As has become ritual, within days of the AFL season ending the off-field season begins when AFL club recruiters and the country’s finest talent coverge once more at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium for the 19th NAB AFL Draft Combine.

Over the four days of the Combine, each potential draftee will be put through a range of physical, medical, psychological, psychomotor and skills tests to compare the best against the best from around Australia.

The majority of 2012 AFL draftees will emerge from this talent pool.

AFL National & International Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan says the Draft Combine’s place in the NAB AFL Rising Stars pathway is pivotal.

“The Combine represents the final chance for players to present their case for inclusion on an AFL list,” said Sheehan.

“AFL clubs have made their judgement on a prospect’s playing ability and game sense, but at the Combine they can look a little deeper into the physical, skill-based and intangible areas.”

With most AFL clubs likely to interview the majority of players, Sheehan says recruiters will be identifying not only a player’s football ability, but his character.

“The make-up, personality and fabric of the player will be observed,” Sheehan said. “Clubs are after players who are smart, tough and disciplined.”

In 2009, the assessment team introduced the kicking skill test, designed to measure technique, speed of delivery, trajectory and accuracy over varying distances.

In 2010, the clean hands/handball test was introduced, and this year a goalkicking test will be conducted for the first time.

The kicking and clean hands/handball tests add a vital skill component to the testing of athletic prowess, with clubs increasingly looking for players who can hurt the opposition when in possession and limit costly turnovers.

“The test looks for players with a clean take of the ball at varying heights, quick execution of a handpass with perfect spin and reaching the target at the right height and speed,” AFL Academies Development Manager Mick Ablett said.

“The accurate execution of the fundamental skills of the game is still the key to success in AFL football, and the introduction of skills tests at the Draft Combine sends a message to all aspiring players: practice your hand and foot skills.”