Australian Rules Football
Sports > List > AFL > Fitness > Testing > Draft CampFitness Testing at the AFL Draft Camp Combine
In about October each year the AFL conducts a draft combine. At the combine prospective AFL players are put through a battery of fitness, physical and psychomotor tests under the eye of clubs looking for the next champion player. The testing draft camp was first held at Waverley Park in 1994. The testing was moved to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra in 1999, and in 2011 moved to Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. Psychological testing was introduced to the AFL’s Draft Camp in 1997.
The following table lists all the tests that are conducted under each of the three categories, with links to descriptions of many of these tests. There is an example schedule of tests from the 2011 combine which gives an idea of how these tests are conducted over the four days of the combine. There is also a summary of AFL Draft Camp Results from the previous years, collated into an all-time top 10 list for each test. There is a video of a previous year's fitness testing at the AFL draft camp.
| Category | Tests | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Fitness | Endurance | Two tests of aerobic endurance are conducted at the draft camp, the shuttle run (beep) test and the three kilometer time-trial. An average score on the beep test at the draft camp run is level 13.3. A very good level is 14-plus and reaching 15-plus is rare. Aerobic fitness is a very important component of fitness for AFL, with some players (depending on the playing position) running over 10 km throughout the duration of a game. |
| Vertical Jump | The vertical jump test is performed to measure leg power. The test is performed from a standing position, and also a running vertical jump in which the player takes a few strides before leaping off one leg. Vertical jump ability is important for any leaping for marks, and particularly important for the rucks when contesting a bounce down. | |
| Speed | Sprint time over 20 meters with a split times for the first 5 and 10 meters, with the best time recorded from three attempts. Acceleration (speed over 5 m) is important for breaking away from the opposition player, and a good top running speed is advantageous for longer sprints such as when making a lead. | |
| Repeat Speed / Sprint Recovery | an anaerobic sprint-recovery test, where players are required to run 30m six times, with 20-second time cycle. e.g. if the player runs 30 meters in 4.2 seconds, he then has 15.8 seconds to recover before starting his next 30 meter sprint. A player’s score is the total of his six times. The repetitive sprint test was introduced in 2006. | |
| Agility | The AFL Agility Test is a specific slalom-type agility test has been developed for AFL, which involves running in and out and around obstacles over roughly 40 meters in total. The ability to quickly change direction is very important for AFL to be able to get clear of an opponent. | |
| Physical | Height | A player's height is measured with shoes off. Tall players are at an advantage, though there are many successful AFL players that are not tall. |
| Weight | Body mass is measured. Weight is compared to the height and skinfold measures, to look at how muscular a player is. | |
| Skinfolds | Body fat is estimated using the skinfold method. Excess body fat would affect the AFL player's ability to jump vertically, move freely around the ground, and the extra weight will increase fatigue. | |
| Flexibility | The sit and reach test was once performed, it is not sure if it is still on the testing program. This test measures lower back and hamstring flexibility. Flexibility is important in terms of being injury free and being able to move freely around the ground. Flexibility would be assessed during the medical sessions. |
|
| Hand Span | The size of the hand is determined using the Hand Span Measurement. The width of the hand outstretched may be related to the ability to grab opposition players and mark the ball. | |
| Arm Length | Arm length is measured. Longer arms may be an advantage for football players when taking a mark or tackling an opposition player. | |
| Psychomotor | Kicking Efficiency | the kicking skill efficiency skill test (added in 2009) is a test designed by Nathan Buckley to provide analysis of football kicking technique, speed of delivery, trajectory and accuracy. |
| 'Clean Hands' Handball 'Test | the ‘clean hands’ handball test (added in 2010) was devised by AIS/AFL academy assistant coach Matthew Lloyd. The test looks for players with a clean take of the ball at varying heights, quick execution of a handpass with perfect spin and reaching the target at the right height and speed. | |
| Decision Making | Good decision making is an important skill for an AFL player. | |
| Reaction Time | The reaction time test requires the players to hit a board as many times as they can in 30 second. Though not the one used at the draft camp, there are a couple of reaction time tests available on this site. Having a quick reaction time is an important skill for an AFL player. | |
| Peripheral Awareness | Peripheral awareness is the ability to be aware of and react to things that are going on around you. A FL players need to be able to be aware of what is going on around the field and to be able to react appropriately to what they see. | |
| Psychological | personality test |
tests ability to manage pressure, make sense of confusing situations, emotional intelligence, personal strength |
| Medical | medical check, screening, photographs |
Previous Tests
- in 2000 a bench press strength test was conducted (and maybeother years too)
Related Pages
- example schedule of tests from the 2011 combine
- AFL Draft Camp Results from previous years.
- Draft camp all-time top 10 lists
- video of fitness testing at the draft camp.
- poll: fitness components for AFL
