Jaxon Cooke breaking away from a pack in the TAC Cup. 62746 Picture: EMILY LANE
By Liam Twomey
The AFL held its state draft combine last week, designed to give another select group of juniors a chance to impress the 18 AFL clubs ahead of this year’s national draft.
To be selected for a state combine, players needed to be nominated by AFL clubs throughout the year.
Western Jet Jaxon Cooke attended the combine after a great TAC Cup season.
Cooke made his name predominantly as a defender, with his strong frame and contested marking ability making him a tough proposition for forwards.
He played in 19 matches in the yellow and blue and finished in the best players twice.
Cooke also proved to be the handy swing man, pushing forward on a number of occasions to kick goals and keep opponents guessing.
His best game for the year came in round 16 against the Geelong Falcons when a dangerous Cooke kicked five goals in a must-win encounter for the Jets.
On that day he also took two contested marks, to go with his 17 for the season.
Western Jets region manager Shane Sexton said Cooke had a good season for the Jets.
“He is just a really good footballer. I know he tests well in the beep test and in terms of football ability he reads the games well, kicks well, marks well,” Sexton said.
“That is where I think selectors would have been attracted to him, with his all-round ability.”
Over 60 players attended the Victorian state combine while similar events were held in Adelaide and Perth last week.
At the combine, Cooke scored a 15.2 on the beep test putting him up there with the best in Australia.
Sexton said the combine was a great chance for Cooke and other attendees to show recruiters what they could do.
“It’s really a crucial time of year for these kids. Plenty of good kids and good players get drafted out of these state combines.”
Cooke joins Western Jets team-mates Will Hoskin-Elliott, Elliot Kavanagh and Adam Kennedy on the hopefuls list ahead of the November national draft.
