2022 NAB AFL State Combine Wrap

By TOM WYMAN

Fifteen of South Australia’s most promising footballers were put through their paces in-front of AFL recruiting staff at the 2022 NAB AFL State Combine at UniSA Mawson Lakes.

Glenelg’s Lachlan Scannell produced a dominant display in the 2km Time Trial, finishing the endurance test in 5.49 minutes – over 30 seconds ahead of second-placed North Adelaide excitement machine Frank Szekely.

Despite missing almost the entire season through injury, Scannell reminded recruiters of his tremendous running capacity by recording the fastest 2km time seen across the NAB AFL Combines so far this season.

Central District intercept defender Rhett Montgomerie was one of four mature-agers invited to compete at the state combine, after he enjoyed a break-out season with the Bulldogs in the Hostplus SANFL League.

Montgomerie, who placed third in the Bulldogs best and fairest count, topped the time sheets with a 3.013 second 20m Sprint time.

The 22-year-old from Angaston also placed in the top five of the agility test with a time of 8.213 seconds.

Sturt forward Tom Emmett claimed the Agility Test, navigating the course in 8.16 seconds ahead of Roosters swingman Shaun Bennier and Glenelg onballer Jake Walker.

South Adelaide tall defender Kyle Marshall also showed off his impressive athleticism, placing in the top five in all three Vertical Jumps as well as the 20m Sprint and 2km Time Trial.

Marshall, who has attracted the attention of recruiters as a centre half-back, clocked the highest running vertical jump off both feet before running the 20m Sprint in 3.016 seconds.

The Panthers junior later showed off his long-distance running ability at Bridgestone Arena, in Salisbury, by finishing the 2km Time Trial in 6.27 minutes.

Perhaps unlucky not to receive an invite to the National Combine, held in Melbourne last weekend, West Adelaide midfielder Kobe Ryan recorded a strong 8.317 second Agility Test and 64cm Vertical Jump.

Ryan’s Bloods teammate Darcy Minchella was another to perform well, placing fourth in the Right Foot Running Vertical Jump with a 76cm leap and running the 20m Sprint in 3.054 seconds.

The ruckman was one of several tall prospects to test well throughout the day, with Minchella’s silky movement and sound skill-set being attractive traits for a player of his size.