WA Testing DayFriday, March 15, 2019 - 3:31 PM

Western Australia is set for an exciting 2019 Season after a very successful inaugural Talent Testing and Education Day.

Held at Aquinas College, approximately 400 players from across the nine WAFL clubs competed in athletic testing, including the vertical jump, running vertical jump, agility test, 20m sprint and the yo-yo test.

The Simply Energy Colts were also educated about AFL policies such as respect & responsibility, drug and alcohol awareness, and racial vilification, as well as the WAFL rules and regulations.

Former Australian National high jump medallist, Jonathon Garlett (East Fremantle) put together an all-round excellent performance on the day with stunning results in the vertical jump (85cm), and the running vertical jump (91cm) in particular.

The Geraldton Towns Junior Football Club product also tested well in the agility test (8.17 seconds), the 20m sprint (2.84 seconds), and the yo-yo test (level 20.6).

Swan Districts pair Ben Taylor and Kade Wallrodt also put in exceptional performances as well. 

Taylor, the younger brother of GWS’ rising star Sam, was impressive in the 20m sprint (2.98 seconds), agility test (8.40 seconds) and the yo-yo test (level 21.1).

After a stunning 2018 season that saw him finish second to Mitchell Bain for the Swan Districts’ Colts Best & Fairest, Wallrodt is already firming for an even better 2019 season.

Wallrodt, who has relocated to Perth from Bunbury this year has enjoyed a strong pre-season that saw him train with Swans’ League squad. He produced excellent results in the vertical jump (60cm), the running vertical jump (73cm), the 20m sprint (2.90 seconds), the agility test (8.40 seconds), and the yo-yo test (level 20.6).
 
Peel Thunder’s James Ewing was also impressive with his test results. The raw and developing defender tested strongly in the vertical jump (62cm), the running vertical jump (79cm), 20 metre sprint (3.04 seconds), agility test (8.62 seconds) and the yo-yo test (level 21.3).

Out of the WA State-Based AFL Academy, Liam Henry (Claremont), and Deven Robertson (Perth) were the standouts. Bottom-agers Brandon Walker (East Fremantle), and Logan McDonald (Perth) showcased why they are so highly rated for the 2020 NAB AFL Draft.

Fremantle fans will be excited by both Henry’s and Walker’s performances as they are both members of the Dockers’ Next-Generation Academy program.

Henry, who has relocated to Perth from Derby, is shaping up to be one of the most exciting prospects for this year’s NAB AFL Draft. The Christ Church Grammar border is blessed with blistering speed, sublime agility and dazzling skills, traits that make him a damaging outside midfielder/forward.

An All-Australian at the 2018 NAB AFL U16 Championships, Walker has enjoyed a very good pre-season with Fremantle’s NGA program, the state-based NAB AFL Academy Talent Hub and East Fremantle. Of Ghanaian descent, Walker is a medium defender who knows how to break the opposition’s defensive zones with his speed, skill and decision-making.

Robertson, the 2017 WA State Academy U16s Captain and MVP winner, has worked tirelessly over summer to turn his body shape around. As such, he has made significant improvements to his athletic testing, most notably in the two-kilometre time trial.

McDonald, a key forward, has demonstrated awesome athleticism and is shaping up to be one of the most exciting players in the WAFL Simply Energy Colts competition in 2019. At last year’s AFL NAB AFL U16 Championships, McDonald won All-Australian selection after kicking nine goals in three games and averaging 10 possessions and five marks.

After seeing such exciting results from players across the nine WAFL clubs, Western Australia is destined to have some of the most exciting up-and-coming talent in this year’s NAB AFL Championships.