The future is here: NAB AFL Draft Camp

FOOTBALL’S summit has now been reached for another year and already AFL clubs have turned their focus to the future, with the 14th NAB AFL Draft Camp set to kick off at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra on Tuesday.

Running for four day, the camp is an integral part of the recruiting process and is often referred to as "the final piece in the puzzle". It allows clubs to watch and assess the cream of the country's best under-age football talent in elite sporting surroundings.

This year 79 players will make their way from all parts of Australia to the nation's capital. They will then take part in a range of physical skills/tests, including agility tests, standing and vertical jumps, repeat sprints, the shuttle run (beep test) and a three-kilometre time-trial.

Players' height, weight and skinfolds will also be measured.

Although these skills/tests are important for clubs, one of the great benefits for the recruiting and football staff is the opportunity to meet and talk with the potential draftees through interviews.

Most of these interviews are pre-arranged, although some clubs are so eager to speak to as many players as possible in order to cover all bases in preparation for the NAB AFL Draft, NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft and NAB AFL Rookie Draft that they will grab players in between their set meetings.

Last year, 56 players who attended the Draft Camp were chosen in the November Draft.

Every player who topped a skill test/measurement in the fitness results was drafted last year. Those players were:

Height – Matthew Leuenberger (203.2cm) – Brisbane Lions

Weight – Jesse White (101.4kg) – Sydney

Agility – David Armitage (7.88 sec) – St Kilda

Repeat Sprints (30 metres) – Simon Hogan (24.67 sec) – Geelong

Vertical jump (standing) – Shane Edwards (69cm) – Richmond

20-metre sprint – Nathan Krakouer (2.83 sec) – Port Adelaide

Shuttle Run (beep test) – Simon Hogan – Geelong; Tim Houlihan – West Coast; Shane Edwards – Richmond (level 15.04)

Handspan – Jesse White (26.7cm) – Sydney

Three-km time-trial – Tim Houlihan (9:37 mins) – West Coast

Again, this year, the hottest draft prospects will be on show, including Northern duo Matthew Kreuzer and Trent Cotchin, Claremont's Cale Morton (the younger brother of West Coast's Mitch and Hawthorn's Jarryd) and Murray's Ben McEvoy.

And like Morton, there will be some familiar football names at the camp, including Scott Selwood (the fourth brother behind West Coast's Adam, Brisbane Lions' Troy and Geelong's Joel), Brad Ebert (cousin of Port Adelaide's Brett) and Cyril Rioli (the nephew of Maurice Rioli and Michael Long).

Darcy Daniher, the son of former Essendon and Sydney defender Anthony, will be there after shining in the Calder Cannons premiership win on Saturday. He is set to be claimed as a father/son selection to either the Bombers or Swans.

It will be a big few days for Daniher, Ashley Arrowsmith (best-on-ground in the TAC Cup Grand Final), Mitchell Farmer, James Polkinghorne and Jeremy Laidler, as they were all part of Calder's success at the MCG on Saturday.

It promises to be another fascinating few days where some players' reputations will be enhanced, others confirmed and some questioned.

Great stories and achievements will emerge. Ex-Tiger and 2007 Port Adelaide Grand Final player David Rodan remains one of the top stories from the camp, where he shone in a range of skills/tests in 2001.

This year, it will be someone else who will further his credentials. Who will it be in '07?