West Australian Football

WEST Australian players claimed awards in six different categories at the 2011 NAB AFL National Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.

Brad Hill from West Perth set a new beep test record of 16(1) and also took out the 3km run in a time of 9:52. Shannon Taylor (Claremont) was the quickest over the 20m sprint, while Shane Nelson (West Perth) recorded the best score in the Nathan Buckley Kicking Test with an outstanding 29/30.

Eliot Yeo (East Fremantle) recorded the best standing vertical jump of 78cm to equal Nic Naitanui's record and also recorded an overall agility score of 7.80 to be ranked as the most agile player at the NAB AFL National Draft Combine.

A record 20 WA players attended the NAB AFL National Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne this week, while another three younger age group players were tested by Greater Western Sydney including Shannon Taylor (Claremont), Jaeger O'Meara (Perth) and Dayle Garlett (Swan Districts).

West Australian Football Commission High Performance Manager Craig Starcevich said this was an excellent result for WA and paid tribute to everyone involved with each player’s development.

“Our WAFL clubs and districts, junior clubs, schools and everyone else who has assisted these players can take great satisfaction knowing they have contributed to their football development and a chance for them to progress to the elite level,” Starcevich said.

“The commitment at grassroots level has paved the way for WA’s outstanding record of Draft success. This has been highlighted over the last couple of years with 25 players added to AFL lists in 2009 and another 31 recruited in 2010, taking the total to 105 in the past four years.

“We are confident that this success will continue at the 2011 draft with another strong group of players coming through the WA talent pathway and the highest number ever nominated for testing at next week’s National Draft Combine,” he said.

Another 24 WA players will be tested at the State Draft Combine on Sunday, October 16, at the WA Basketball Centre in Mt Claremont ahead of the NAB AFL National Draft at Sydney Olympic Park on November 24.

2011 NAB AFL DRAFT COMBINE – NATIONAL (October 4-7)