Jones Leads The Way As Tasmanians Impress

Our Tasmanian draft hopefuls have again been put through their paces at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, with Thursday testing players’ jumping, athleticism and speed. 

Chayce Jones was again impressive, recording top 10 finishes in the standing vertical jump, running vertical jumps and agility, while Fraser Turner, Nicholas Baker and Tarryn Thomas also did nothing to hurt their draft hopes.

Check out how our four Tasmanians at the Draft Combine fared on Thursday.

Standing Vertical Jump

A simple test of footy’s spring-heeled, the vertical jump requires players to take off from two feet with no preliminary steps or shuffling. A Yardstick measuring device determines their leap, with the height reached subtracted from the players’ standing reach height to give the relative jump result.

Chayce Jones led the way for the Tasmanian contingent, clinching a top 10 finish with a 66cm effort. Nic Baker was the next best Tasmanian draft hopeful with a 61cm jump.

 

Rank	#	name	cm
1	57	Smith, Ely	77
2	24	Vandermeer, Laitham	72
2	27	Jarvis, Ben	72
4	29	Rankine, Izak	70
5	9	Mosquito, Irving	68
5	30	Scott, Bailey	68
7	22	Quaynor, Isaac	67
7	45	Rozee, Connor	67
7	66	Khamis, Buku	67
10	6	Jones, Chayce	66
10	20	Hamill, Will	66
10	32	Sprague, Charlie	66
10	54	O’Halloran, Xavier	66
10	60	West, Rhylee	66
10	62	Grundy, Riley	66
10	63	Idun, Connor	66
10	84	Williams, Bailey	66
	14	Baker, Nicholas	61
	46	Turner, Fraser	56
	34	Thomas, Tarryn	54

 

RUNNING VERTICAL LEAPS

In this test, players stand five metres to the side of a Vertec and take a straight-line approach, jumping vertically off their outside leg and reaching as high as possible with the inside hand. This action is very similar to that of a ruckman at a bounce.

The player aims to tap the rotating ‘fingers’ of the Vertec to the side with their outstretched hand at the maximum height of the jump. Players take three jumps from each side: when taking off using left leg, the player uses their right hand, and vice-versa.

Running Vertical Jump (Right Foot)

Chayce Jones was a standout jumping off his right foot, finishing in second with a

Rank	#	name	cm
1	85	Sturt, Sam	91
2	6	Jones, Chayce	85
3	18	Duursma, Xavier	83
4	57	Smith, Ely	82
5	22	Quaynor, Isaac	81
5	62	Grundy, Riley	81
5	55	O’Neill, Xavier	81
8	45	Rozee, Connor	79
8	60	West, Rhylee	79
9	9	Mosquito, Irving	78
9	13	Answerth, Noah	78
	14	Baker, Nicholas	71
	46	Turner, Fraser	60
	34	Thomas, Tarryn	60

Running Vertical Jump (Left Foot)

Rank	#	name	cm
1	84	Williams, Bailey	94
2	6	Jones, Chayce	91
3	45	Rozee, Connor	88
3	24	Vandermeer, Laitham	88
5	57	Smith, Ely	86
5	22	Quaynor, Isaac	86
5	20	Hamill, Will	86
5	27	Jarvis, Ben	86
9	55	O’Neill, Xavier	84
9	4	Foot, Zac	84
9	41	Hately, Jackson	84
9	30	Scott, Bailey	84
	14	Baker, Nicholas	76
	46	Turner, Fraser	71
	34	Thomas, Tarryn	71

 

 

20m Sprint

This one’s all about speed. The player starts in the ‘crouch’ or ready position and sprints as fast as possible, making sure they don’t decelerate before reaching the final gate. Each player is allowed three attempts (with at least two minutes’ break between each) and their best times for the 5-, 10- and 20-metre sectors are recorded, regardless of which attempt they were from.

No Tasmanians finished in the top 10 for this Sprint, however, Chayce Jones and Fraser Turner both only just finished outside with strong efforts.

Rank	#	name	sec
1	43	McKenzie, Tom	2.904
2	45	Rozee, Connor	2.91
3	20	Hamill, Will	2.914
4	29	Rankine, Izak	2.93
5	63	Idun, Connor	2.945
6	84	Williams, Bailey	2.946
7	55	O’Neill, Xavier	2.957
8	54	O’Halloran, Xavier	2.96
9	67	King, Ben	2.965
10	85	Sturt, Sam	2.966
13	6	Jones, Chayce	2.97
14	46	Turner, Fraser	2.976
	34	Thomas, Tarryn	3.108
	14	Baker, Nicholas	3.163

 

Agility

Footy at the elite level requires all sorts of skills but agility is one of most important. In this test, the player starts from an upright position in line with the start gate. The idea is to weave in and out of the poles – without touching or knocking them over – and get to the end of the course as quickly as possible.

A run will be stopped and restarted if the player touches or knocks over any pole. Players run the course three times at maximum effort (with 2-3 minutes recovery between tests). The best of the three times is recorded.

Chayce Jones was again a standout, finishing in sixth spot with a time of 8.270.

Rank	#	name	sec
1	29	Rankine, Izak	8.039
2	54	O’Halloran, Xavier	8.063
3	60	West, Rhylee	8.216
4	20	Hamill, Will	8.222
5	61	Blanck, James	8.258
6	6	Jones, Chayce	8.270
7	27	Jarvis, Ben	8.308
8	45	Rozee, Connor	8.326
9	57	Smith, Ely	8.328
10	85	Sturt, Sam	8.396
21	14	Baker, Nicholas	8.518
	34	Thomas, Tarryn	8.806
	46	Turner, Fraser	8.839

 

Yo-Yo Test

Similar to the ‘Beep Test’, with players required to run between cones that are placed 20-metres apart at timed intervals. Participants have a 10-second recovery period between sprints where they need to jog to another cone and get back to the starting point before going again.

First introduced to the Draft Combine last year, players have stated that although the Yo-Yo test doesn’t go for as long as the Beep Test, it is at a higher intensity.  A player’s score is the total distance covered before they were unable to keep up with the recording.

Fraser Turner, known as being an endurance runner, impressed with a top 10 finish, while Chayce Jones only finished one level before Turner, landing a place just outside the top 10.

Rank	#	name	IR2 level
1	8	McHenry, Edward	22.2
2	48	Walsh, Sam	22.1
2	3	English, Luke	22.1
4	52	Golds, Will	21.8
5	54	O’Halloran, Xavier	21.6
5	50	Brownless, Oscar	21.6
7	20	Hamill, Will	21.4
7	57	Smith, Ely	21.4
7	21	McLennan, Jez	21.4
7	56	Sholl, Lachlan	21.4
7	46	Turner, Fraser	21.4
12	6	Jones, Chayce	21.3
	34	Thomas, Tarryn	20.4
	14	Baker, Nicholas	20.1