Croweaters at the Combine

By ZAC MILBANK

Norwood’s Dylan Stephens and North Adelaide pair Dyson Hilder and Karl Finlay have been among the South Australians to shine at the 2019 AFL Combine in Melbourne.

Stephens, tipped to be among the first Croweaters selected in November’s AFL Draft, displayed his speed by notching a sharp time of just 2.97 seconds in the 20m Sprint at Margaret Court Arena.

Redlegs running machine Stephens was placed 10th overall in the 20m Sprint, the same ranking he achieved with a time of 8.24 seconds in the Agility Test.

The classy left-footer then went on to post a solid score of Level 21.2 in the endurance-based Yo-Yo Test.

This was where Roosters’ defenders Hilder and Finlay stood tall, with the key backs recording impressive Yo-Yo Test scores of 21.1 and 20.7 respectively.

Medium-sized SA forwards Josh Morris (Eagles), Cameron Taheny (Norwood) and Callum Park (Glenelg) also put their elite speed on show by breaking the 3 second barrier in the 20m Sprint.

Eagles forward Kysaiah Pickett and West Adelaide utility Will Day were the other South Aussies to reach the top 10 when they recorded 83cm in the Running Vertical Jump.

Just the 2km Time Trial remains, with this endurance event to be held at Collingwood FC’s home base on Friday.

Glenelg premiership defender Will Gould is itching to display his aerobic improvement when he tests at the AFL Combine in Melbourne on Thursday and Friday.

Speaking on SANFL Radio, the 18-year-old revealed he has been undertaking extra boxing and swimming lessons to improve his long-distance running.

A naturally explosive player, the strongly-built defender is expected to excel in the sprint and jump tests while aiming to set new personal benchmarks in the Yo-Yo Test and 2km Time Trial.

Revealing he has spoken to majority of AFL clubs during the Combine, Gould said he has already met with Adelaide and is scheduled to sit down with Port Adelaide upon his return to SA.

Likened to West Coast premiership captain Shannon Hurn for his strong, disciplined style off half-back, the Lucindale product says he will be advantaged by leaving home at an early age to board at Prince Alfred College.

As a result, he is more than happy to begin his AFL career outside of SA as he looks to replicate Connor Rozee’s first year at elite level in 2020.

Like Rozee, Gould performed strongly in the SANFL Statewide Super League finals series, culminating in him earning a premiership medal with the Tigers on Grand Final day.

All 12 South Australians invited to the 2019 AFL Combine in Melbourne are expected to be fit for testing from Tuesday to Friday this week.

Glenelg’s Will Gould, Norwood pair Dylan Stephens and Cam Taheny, together with Eagles trio Jackson Mead, Kysaiah Pickett, Harry Schoenberg (pictured above) all played as late as Sunday September 22 but are expected to take part at the new venue of the Melbourne Park tennis precinct.

With regular venue Marvel Stadium unavailable this year, players will have their physical measurements recorded while also having their athletic traits – such as speed, aerobic capacity, vertical leap and agility – tested.

Skills-based football drills will not be conducted this year while a 2km time-trial will take place on Friday of the four-day camp.

Players will also undergo psychomotor testing which will examine reaction times, decision-making and peripheral awareness.

AFL coaches and recruiting scouts will have the opportunity to profile players’ character through a series of interviews throughout the week.

By ZAC MILBANK

South Australia’s awesome foursome at the AFLW Combine has completed its short-form testing at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.

South Adelaide pair Montana McKinnon and Hannah Munyard, West’s Madison Newman and Eagle Jaimi Tabb were all put through their paces at Margaret Court Arena.

Events included the 20m sprint, running and standing vertical jump as well as the gruelling Yo-Yo Test, which saw the Croweaters push themselves as a quartet up and down the hardwood.

Munyard enjoyed a very successful AFLW Combine, placing inside the top five in the Agility Test (8.66 seconds), 20m Sprint (3.3 seconds) and Standing Vertical Jump (51cm).

By ZAC MILBANK

South Australia will have four players participate in the 2019 AFLW Draft Combine to start on Tuesday.

South Adelaide premiership duo Montana McKinnon and Hannah Munyard, together with West Adelaide’s Madison Newman and Woodville-West Torrens’ Jaimi Tabb have all received invites to the annual testing sessions in Melbourne.

As well as being star players in the Statewide Super Women’s League, all four played significant roles for the Central Allies in this year’s AFL Youth Girls National Championships.

At 182cm, McKinnon is considered a bright prospect in the ruck or as a tall marking forward while her Panthers’ team-mate in Munyard is a prolific ball-winner through the midfield with her strong running capacity.

Newman has displayed her ability to play as a rebounding half-back for the Bloods, often entrusted with the kick-ins after a behind.

Previously a member of the AFLW Academy, Tabb can play a variety of roles including midfield or half-back, with the Eagles star forging a reputation for her strong attack on the ball.

Now in its third year, the 2019 AFLW Draft Combine will examine players’ speed, agility and strength through a series of tests including the 20-metre sprint and vertical jump exercises at Margaret Court Arena.