Records were challenged at the AFL Draft Combine on the weekend, with several academy guns proving the pathway sets talent up for success.
Sixty-five prospects from around Australia and two of Ireland's most promising youngsters converged on Melbourne over the weekend for club interviews at the MCG plus testing at the AIA Centre on Friday and Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Sunday.
A host of first-round prospects were unable to test due to injury including Levi Ashcroft (shoulder), Sid Draper (back), Sam Lalor (hamstring), Xavier Lindsay (knee), Murphy Reid (knee), Isaac Kako (ankle), Luke Trainor (hip) and Cooper Hynes (ankle). But those who could showed out, proving the enormous depth of the pool that has AFL clubs so keen to get into this year's draft.
With all 18 clubs watching on, these were the biggest takeaways from the AFL Draft Combine.
Academy kids lead the way
The jump start northern and next generation academies provide was on full display across the draft combine weekend. At the AIA Centre on Friday, Swans Academy graduate Joel Cochran beat out a competitive field in the 2km, running 6:03 minutes on a warm and windy afternoon.
It continued on Sunday with Eagles NGA livewire Malakai Champion setting early benchmarks of 2.938 seconds in the 20m sprint and 7.836 seconds in the agility test, the seventh fastest time on record.
Suns Academy star Leo Lombard topped the agility test at 7.812 seconds, good for sixth all-time. It followed his blistering 2.851 second 20m sprint, only beaten by Knights' tall forward Gabriel Stumpf who clocked 2.81 seconds to slot in equal fifth-fastest ever.
"I've been really reliant on my power and my speed and my agility to escape out of stoppages," Lombard told ESPN.
"I was proud of myself, really thought I put my best foot forward."
Lombard's ascension over the past two years includes a VFL premiership and he enters November's draft as the leading academy prospect.
"[That Suns Academy has] made me the player I am today... exposing us to AFL environments, I spent six weeks there last preseason which was surreal to be honest," he said.
Essendon NGA running defender Jayden Nguyen did his draft chances no harm with a 2.897 second 20m sprint in the state combine.
Stumpf, a tall forward out of the Northern Knights, wowed onlookers when he pipped Lombard's 20m sprint time. Contested mark specialist Alix Tauru continues to boost his draft stock, recording a 3.001 second 20m sprint to go with his running vertical jump crown.
Elsewhere, WA's Bo Allan managed a scintillating 7.94 seconds in the agility test to further comparisons with West Coast's Elliot Yeo, who holds the equal-fourth fastest time ever.
Pick one contender ends year on a high
A season full of setbacks has ended on a high for Koroit's Finn O'Sullivan who consolidated his draft stock with an impressive combine. The high-flying midfielder dealt with four separate injuries this year but remains in the mix for Richmond's pick one.
O'Sullivan recorded a 2.989 second 20m sprint, 8.152 seconds in the agility test and on Friday ran the 2km time trial in 6:28 minutes, placing him in the top dozen prospects across the three events.
"A couple of us mids were pretty keen to go sub-three [seconds in the 20m sprint], I think it was [my] first time to do that," he told the media on Sunday.
"Having injuries has kind of opened some other opportunities for me... my coach back at Xavier gave me the chance to do a bit of coaching and help the boys with that."
O'Sullivan's name sits amongst a bevy of midfielders at the very top of the board, with the race to pick one the most wide open in recent memory. The cousin of Sam Walsh offers a point of difference with his aerial ability around the ground and has already worn the yellow and black of Richmond at VFL level.
Kako ready for day one of preseason
Essendon NGA small forward Isaac Kako is primed for a full preseason after undergoing surgery on his ankle six weeks ago, the first-round talent telling ESPN he opted for surgery in consultation with the Bombers.
"You get told it's gonna be all good, but there's still a bit of nerves and stuff... surgery was the best option for the long-term.
"As soon as day one of preseason comes around I'll be 100% ready."
It meant Kako missed Calder's finals campaign and the draft combine, but he remains the premier goal sneak in the pool and is poised to have his name read out on the first night.
Essendon hasn't provided any draft night guarantees to Kako, though, who commenced running in the past fortnight and is training at the Hangar three days a week.
"AFL football, it's a dream in itself," he said. "Many kids would do anything to have this opportunity so who am I to pick and choose where I want to play football?"
Kako has suitors as high as the Demons with pick five after kicking 20 goals in 12 games for the Cannons, splitting his time forward and on-ball.
Basketball prodigy chooses footy over college scholarships
South Australian ruckman Alex Dodson missed his bottom-age year due to basketball commitments and won a gold medal for Australia's u18 team in Germany earlier this year, but is set to pursue footy after returning to the game in 2024.
Dodson is the leading ruck prospect in the draft, declining US college scholarships and an Adelaide 36ers contract to throw his name into the draft mix. The top-30 prospect turned heads at the national championships and went on to average 20.8 disposals, 24.9 hitouts and 4.6 clearances for Sturt in the SANFL U18s.
Gifted with the ball and offering strong endurance at 203cm, Dodson met with a host of clubs including the Crows and Demons over the weekend and should find a home within the first two rounds.
Rebels forward a late draft bolter
He left his run too late for a national combine invite, but Ollie Hannaford has risen into first-round calculations after a stunning finish to the season was capped off with strong state combine results. The Rebels forward offers power and speed on the field and it translated at MSAC on Sunday, recording a sub-three second 20m sprint.
Hannaford was the Rebels' best in a Grand Final loss to the Dragons, collecting 24 disposals, nine tackles and a goal while playing extended time in the midfield. With the first round of the draft set to extend past 25 selections again, the prolific goal-kicker's late-season exploits could find him a home on night one.
SA's top prospect rejects reports
South Australia's Sid Draper has emphatically rejected reports out of Adelaide that his camp is concerned with the Crows' treatment of its youngsters after Josh Rachele was dropped in the final game of the year.
"They're the club I've grown up with... I hold no resentment or anything against them", Draper told media on Friday.
The lifelong Crows fan is the younger brother of former Magpie Arlo, and finished his junior career at SANFL level alongside him where he dominated to the tune of 22 disposals, five clearances and six tackles per outing.
A clean and speedy midfielder, Draper has suitors at the top of the board including the Crows at pick four and St Kilda with selections seven and eight.
Top AFL Draft Combine Results:
Standing vertical jump: Gabriel Stumpf - 76cm
Running vertical jump: Alix Tauru - 94cm
20m sprint: Gabriel Stumpf - 2.815 seconds
Agility test: Leo Lombard - 7.812 seconds
2km time trial: 1. Joel Cochran - 6:05 minutes 2. Tobie Travaglia - 6:13 minutes 3. Angus Clarke - 6:16 minutes 3. Will Hayes - 6:16 minutes 5. Hamish Davis - 6:18 minutes