Sam Gayfer competes in the 20m sprint at the Telstra AFL Draft Combine on October 3, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

The AFL has announced the top 10 results from athletic testing conducted at the 2026 Telstra AFL Draft Combine and Telstra AFLW Draft Combine.

Testing was held at the State Netball and Hockey Centre, with participants completing a standing vertical jump, running vertical jump, 20m sprint and agility test. A 2km time trial was completed on the opening day of each Combine.

Among the highlights of this year’s testing was Victoria Metro and Northern Knights key forward Sam Gayfer smashing the running vertical jump record at the Telstra AFL Draft Combine.

Gayfer’s effort of 114cm was 7cm higher than the previous best jump recorded by Leek Aleer in 2021. Aleer’s record had been equalled earlier in the day by Sydney Swans Academy defender Mason McGroder, before being eclipsed by Gayfer.

Murray Bushrangers forward Eliza Roche set a new record in the agility test at the Telstra AFLW Draft Combine, with her effort of 8.106 seconds beating the previous best time of 8.163 seconds recorded by Lavinia Cox in 2024.

Meanwhile, Northern Knights midfielder Maddison Meagher produced the second fastest 20m sprint of all-time, with a blistering 3.059 seconds.

All testing at the Telstra AFL Draft Combine and Telstra AFLW Draft Combine was conducted by Rookie Me, the official Athletic Testing Partner of the AFL’s Talent Pathways.

Below are the top 10 results for each test at this year’s national Draft Combine events.

BOYS

2km time trial
Name State Clubs Time (min:sec)
Albert Macgowan VIC M Sandringham Dragons/Brighton Beach 5:59
Lachlan Hicks VIC M Western Jets/Altona 6:01
Cody Walker VIC C Bendigo Pioneers/Echuca 6:04
Caylen Murray QLD Brisbane Lions Academy/Maroochydore 6:06
Harvie Cooke VIC M Northern Knights/Eltham 6:08
Leo Steed WA Swan Districts/Dalyellup Dockers 6:09
Toby Krasna VIC M Northern Knights/Preston Bullants 6:11
Archie Van Dyk SA South Adelaide/Port Noarlunga 6:12
George Gale WA Claremont/Swanbourne 6:12
Sam Tassone SA North Adelaide/Irymple 6:13
Jake Eime SA Central District/Golden Grove 6:13

 

20m sprint
Name State Clubs Time (sec)
Mason McGroder NSW Sydney Swans Academy/Maroubra  2.827
Cameron Maynard WA South Fremantle/Fremantle City 2.898
Wil Malady VIC C Gippsland Power/Bairnsdale 2.900
Andrio Sousa VIC C Dandenong Stingrays/Edithvale Aspendale 2.902
Ethan Drever VIC C GWV Rebels/Ballarat 2.905
Darcy Szerszyn VIC C Dandenong Stingrays/Seaford 2.914
Sam Devers VIC M Eastern Ranges/Blackburn 2.925
Anthony Long SA West Adelaide/Jervois 2.940
Lachlan Hicks VIC M Western Jets/Altona 2.948
Gus Kennedy VIC C Dandenong Stingrays/Carrum Patterson Lakes 2.965

 

Agility
Name State Clubs Time (sec)
Lachlan Hicks VIC M Western Jets/Altona 7.800
Wil Malady VIC C Gippsland Power/Bairnsdale 7.833
George Dimer VIC M Sandringham Dragons/East Brighton 7.893
Archie Spencer VIC M Eastern Ranges/Woori Yallock 7.905
Harvie Cooke VIC M Northern Knights/Eltham 7.962
Tyson Bradley VIC M Sandringham Dragons/Highett 7.994
Jordan Knapp VIC M Eastern Ranges/North Ringwood 7.999
Leo Steed WA Swan Districts/Dalyellup Dockers 8.068
Andrio Sousa VIC C Dandenong Stingrays/Edithvale Aspendale 8.095
Darcy Szerszyn VIC C Dandenong Stingrays/Seaford 8.103

 

Vertical jump
Name State Clubs Height (cm)
Sam Gayfer VIC M Northern Knights/Banyule 88
Sam Devers VIC M Eastern Ranges/Blackburn 85
Mason McGroder NSW Sydney Swans Academy/Maroubra 85
Gus Kennedy VIC C Dandenong Stingrays/Carrum Patterson Lakes 82
Andrio Sousa VIC C Dandenong Stingrays/Edithvale Aspendale 80
Darcy Szerszyn VIC C Dandenong Stingrays/Seaford 78
Ethan Drever VIC C GWV Rebels/Ballarat 77
Lewis Houndsome VIC M Northern Knights/Hurstbridge 76
Tyson Bradley VIC M Sandringham Dragons/Highett 75
George Dimer VIC M Sandringham Dragons/East Brighton 75

 

Running vertical jump
Name State Clubs Height (cm)
Sam Gayfer VIC M Northern Knights/Banyule 114
Mason McGroder NSW Sydney Swans Academy/Maroubra 107
Sam Devers VIC M Eastern Ranges/Blackburn 97
Gus Kennedy VIC C Dandenong Stingrays/Carrum Patterson Lakes 97
Ethan Drever VIC C GWV Rebels/Ballarat 96
Harry Van Hattum VIC M Northern Knights/St Mary’s 95
Xavier Ladbrook VIC C Gippsland Power/Nar Nar Goon 92
Ethan Herbert SA North Adelaide/Walkerville 91
Tyson Bradley VIC M Sandringham Dragons/Highett 90
Harvie Cooke VIC M Northern Knights/Eltham 89
Andrio Sousa VIC C Dandenong Stingrays/Edithvale Aspendale 89
Darcy Szerszyn VIC C Dandenong Stingrays/Seaford 89
GIRLS
1.6km time trial
Name State Clubs Time (min:sec)
Sophia Green VIC M Oakleigh Chargers/Wantirna South 5:27
Greea McKeegan VIC C Geelong Falcons/Torquay 5:33
Aurelia Russell NSW Sydney Swans Academy/Maitland 5:34
Emily Mableson SA West Adelaide/Unley 5:37
Georgie Fielder SA Glenelg/Henley 5:46
Lacey Nihill VIC C Bendigo Pioneers/Sandhurst 5:50
Alli Allen VIC M Northern Knights/Research 5:53
Evie Bowie NSW Sydney Swans Academy/Sydney University 5:53
Miyu Endersby SA Central District/Angaston 5:56
Cara Dziegielewski WA West Perth/Yanchep Districts 5:58
 
20m sprint
Name State Clubs Time (sec)
Maddison Meagher VIC M Northern Knights/Diamond Creek Women’s 3.059
Eliza Roche VIC C Murray Bushrangers/Wodonga Raiders 3.126
Evie Bowie NSW Sydney Swans Academy/Sydney University 3.174
Lily Milner VIC C Gippsland Power/Warragul Industrials 3.198
Morgan Stevens ACT GWS Giants Academy/Tuggeranong Valley 3.202
Sophia Green VIC M Oakleigh Chargers/Wantirna South 3.213
Emily Rankin VIC M Eastern Ranges/Park Orchards 3.220
Lucy Moore SA Woodville-West Torrens/Henley 3.222
Cara Dziegielewski WA West Perth/Yanchep Districts 3.228
Isabella Mazzei VIC M Oakleigh Chargers/Kew Comets 3.252
 
Agility
Name State Clubs Time (sec)
Eliza Roche VIC C Murray Bushrangers/Wodonga Raiders 8.106
Kiara Boyd VIC M Western Jets/Aberfeldie 8.176
Emma Charlton SA South Adelaide/Willunga 8.177
Maddison Meagher VIC M Northern Knights/Diamond Creek Women’s 8.191
Mia Carlshausen WA Perth/Manning 8.263
Molly Ferguson QLD Brisbane Lions Academy/Maroochydore 8.304
Lucy Moore SA Woodville-West Torrens/Henley 8.345
Lily Milner VIC C Gippsland Power/Warragul Industrials 8.376
Grace McIntyre VIC M Sandringham Dragons/Murrumbeena 8.387
Evie Bowie NSW Sydney Swans Academy/Sydney University 8.406
 
Vertical jump
Name State Clubs Height (cm)
Maddison Meagher VIC M Northern Knights/Diamond Creek Women’s 61
Kiara Boyd VIC M Western Jets/Aberfeldie 59
Morgan Stevens ACT GWS Giants Academy/Tuggeranong Valley 59
Cara Dziegielewski WA West Perth/Yanchep Districts 57
Eliza Roche VIC C Murray Bushrangers/Wodonga Raiders 57
Alli Allen VIC M Northern Knights/Research 54
Miyu Endersby SA Central District/Angaston 54
Emily Rankin VIC M Eastern Ranges/Park Orchards 53
Sophie White VIC C Dandenong Stingrays/Mt Eliza 53
Emma Charlton SA South Adelaide/Willunga 52
Sienna Clinch QLD Gold Coast Suns Academy/Southport 52
 
Running vertical jump
Name State Clubs Height (cm)
Cara Dziegielewski WA West Perth/Yanchep Districts 75
Morgan Stevens ACT GWS Giants Academy/Tuggeranong Valley 74
Alli Allen VIC M Northern Knights/Research 72
Maddison Meagher VIC M Northern Knights/Diamond Creek Women’s 72
Miyu Endersby SA Central District/Angaston 71
Greea McKeegan VIC C Geelong Falcons/Torquay 70
Kiara Boyd VIC M Western Jets/Aberfeldie 69
Sophia Green VIC M Oakleigh Chargers/Wantirna South 69
Eliza Roche VIC C Murray Bushrangers/Wodonga Raiders 69
Sienna Clinch QLD Gold Coast Suns Academy/Southport 68
Lily Milner VIC C Gippsland Power/Warragul Industrials 67

Results from the 2026 Telstra AFL State Draft Combines and Telstra AFLW State Draft Combines will be announced following the completion of next weekend’s events in Adelaide and Perth.