Day two of the combine jumped out of the blocks in blistering fashion when Brad Harvey then Joel Wilkinson broke Power speedster Danyle Pearce’s 2004 20m-sprint record. Despite the agility and running vertical jump testing occurring at the same time, news of Harvey’s first run through quickly got around the gym and by the time Wilkinson blazed down the track a large crowd of interested onlookers had gathered.
Pleased to meet you
Harvey didn’t have much chance to dwell on the disappointment of being the record holder for just over 30 minutes. He and Wilkinson fronted a media conference soon after the testing was finished alongside GWS coach Kevin Sheedy. Harvey is a life-long Bombers fan and admitted it was quite a surreal treat to meet the Dons’ coaching legend.
Flash Harry
Gippsland Power small forward Jed Lamb has a touch of the outrageous about him, with his free-wheeling playing style, yellow boots, and two-storey hair, but even he admitted to nerves during interviews. “It’s a big thing, talking to AFL clubs,” Lamb said. All five clubs asked him about his boots. Lamb said he bought them because there wasn’t much else in the boot store in Yarram, his home town in Gippsland. “I just tried to be myself,” Lamb said.
Whose idea was this?
The Blues picked the wrong place to bunker down for a quiet chat. The cafe at the AIS Arena is a preferred site for clubs looking to get away from the combine action and discuss things, but on Wednesday it was anything but serene. Cartoon sensation Ben 10 put on a live show that attracted dozens of screaming kids. Brett Ratten spent a good portion of his quiet coffee posing for pictures with fans.
What’s on the box?
There’s always plenty on the go at the combine, but you could have been forgiven for thinking man was landing on Mars for the very first time at about 12:30pm. Every large screen television at the AIS had a crowd of coaches, recruiters, testers and players huddled around to watch Gary Ablett’s big announcement.
I’m still here!
The big question during the sprint testing on day two of the AFL draft combine was, “Just who is the redhead with the No.102 in sticky tape on his back?” Former Sydney Swans player Ryan Brabazon was unlisted among the 100 players selected to go to the national camp, but he was so keen to put himself before recruiters that he paid for a flight from Perth, enabling him to become a late inclusion. Brabazon, 23, finished fifth in both the 20-metre sprint (2.84 seconds) and the agility test (8.04).
Who are you calling short?
What’s in a couple of centimetres? Plenty if your name is Daniel Gorringe. During the national under-18 championships, the South Australian ruckman was listed at 198cm, a height that’s now slightly short for an AFL ruckman. Gorringe is now listed as 200cm. Those two centimetres will ensure he’ll be drafted in the top 10.
Blink and you’ll miss me
Josh Green, the playmaking Tasmanian midfielder, surprised many when he posted 2.92 in the 20-metre sprint. Brisbane Lions officials seemed especially impressed, surrounding the 18-year-old redhead to ply him with questions. Geelong officials were impressed with another sprinting surprise packet, Josh Caddy.
Late to the party
Another question on everyone’s lips was whether South Australian star Sam Day would turn up. Day has stayed in Adelaide to train with Sturt reserves before Sunday’s SANFL finals. He was expected to get to Canberra on Thursday, but his presence is now doubted. Pat McCarthy was also expected to get to Canberra late in the draft combine after staying in Adelaide to train with the Glenelg under-18 team before Sunday’s finals. Day is expected to go at No.3 in the national draft, while McCarthy should go in the top 15.
The tortoise becomes the hare
Dyson Heppell, the co-Morrish Medallist in the TAC Cup this year, finished outside the top 10 in the 20-metre sprint, but his effort in breaking three seconds is significant. Heppell had been considered slightly slow, albeit with a massive engine, before twice running 2.998 seconds in the sprint. Now he’s considered fast. “I’m more of a decision-maker than a breakaway player,” he said. “But my goal was to break three seconds.”
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
