AMERICAN decathlete David Grzesiak has shown he has some AFL traits after impressing in the opening two days of the USA AFL combine in Los Angeles.

The 195cm Grzesiak, who competed at Olympic trial level in the track decathlon and also has a background in American football, won the agility run with a time of 8.11 seconds.

Along with Matt Sauey and Cliff Ederine, Grzesiak also jumped 86cm in the standing vertical jump, breaking the record of 85cm.

To emphasise his athleticism, Grzesiak also excelled in the three-kilometre time trial, winning in 10 minutes and 34 seconds, almost a minute ahead of second-placed Taylor Broekhuis.


The players were also put through a skill test in front of AFL club representatives, which national talent manager Kevin Sheehan said was a success.

“All participants showed their natural talent with the AFL football in an impressive skills session under the direction of former Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos with assistance from AFL international talent coordinator Tadhg Kennelly and AFL Academies development manager Mick Ablett,” Sheehan said.

“This concept has broken new ground for the AFL with the undoubted prospect of unearthing the next Nic Naitanui or Mike Pyke from the USA who can impact the AFL.”

Two or three athletes from the combine will be selected to attend October’s NAB AFL Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium.

Top Performers from USA International Combine in LA
Speed (20m sprint)
NAMEResultHeightUNIVERSITYBACKGROUND
1. Akeen Johnson
 
2.86.sec
 
195cm
 
St Francis College
 
Basketball
 
2. Olatunji Kosile

 
2.97sec
 
208cm
 
UMES
 
Basketball and soccer
 
3. Jamell Harris
 
3.02sec
 
 203cm
 
Eastern Michigan University
 
Basketball
 

Agility (AFL agility run)
NAMEResultHeightUNIVERSITYBACKGROUND
1. David Grzesiak
 
8.11sec
 
195cm
 
University of WisconsinTrack decathlete - Olympic trials, football
2. Cliff Ederine
 
8.13sec
 
194cm
 
Eastern Washington
 
Basketball
 
3. Demario Hines
 
8.14sec
 
 201cm
 
IPFW
 
High school and college basketball
 

Standing vertical jump
NAMEResultHeightUNIVERSITYBACKGROUND
1= David Grzesiak
 
86cm
 
195cm
 
University of Wisconsin
 
Track decathlete - Olympic trials, football
1= Matt Sauey
 
86cm
 
201cm
 
University of North Florida
 
Soccer and basketball
 
1= Cliff Ederine

 
86cm
 
 194cm
 
Eastern Washington
 
Basketball
 

Running vertical jump
NAMEResultHeightUNIVERSITYBACKGROUND
1. Cliff Ederine 
102cm
 
194cm
 
Eastern Washington
 
Basketball
2 = Matt Sauey
 
101cm
 
201cm
 
University of North Florida
 
Soccer and basketball
 
2 = David Grzesiak
 
101cm
 
 195cm
 
University of WisconsinTrack decathlete - Olympic trials, football
 

Follow AFL website reporter Callum Twomey on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.