QBE Swans Academy U18 male and female athletes have been put through their paces in a range of athletic testing ahead of the 2025 season.
Players selected in U18 state talent programs completed the testing at their respective events, which were held in all states and territories throughout February and March.
Testing included the standing vertical jump, running vertical jump, 20m sprint, AFL agility test and Yo-Yo IRT-2 test (boys)/Yo-Yo IRT-1 test (girls).
Several Swans performed strongly and placed in the top 10 nationally.
Tall forward Max King recorded second-place finishes in two tests, the running vertical jump left and right sides, and placed fourth in the 20m sprint.
Bottom age player Leon Titmus also tested well and placing first in the 20m sprint and 2025 Frank Burton Scholarship holder Kaiden McNamara featured in the top ten for the running vertical jump (right).
QBE Sydney Swans Academy U18 Head Coach said it was fantastic to see the players perform well.
"Max has all the physical tools, and his testing results speak for themselves regarding his athleticism, unfortunately, last year was interrupted by injury, but he's bounced back strong and has started 2025 on a promising note," O'Riodan said.
"Leon’s biggest athletic attribute is undoubtedly his speed, having played primarily as a small forward in the first three games, and his pace has made him a handful for smaller defenders.
"Kaiden has had a solid start to the 2025 season, excelling in a mix of inside midfield and half-back roles, his versatility is a key strength, allowing him to impact games in multiple areas of the field."
The Swans Academy girls dominated, with six athletes placing in the top ten across various tests.
Midfielder Kiera Yerbury placed in the top ten twice, recording an equal fourth-place result in the vertical jump and finishing ninth in the Yo-Yo test.
Tall forward Alex Neyland showed her hops with a 75cm effort off her right foot to win the running vertical jump (right), with teammate Ella Parker placing equal fourth with 68cm in the same test.
Academy Coach Kristie Whittard said all the athletes had varying strengths which made them great players.
"Kiera is known for winning contests through her combination of endurance, skill speed, and mental toughness, she excels as a midfielder with the perfect balance of defensive and attacking mindset," Whittard said.
"Alex is developing into a powerful athlete with exceptional marking ability and competitiveness, she has a strong work rate, great skills and attack on the football.
"A strong over-age athlete, Ella has elevated her game in 2025, demonstrating aggressive attack on the football and ability to find the goals."
Cassidy McArther, Bonnie Swan and Amaia Wain all featured in the top ten of the running vertical jump (left).
"Cassidy has fantastic skills and endurance, and what really defines her is her ability to read the game and make an impact at both ends of the ground," Whittard said.
"An emerging talent new to the academy this season, Bonnie's outstanding speed and agility, combined with her ability to apply pressure in the back pocket, make her a valuable asset.
"Amaia's background as a competitive high jumper is evident in her leaping ability and aggressive approach to the game, she is an unassuming player with very good endurance and clean skills especially below her knees."
