World Footy News

Over the years the AFL has slowly expanded its various metrics for testing young players, steadily adding to fitness and agility tests. Recently a "hands" test was added under guidance from Matthew Lloyd and a kicking analysis by Nathan Buckley. Now the AFL's Kevin Sheehan has combined all the measures to give an overall result for players, and so far Tasmanian and South Pacific players have been tested. Encouragingly for international footy fans, the "newcomers" recorded some impressive results.  Besides providing more evidence to AFL recruiters to consider international talent, it also continues the rise in profile of international footy.

Top 10 scores from the Tasmanian and South Pacific NAB AFL Under-16 Combines (all scores out of 60):

Eli Templeton (Burnie, Tas) - 42.9
Ben Killalea (Lauceston, Tas) - 42.5
Tommell Raidinen (Nauru, South Pacific) - 41
Seniol Hermon (Samoa, Sth Pac) - 40
Kade Koladjashnij (Launceston, Tas) - 38.4
Kurt Heatherly (New Zealand, Sth Pac) - 38
Max Lavia (Papua New Guinea, Sth Pac) - 38
Marcus Lee (South Launceston, Tas) - 37.9
Gideon Simon (Papua New Guinea, Sth Pac) - 36
Ryan Dowling (Clarence, Tas) - 35.8

Full story:  New testing for young stars