BY MELANIE WHELAN
5/10/2009 12:44:00 AM
THE hard work is done, now the tough wait begins.
AFL draft camp and state screening is complete - eight weeks before a lucky few players will hear their names called out at the AFL national draft.
North Ballarat Rebels regional manager Phil Partington said players could not do any more than put their best foot forward with light training and rest. And wait.
Year 12 exams will keep most Rebels graduates busy and club training resumes in early November with North Ballarat Roosters.
Partington said there were no certainties when it came to the draft or the following rookie draft on December 15.
He was pleased with the hard work and determination of the players who were put under the spotlight last week, ranking among the best young talent.
"The boys have done an extremely good job - their local coaches and junior coaches should be very proud," Partington said.
"Their performances have done them no harm and we wish them all the best."
Rebels' midfielder Andrew Hooper (Golden Point) was among top-ranked performers - an impressive feat after badly tearing a calf muscle less than a fortnight before draft camp.
Hooper was still doubtful of attempting physical testing the night before embarking to the Australian Institute of Sport.
Partington ordered him to grab a torch and run three 20-metre sprints as hard as he could that night in the driveway and report back an hour later via phone.
When Hooper reported no pain, Partington gave him the all-clear.
At camp, Hooper ranked third in the 20m sprint with a time of 2.90 seconds, second in the agility and equal third in the standing vertical jump.
"He's a determined young lad and made sure he was 100 per cent fit to go out to that first testing session because any bad tests can be detrimental," Partington said.
"To Andrew's credit and the physio department, he sought treatment straight away when he injured his leg and did a lot of rehab."
Fellow Rebels midfielder Josh Cowan (Daylesford) was also well-versed in the rehabilitation process.
Cowan broke his wrist in mid-July and was sidelined until the Rebels' elimination final on September 6.
He was a regular feature on the ground at half-time in Rebels' TAC Cup matches, doing intense sprint work.
Cowan's endurance was highlighted in Canberra where he ranked equal fourth in the notorious shuttle run and sixth in the three-kilometre time trial in 10 minutes, 14 seconds.
Rebels' forward David Astbury (Tatyoon) had his wisdom teeth out a week before the camp and, despite straining his hamstring during testing, performed well in the kicking-accuracy test and three-kilometre time trial, posting a time of 10.57.
Teammates Matt Dea (Ballarat Clarendon College), Oliver Tate (North Ballarat Juniors) and Marcus Darmody (North Warrnambool) were scrutinised at AFL state screening in Melbourne on Saturday.
Dea, also a Ballarat Nuggets' basketballer, showcased his agility and vertical jump with a 2.93-second 20-metre sprint.
Tate and North Ballarat Rooster Cam Richardson ranked highly in the shuttle run while Darmody's sprint work confirmed he was an agile defender.
Partington said while there were no certainties come draft day, no stone had been left unturned in the Rebels' preparation. For those who miss out on being drafted this year, Partington said it did not have to be the end of a dream.
There are plenty of other pathways to the AFL, including via the Victorian Football League with the Roosters.
A top priority in the Rebels' program was to produce elite, well-rounded footballers who were capable of being team leaders and future coaches at any level.
The AFL national draft will be held at night for the first time on November 26 and broadcast live on pay TV.
The initiative mirrors other major sporting codes, including the NBA.
DRAFT CAMP TOP 10's
Three-kilometre time trial (min.sec)
1. Kallan Geary 9.43
2. Ryan Bastinac 10.03
3. Brayden Norris 10.05
=3. Kane Lucas 10.05
5. Dylan Roberton 10.13
6. Josh Cowan 10.14
7. Mitch Duncan 10.15
8. Jordan Williams 10.18
9. Mark Hutchings 10.19
10. Marcus Davies 10.22
Agility (seconds)
1. Kane Lucas 7.95
2. Andrew Hooper 7.98
3. Sam Shaw 8.08
4. Ayden Kennedy 8.12
5. Travis Colyer 8.14
6. Jessie Crichton 8.15
7. Jake Melksham 8.16
8. Andrew Moore 8.17
=9. Dylan Grimes
=9. Mitchell Duncan 8.20
Repeat sprints (seconds)
1. Jack Fitzpatrick 23.91
2. Robbie Hicks 24.04
3. Jordan Williams 24.17
4. Travis Colyer 24.36
5. Gary Rohan 24.33
6. Jason Tutt 24.39
7. Dustin Martin 24.56
8. Lewis Jetta 24.61
9. Dylan Grimes 24.69
10. Bradley Sheppard 24.74
Standing vertical jump (cm)
1. James Craig 76
2. Sam Shaw 75
=3. Tom Hill 70
=3. Aaron Black
=3. Andrew Hooper
6. Lewis Jetta 69
=7. Ayden Kennedy
=7. Kane Lucas 67
=8. John Butcher 66
=8. Sam Reid
20-metre sprint (seconds)
1. Ayden Kennedy 2.88
2. Dustin Martin 2.89
3. Andrew Hooper 2.90
4. Sam Reid 2.92
=5. Sam Shaw 2.93
=5. Kane Lucas
=5. Gary Rohan
=8. Lewis Jetta 2.95
=8. Dylan Grimes
=10. Robbie Hicks 2.96
=10. Jack Fitzpatrick
=10. Bradley Sheppard
=10. Travis Colyer
Shuttle run/Beep test (level)
1. Brayden Norris 15.6
=2. Ryan Bastinac 15.1
=2. Marcus Davies
=4. Mark Hutchings 14.12
=4. Joshua Cowan
=4. Jason Tutt
=7. Sam Reid 14.7
=7. Nat Fyfe
9. Dylan Roberton 14.6
=10.Travis Colyer 14.5
=10. Jake Melksham
Kicking test (six kicks scored 1-5 points)
1. Gary Rohan 23 points 77% efficency
=2. Dustin Martin 22/73%
=2. Jordon Gysberts
=2. Ryan Harwood
=2. Simon Potts
=2. Aaron Black
=2. Matthew Panos
=2. Nicky Winmar 22 73%
Last Modified on 16/10/2009 11:35