Draft hopefuls pleased with combine performance

Albany draft prospect Jordan Clark has enhanced his chances of finding a place on an AFL list after impressing recruiters at the AFL Draft Combine last week.

Touted as a top 30 pick after an impressive national championships in July, Clark won his 2km time trial in 6min.14sec., smashing his personal best time to round out the four days of testing at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.

Clark and fellow Albany draft hope Tyron Smallwood, were two of 85 potential AFL draftees put through a series of skills and athletic tests in front of recruiting staff from the 18 AFL clubs which finished on Friday.

Clark said he was pleased with his performance across the testing, describing the experience as everything he expected.

“Obviously you expect it to be pretty full-on and it was full-on,” he said.

“Personally I had a lot meetings and media sort of stuff across the three days so it was very busy and then all the testing, so it was everything I expected it to be.

“My scores were all right across the board.

“I was pretty happy with how my 2km run went considering my previous best was about a 6:42.

“There was a bit of pressure on me to run a good time. It was just good to get out there and run pretty good.

“I certainly surprised myself.”

The 182cm defender was named in the NAB AFL Under-18 All-Australian team after averaging 19.5 disposals and 5.5 rebound 50s in the championship.

Now attending school at Guildford Grammar in Perth, Clark said after having a week off he would continue to train hard until the AFL draft in November.

“It wouldn’t matter to me if it was first round or last pick of the rookie draft, you would be happy to get the opportunity,” he said.

Smallwood, who also represented WA at the under-18 national championships and later made his league debut for Claremont, said his endurance testing was pleasing.

The small forward ran 7:03 in the 2km time trial while his yo-yo endurance test was also near the top bracket.

“It was a good experience,” he said. “I probably didn’t do as well as I would have liked and what I expected.”

The former Royals, Albany and Boxwood Hill youngster said he would now take a small break to refresh.

“In probably two or three weeks I will get back into it and try and get a bit fitter and a bit stronger and be ready if my name is called out on draft day,” he said.