Speedy Yarran ready for AFL
Subiaco forward Shane Yarran took another step in his journey from jail to an AFL career with an eye-catching display at yesterday's State draft combine.
Yarran produced a blistering 2.82sec. in the 20m sprint - the second-fastest time this year and equal fifth quickest in draft testing history - watched by recruiters from the 18 clubs at Revolution Sports in Shenton Park.
It continues an extraordinary turnaround for the 25-year-old who was in jail two years ago, then played for South Mandurah last year, before booting 39 goals for the Lions as a key member of their premiership team.
AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan judged Yarran, who is a cousin of Carlton's Chris, the standout of a raft of strong performances at yesterday's combine.
"They say a year is a long time in footy, well it has been for Shane Yarran," Sheehan said.
"What a year he has had. His footy year and then to support it with his brilliant speed, in particular his agility, was great.
"Just the way the kid presented as a young guy saying 'I'm ready to have a crack at AFL'. It was a 'pick me' sort of performance."
Others to impress were AIS-AFL Academy members Brad Walsh (Peel Thunder) and Ryan Lim (Claremont).
WA under-18 captain Walsh was the next best performer behind Yarran in the 20m sprint with 2.97sec., showed elite agility with a time of 7.88sec. and was top three in the beep test.
Midfielder Lim was just 0.01sec off Fremantle star Stephen Hill's agility record of 7.77sec., and finished behind only Claremont teammate Jared Hardisty (15.4) with a 14.7 in the beep test.
The beep-test scores would have been higher had the players not performed repeat 20m sprints just an hour earlier.
Lim, who was due to be interviewed by Essendon yesterday ahead of next month's national draft, said he was unsure if he would be drafted. "I hope my work rate and the effort I have put in for the last few years will hold me in good stead," Lim said.
South Fremantle big man Cameron Loersch finished top in the standing vertical jump with 72cm, while Subiaco's Adam Creeper impressed in the running vertical jump with 86cm.
·Luke Blackwell claimed a record-equalling fourth Claremont best-and-fairest award on Friday night, matching Denis Marshall and Graham Moss.
