Longford and Launceston product Chayce Jones came into his own during day 2 of the AFL draft combine in Melbourne on Thursday.
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The highly-touted midfielder starred during jumping, athleticism and speed testing, recording top 10 finishes in the standing vertical jump, running vertical jumps and agility.
Meanwhile, fellow Tasmanians Fraser Turner, Nicholas Baker and North Launceston’s Tarryn Thomas, who dominated the goal and field kicking tests on Wednesday, put their best foot forward.
Jones, 18, achieved a 66-centimetre standing vertical leap (10th best) with Baker (61cm), Fraser (56cm) and Thomas (54cm) further behind.
Jones finished in the top two across the country for running vertical jumps on both feet. The Launceston College student reached 85cm on his right foot and 91cm on his left – impressing AFL club recruiters.
His efforts were almost 20 centimetres better than his fellow Tasmanians’ attempts.
In the 20-metre sprint, no Tasmanians finished in the top 10 per cent with the foursome narrowly behind winner Tom McKenzie (2.904 seconds) with the following times: Jones (2.97), Turner (2.976), North Melbourne Next Generation Academy star Thomas (3.108) and Baker (3.163).
In the agility testing, whereby players weave in and out of poles – without touching or knocking them over – to get the end as quickly as possible, Jones finished overall sixth in 8.270 seconds.
The state’s quartet were evenly split in the yo-yo test, which requires athletes to run between cones placed 20 metres apart at timed intervals.
Participants have a 10-second recovery period between sprints where they need to jog to another cone and get back to the starting point before going again.
Turner (level 21.4) impressed with a top-10 finish, while Jones (21.3), Thomas (20.4) and Baker (20.1) were marginally behind. Jones, Tasmania’s under-18s captain, told afl.com.au this week that he is excited for what may lay ahead.
“[I see myself playing my best footy] probably as a midfielder that can go forward as well, and can have a bit of pace about himself and take the game on a bit at times,” he said.
“[Being able to train with Essendon earlier this year] was unreal just to be able to see the players that you grew up following, supporting, watching them play – training with them and talking to them and that sort of thing was amazing.
“Since the dream [of playing AFL] has become part reality, you just get your mind around [relocating interstate].”
Jones is expected to be picked up late in the first round in November’s draft.
All draftees underwent a 2km time trial on during the combine’s final day.
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