The 2017 AFL New Zealand National Combine will take place on Friday April 21 at the ASB Sport Centre in Wellington and will test the best up and coming AFL players in the country.
The combine will be just one part of a showcase week for AFL New Zealand, tying in with the ANZAC Day weekend. The New Zealand Senior team will continue its rivalry against the AFL’s Australian Under 17 team on April 24th at Westpac Stadium, whilst New Zealand youth teams will take part in a 2 game series.
The best 35 athletes from around the country are selected from the AFL New Zealand Academy and flown to Wellington to complete testing in front of AFL talent scouts.
Attendees will complete a variety of tests in front of AFL New Zealand staff and AFL team representatives and each of the events within the programme has a focus on fun and looks to provide those involved with motivation to improve themselves in varying facets of skill and fitness.
Vertical leap, Agility, 20 metre Sprint and the Beep test are all measured at the National Combine.
The Combine Programme can also provide opportunities for New Zealand selection, AFL International Scholarships and potentially the commencement of an AFL career.
Former New Zealand AFL player and now current NZ 7’s player Sam Dickson was spotted by then Head Coach Gordon Tietjens during the 2012 National Combine and has been a regular in the national Seven’s side for the past three years including being selected for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Current AFL signings, Kurt Heatherley, Joe Baker Thomas and Barclay Miller have been involved with previous combines which has lead to AFL International Scholarships with Hawthorn and St Kilda.
Congratulations to all athletes selected for the 2017 National Combine.
| Full Name | Region | School | DOB | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Kempt | Wellington | St Brendans | 8/5/2003 | 175 | 65.9 |
| Bailee Laurenson | Wellington | Fergusson Intermediate | 9/9/2003 | 178 | 70.3 |
| Bronson Hewitson | Waitakere | Avondale college | 13/3/2000 | 182.5 | 77.5 |
| Carlos Donnell-brown | Auckland | Green Bay High School | 21/8/1998 | 184 | 77 |
| Couper Jones | Harbour | Long Bay College | 22/12/2000 | 178.5 | 71.3 |
| Declan Crann | Waitakere | Green Bay High School | 29/5/2000 | 185 | 71 |
| Douglas McJorrow | Wellington | Scots College | 3/11/02 | 174.5 | 58.4 |
| Finn Moffat | Canterbury | St Bede's College | 21/8/2001 | 187 | 85 |
| George Oakley Hopkins | Wellington | Heretaunga College | 21/8/2002 | 176 | 67 |
| Hari Below | Wellington | Fergusson Intermediate | 23/3/2002 | 183 | 70.3 |
| Isaac Piper | Auckland | St Peters College | 9/3/2000 | 178 | 64.5 |
| James Dakin | Auckland | Western Springs College | 28/5/2000 | 177.5 | 60.8 |
| Jonah Christians | Wellington | Scots College | 25/5/2001 | 176 | 57.7 |
| Josh Mackie | Otago | Otago Boys High School | 4/5/1999 | 183 | 63.9 |
| Joshua Morgan Ranui | Wellington | Wellington College | 17/7/1999 | 188 | 97 |
| Layton Cahill | Canterbury | Shirley Boys High School | 11/11/2001 | 192 | 92 |
| Manny Snooks | Northland | Whangarei Boys High School | 8/6/2001 | 187.5 | 86.7 |
| Mark Komene-Stowers | Northland | Whangarei Boys High School | 11/2/2002 | 183.5 | 75 |
| Maxwell Hicks | Harbour | Rosmini College | 15/9/1999 | 195.5 | 76.7 |
| Maxwell Milne | Otago | Otago Boys High School | 7/10/2001 | 185 | 78 |
| Milo John Crispin | Wellington | Wellington College | 18/11/2001 | 189 | 75.4 |
| Misilifi Faimalo | Wellington | St Patricks College | 5/4/1999 | 178.5 | 69 |
| Mykelti Lefau | Melbourne | 22/6/1998 | 194 | 93 | |
| Rico Tuhua | Wellington | Fergusson Intermediate | 28/11/2002 | 186 | 67.7 |
| Ronan Morling | Counties | Rosehill College | 31/1/2002 | 171.5 | 60.2 |
| Sam Warton | Auckland | Kristin School | 19/8/2002 | 181.5 | 62.9 |
| Taonga Stanish-Murphy | Northland | Whangarei Boys High School | 13/1/2003 | 186 | 92.9 |
| Wade McNabb | Counties | Rosehill College | 11/10/2002 | 179 | 63.1 |
| William Kempt | Wellington | St Pats silverstream | 6/9/2000 | 194 | 97 |
