Recent Launceston TSLW premiership heroes Daria Bannister, Georgia Hill and Courtney Webb were among the best unsigned female prospects in Australia invited to Melbourne for the two-day testing at Etihad Stadium.

But it was Tigers standout Loveth Ochayi who rated the best performer among the 46 athletes on Wednesday.

AFL Tasmania development manager Leigh Elder said Ochayi, whose physical attributes were reminiscent to West Coast AFL ruckman Nic Naitanui at the 2008 AFL draft combine, blew watchful club talent scouts away.

“She would’ve been top five for nearly every category,” Elder said. “They actually gave her an award for the best performed at this combine.”

Ochayi has already stated that her intentions were to turn out for the first North Melbourne-Tasmanian AFL side in 2019 after the Arden Street club first earmarked the best female talent from the south of the state. 

But Elder intimated that he’d be extremely surprised if the Kingborough 18-year-old was overlooked this year.

“I certainly think Loveth was so big at her athletic feats that she would have certainly risen now in everyone’s thoughts,” he said, “which she probably needed to do in a way because she missed the national carnival due to injury, so she was coming from a fair way behind.”

Webb, who won the best-on-ground medal from the wing in the TSLW grand final, joined Ochayi as the leaders during endurance testing.

Bannister finished in the top three at the agility test.

Elder confirmed all four Tasmanians ran personal best times during the combine’s iconic 3km time trial.

“It was pretty impressive right across the board, so I am very happy with all their efforts,” he said. “None of their results will hurt their chances of being drafted.

But Tassie players can also nominate their state next year to ensure that the Kangaroos are given first priority to the home grown talent.