Gold Coast’s decision to put its second first-round selection on the table has been further justified, with its academy prospect Leo Lombard strengthening his standing as a top-10 prospect with eye-catching results at this year’s national AFL draft combine.

Just over 70 this year’s best AFL draft prospects from around the country took part in a three-day camp in Melbourne over the weekend.

Amid two intense days of club and media interviews at the MCG, most of the players took part in physical testing, taking on the 2km time trial at the AIA Vitality Centre on Friday afternoon before completing the standing vertical jump, running vertical jump, 20m sprint and agility test at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC).

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Lombard, who only turned 18 on Saturday, was one of the standout testers across the weekend, finishing second in the 20m sprint (2.851 seconds) and first in the agility test (7.812 seconds).

Most clubs believe Lombard is among the top 10 to 15 players in this year’s draft class after an outstanding 2024 campaign, which saw him share the Larke Medal as the best player of the national champs, while he also kicked five goals and averaged 17.4 disposals from eight VFL games for the Suns. That was after he played in Gold Coast’s 2023 VFL premiership triumph as a 16-year-old.

With a bid on Levi Ashcroft (Brisbane father-son) — and possibly Isaac Kako (Essendon NGA) too — expected to push picks back, it appears most likely Lombard will receive a bid before the Suns’ Pick 13.

Lombard has been part of the Suns’ set-up, via their academy, since he was 12 years old. He spent six weeks training with Gold Coast’s AFL program under Damien Hardwick last summer, which he said allowed him to feel “more confident” heading into his draft year.

“It was a pretty consistent year for me. I played some really good footy and had some quiet games as well to learn off, so I was really happy with the way I went,” Lombard told foxfooty.com.au on Saturday.

Asked to describe himself as a footballer, Lombard said: “Exciting, explosive and competitive.

The hype around Gippsland Power bolter Alix Tauru intensified, too, over the weekend after he recorded the best running vertical jump result (94cm).

Tauru has soared into first-round, possibly top-10, calculations over recent months following a strong finish to his Coates Talent League campaign, booting seven goals and averaging 15.4 disposals and 5.7 marks from his final nine games as a swingman.

Possible No. 1 pick Finn O’Sullivan also tested well, finishing eighth in the agility test (8.136 seconds) and second in the running vertical jump (93cm).

After a frustrating injury-riddled start to his draft year, the well-rounded midfielder represented Richmond’s VFL side for a game and produced three strong performances for the Oakleigh Chargers.

Jack and Matt Whitlock, the 200cm twins from the Murray Bushrangers, finished in the top 10 of both vertical jump tests, while top-10 chances Tobie Travaglia and Harvey Langford were both among the best-performed in the 2km time trial.

Peel Thunder defender-midfielder Bo Allan — WA’s No. 1 draft prospect this year — recorded three top-four finishes, while Northern Knights key forward Gabriel Stumpf was one of the most impressive testers. Stumpf took out the 20m sprint in 2.815 seconds — ranked among the top six results in combine history — while he also recorded the highest standing vertical jump result (76cm).

AFL DRAFT COMBINE RESULTS 2024

2km Time Trial (result in min:sec)

1. Joel Cochran (Sydney Swans Academy/UNSW Bulldogs) – 6:05

2. Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo Pioneers/Sandhurst) – 6:13

3. Angus Clarke (Glenelg/East Gambier) – 6:16

4. Will Hayes (Claremont/Subiaco) – 6:16

5. Hamish Davis (Claremont/Subiaco) – 6:18

6. Harry Charleson (GWV Rebels/East Point) – 6:21

7. Adrian Cole (Sandringham Dragons/St Bedes/Mentone) – 6:24

8. Harvey Langford (Dandenong Stingrays/Mount Martha) – 6:24

9. Christian Moraes (Eastern Ranges/Knox) – 6:25

10. Luke Urquhart (East Fremantle/Melville) – 6:25

20m Sprint (result in seconds)

1. Gabriel Stumpf (Northern Knights/Warrandyte) – 2.815

2. Leo Lombard (Gold Coast Suns Academy/Broadbeach) – 2.851

3. Rhys Unwin (GWV Rebels/Cobden) – 2.914

4. Jasper Alger (Oakleigh Chargers/Warragul) – 2.931

5. Malakai Champion (Subiaco/Mines Rovers) – 2.938

6. Charlie West (Woodville-West Torrens/Henley) – 2.957

7. Jaxon Artemis (South Fremantle/Jandakot Jets) – 2.959

8. Charlie Nicholls (Central District/Mintaro Manoora) – 2.962

9. David Colbert (County Dublin/Kilmacud Crokes) – 2.965

10. Luke Urquhart (East Fremantle/Melville) – 2.975

Agility (result in seconds)

1. Leo Lombard (Gold Coast Suns Academy/Broadbeach) – 7.812

2. Malakai Champion (Subiaco/Mines Rovers) – 7.836

3. Will Hayes (Claremont/Subiaco) – 7.85

4. Bo Allan (Peel Thunder/Halls Head) – 7.94

5. Rhys Unwin (GWV Rebels/Cobden) – 8.012

6. Kayle Gerreyn (West Perth/Joondalup Kinross) – 8.082

7. Harry Armstrong (Sandringham Dragons/Ormond) – 8.132

8. Finn O’Sullivan (Oakleigh Chargers/Koroit) – 8.136

9. Thomas Sims (Northern Knights/Montmorency) – 8.136

10. Jasper Alger (Oakleigh Chargers/Warragul) – 8.141

Standing Vertical Jump

1. Gabriel Stumpf (Northern Knights/Warrandyte) – 76cm

2. Jack Whitlock (Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton Bears) – 75cm

3. Floyd Burmeister (GWV Rebels/Redan) – 74cm

4. Bo Allan (Peel Thunder/Halls Head) – 72cm

5. David Colbert (County Dublin/Kilmacud Crokes) – 71cm

6. Jonty Faull (GWV Rebels/Redan) – 71cm

7. Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges/Park Orchards) – 71cm

8. Matt Whitlock (Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton Bears) – 71cm

9. Charlie West (Woodville-West Torrens/Henley) – 70cm

10. Lucas Camporeale (Glenelg/Brighton) – 69cm

Running Vertical Jump

1. Alix Tauru (Gippsland Power/Warragul Industrials) – 94cm

2. Finn O’Sullivan (Oakleigh Chargers/Koroit) – 93cm

3. Bo Allan (Peel Thunder/Halls Head) – 92cm

4. Lucas Camporeale (Glenelg/Brighton) – 91cm

5. Jack Whitlock (Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton Bears) – 91cm

6. Floyd Burmeister (GWV Rebels/Redan) – 90cm

7. Thomas Sims (Northern Knights/Montmorency) – 90cm

8. Matt Whitlock (Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton Bears) – 90cm

9. Noah Mraz (Dandenong Stingrays/Narre North Foxes) – 88cm

10. Joel Cochran (Sydney Swans Academy/UNSW Bulldogs) – 87cm