PERTH, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Matthew Johnson of Western Australia is tackled by Adam DAloia of South Australia during the 2021 U19 Championship match between Western Australia and South Australia at Optus Stadium on September 25, 2021 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

126 hopeful AFL prospects have taken part in the 2021 Draft Combine over recent weeks ahead of November's National Draft.

This year's combine has seen talented teenagers across the nation undergo testing in their home states, while Vic Metro, New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory prospects have been forced to have most of their testing put on hold*.

The recent results have seen a number of familiar names, father-son prospects and NGA Academy graduates record strong results in the build-up to the National Draft as talent and recruitment scouts take further notice.

*Vic Metro, NSW and ACT talents were only able to be tested for the 2km time-trial via Strava, with the AFL looking to resume full testing for players from these regions in the coming weeks.

All results via AFL Talent and VFL/W Media Manager Will Carter.

2km Time-Trial

Bendigo Pioneers prospect Cooper Hamilton led the way for the 2km time-trial, finishing 10 seconds ahead of next best and fellow Vic Country representative Hamish Sinnott for the mantle.

Corey Warner, brother of Swans young gun Chad, Sam Butler, brother of Saints forward Dan, and Jai Serong, brother to Dockers midfielder Caleb, also featured in the top 10 for the time trial.

NAME STATE CLUB RESULT
Hamilton, Cooper VC Bendigo Pioneers 5:48
Sinnott, Hamish VC GWV Rebels 5:58
Knevitt, Mitchell VC Geelong Falcons 6:18
Ballantyne, Jamieson VC GWV Rebels 6:19
Lohmann, Kai VC GWV Rebels 6:19
Warner, Corey WA East Fremantle 6:20
Linke, Shay SA Central Districts 6:22
Butler, Sam VC GWV Rebels 6:23
Serong, Jai VC Gippsland Power 6:24
Whitelum, Luca SA Central Districts 6:26

 

2km Time-Trial*

Northern Knights bolter and likely top 10 selection Josh Ward was able to lead the VIC Metro, NSW and ACT pack with a time three seconds under the six-minute mark.

Giants Academy graduate Josh Fahey managed to also pass the barrier by one second, while highly-touted midfielder and Sandringham Dragons best and fairest Finn Callaghan amassed a top 10 time.

2021 Fothergill-Round-Mitchell medallist and Williamstown defender Charlie Dean was also among those with top results.

NAME STATE CLUB RESULT
Ward, Josh VM Northern Knights 5:57
Fahey, Josh NSW/ACT GWS Giants Academy 5:59
Long, Ned VM Northern Knights 6:05
Worner, Karl VM Oakleigh Chargers 6:07
Howes, Blake VM Sandringham Dragons 6:08
MacDonald, Connor VM Dandenong Stingrays 6:08
Callaghan, Finn VM Sandringham Dragons 6:10
Dean, Charlie VM Williamstown VFL 6:11
Rule, Jed VM Oakleigh Chargers 6:13
Anderson, Angus NSW/ACT Sydney Swans Academy 6:14

*VIC Metro, NSW and ACT prospects completed time-trial via Strava

 Agility

Western Australian prospects dominated the agility testing, with Alastair Lord, Bryce Watson, Matt Johnson and Jesse Motlop finishing first through fourth respectively.

Johnson firms as a top 20 selection ahead of next month's draft and could break into the top 10 with a consistent string of combine results.

Brisbane academy prospect Toby Triffett was also among those finishing in the top 10.

NAME STATE CLUB RESULT
Lord, Alastair WA Norwood 7.940
Watson, Bryce WA Swan Districts 8.006
Johnson, Matt WA West Perth 8.061
Motlop, Jesse WA South Fremantle 8.063
Beecken, Cooper SA Glenelg 8.070
Fejo Jnr, Ronald NT West Adelaide 8.080
Jones, Arthur WA Claremont 8.189
Murley, Cooper SA Norwood 8.200
Triffett, Toby QLD Brisbane Lions Academy 8.226
Mcvee, Judd WA East Fremantle 8.238

 

20m Sprint

Demons father-son prospect Taj Woewodin, son of Brownlow medallist Shane, came second to North Adelaide's Harvey Harrison for the 20m sprint, recording a time of 2.898 seconds.

The aforementioned younger brothers of AFL names Corey Warner and Sam Butler featured in the top 10 results once again, while Peel Thunder's Luke Polson rounded out the podium behind Harrison and Woewodin.

NAME STATE CLUB RESULT
Harrison, Harvey SA North Adelaide 2.845
Woewodin, Taj WA East Fremantle 2.898
Polson, Luke WA Peel Thunder 2.900
Stagg, Hugh SA Glenelg 2.910
Pegoraro, Noah WA West Perth 2.926
Watson, Bryce WA Swan Districts 2.951
Hough, Brady WA Peel Thunder 2.960
Warner, Corey WA East Fremantle 2.969
Butler, Sam VC GWV Rebels 2.974
Knevitt, Mitchell VC Geelong Falcons 2.976

 

Vertical Jump

Warner's combine continued to impress at the vertical jump, recording a jump of 76 cm, edging past Suns Academy graduate William Bella, South Australia's Leek Alleer and West Perth's Noah Pegoraro.

Lochlan Paton, Tom Brown and Matt Jonson joined teammate Pegoraro in the top 10, while fellow WA talent Brady Hough snuck onto the leaderboard.

NAME STATE CLUB RESULT
Warner, Corey WA East Fremantle 76
Bella, William QLD Gold Coast Academy 75
Alleer, Leek SA Central Districts 75
Pegoraro, Noah WA West Perth 75
Paton, Lochlan WA West Perth 73
Brown, Tom WA West Perth 72
Johnson, Matt WA West Perth 72
Polson, Luke WA Peel Thunder 72
Butler, Sam VC GWV Rebels 71
Farmer, Richard WA Subiaco 71
Hough, Brady WA Peel Thunder 71

 

Running Vertical Jump

Alleer set a combine record in the running vertical jump, surpassing Kangaroo Kyron Hayden's record of 103cm from 2017.

Warner managed another podium finish, while highly-rated defender Josh Gibcus rounded out the top three.

Johnson, Polson, Butler and Pegoraro also recorded further strong results in the vertical jump.

NAME STATE CLUB RESULT
Alleer, Leek SA Central Districts 107
Warner, Corey WA East Fremantle 100
Gibcus, Josh VC GWV Rebels 95
Stretch, Jahmal WA Claremont 93
Pegoraro, Noah WA West Perth 92
McGinniss, Tyler TAS North Hobart 91
Johnson, Matt WA West Perth 89
Lohmann, Kai VC GWV Rebels 88
Polson, Luke WA Peel Thunder 88
Butler, Sam VC GWV Rebels 87