Clubs will move on quickly from the football season and start to focus on their 2019 lists when they arrive at the NAB AFL Draft Combine at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday.
There will be 85 draft hopefuls – including four from Ireland – who will test across the four days in front of recruiters.
They will ease into things on Tuesday before club interviews and a first set of testing begins on Wednesday evening.
AFL.com.au will provide the exclusive results as they come to hand during the week, but here are some of the prospects who could be among the standout performers in each test.
Kicking assessment
To be held on Wednesday night
The kicking test rewards players who are good on both feet and not just proficient on their preferred side. With that in mind, Morrish Medal winner Liam Stocker should be a good shot to do well when testing opens on Wednesday night. The midfielder is a right-footer but regularly throughout the TAC Cup finals series in particular would swing onto his left and hit the target. Luke Valente, the South Australian under-18 captain, is also a chance in the kicking test, while Lachie Sholl, the son of former Blue Brett, can also kick well on both feet.
Goalkicking assessment
To be held on Wednesday night
There haven't been many more fluent or graceful kicks of the footy than Jack Lukosius come through the draft in recent times, and he converts well in front of goal generally, so will be hoping for a perfect score in this test. Another forward, Curtis Taylor, is good around goal as is Izak Rankine, who has shown an ability to snap, squeeze or shoot through kicks for goals in recent seasons. Xavier O'Halloran, a midfielder who captained Vic Metro at the championships, has also kicked some goals from tough set shots across the year to add to his ball-winning, while late Combine invitee Sam Sturt is also a sharp operator around goal.
Standing vertical jump
Thursday morning
Combine record: 89cm, Aiden Bonar (2017) and Jordan Gallucci (2016)
Ben King has flown for plenty of marks this year and shapes as a top-10 choice on draft night. He is athletic when the ball is on the ground and also in the air, good given he has leapt 74cm in the standing vertical jump test, putting him among the best chances this week in the event. Connor McFadyen is also right up there having jumped 80cm, while Ely Smith, a strong-bodied midfielder with genuine power, has also jumped 74cm and could be a top-30 pick at the draft. High-leaping forward Connor Rozee is another who could surprise in this test given his aerial exploits.
Running vertical jump
Thursday morning
Combine record: 103cm, Kyron Hayden (2017)
Jackson Hately has pushed himself into top-15 calculations on draft night after a consistent season in South Australia, including some standout games at senior level. He's big for a midfielder (190cm) and can play across the ground, and he's also proven he can get off the ground. Hately has recorded a running vertical jump of 94cm, putting him among the best in this year's pool. Dandenong Stingrays ruckman/forward Bailey Williams finished his year with two goals in last month's TAC Cup Grand Final win, and could impress in this test having jumped 92cm.
Sprint
Thursday morning
Combine record: 2.75 seconds, Joel Wilkinson (2010)
Unfortunately the drawcard in this test won't be out there. Ian Hill, the speedster from WA, underwent shoulder surgery recently so won't be able to show his wares, having clocked in at 2.82 seconds over 20 metres. Durak Tucker is another West Australian prospect who has been hit with injury this year, going down with a knee, but has proven his pace before, having done the sprint in 2.84 seconds. Tom Berry's speed off the mark through the midfield and in defence helps him and he's run a 2.91-second 20m dash, while Noah Answerth, who was overlooked at last year's draft after a broken back, has also run 2.91 seconds.
Agility
Thursday morning
Combine record: 7.77 seconds, Stephen Hill (2008)
Brisbane Lions Academy prospect Connor McFadyen has caught the attention of scouts with his size for a midfielder, but his sideways movement is also very good. If he can replicate his agility score of 7.75 seconds from previous testing he will set a new Combine record. It would cap a good year. Tom Berry, the younger brother of Lions midfielder Jarrod, ran the agility in 7.77 seconds at the TAC Cup testing day earlier this year, while Rhylee West's powerful and quick sidesteps come through in his testing. He's previously completed the agility test in 7.88 seconds.
YoYo test
Thursday afternoon
Combine record: Level 22.4, Andrew Brayshaw (2017)
South Australian defender Jacob Kennerley had a strong season and will be keen to carry that into the YoYo test, given he reached level 22.1 earlier this year. Sam Walsh's endurance saw him get to the same level, while another South Australian Jez McLennan, who was named an All Australian half-back, complements his intercept marking with a strong tank. He ran 21.8 in the YoYo earlier this year. Oakleigh Charger Will Golds (level 21.8), SA midfielder Tom Lewis (21.7), Melbourne NGA candidate Toby Bedford (21.7) and Geelong father-son Oscar Brownless (21.6) are others who have tested well in the YoYo, which replaced the beep test last year as the measure of a player's aerobic capacity.
2km time trial
Friday morning
Combine record: 6:09 minutes, Dylan Moore (2017)
Last year was the first time the 2km time trial had been run at the Combine and Hawks recruit Dylan Moore's record could be in jeopardy if the top endurance runners hit their best times this week. Bailey Smith won the NAB AFL Academy's 2km time trial at the start of the season in America, running 6:07 minutes, but he won't test due to an Achilles injury. Geelong Falcons pair Ned McHenry, who ran 6:10 in the same race, and Sam Walsh, who completed the time trial in 6:14, are the ones to look for here.
