3 Key Areas AFL & AFLW Clubs Assess
Image: Essendon AFL Captain & HAD Coach, Zach Merrett working with long-term HAD Clients.
For any young athlete dreaming of playing at the elite level, understanding what AFL and AFLW clubs truly value is essential. Talent alone isn’t enough. Clubs are looking for complete athletes who demonstrate physical readiness, positional intelligence, and mental resilience. In our private AFL coaching program, we’ve built a proven system around these three pillars to help players not only get noticed but get drafted.
1. Physical Attributes: GPS Data That Matches the Role
High speed running, work rate, top end speed, these aren’t just buzzwords. They’re measurable traits that AFL and AFLW clubs scrutinise closely. That’s why we equip our long-term clients with SPT GPS trackers during games. It’s not just about collecting data, it’s about aligning that data with the physical demands of their specific role.
We don’t stop at numbers. We actively meet with club recruiters and performance staff to understand evolving benchmarks. This ensures our athletes aren’t just training hard, they’re training smart, with metrics that match what clubs are actually looking for.
This is where young athlete development becomes strategic, not just physical.
2. Talent Identification: Game-Day Relevance
Plenty of players have talent. But not all demonstrate it when it counts. Clubs want to know: is your talent relevant to your role? Can you execute under pressure? That’s why we game-assess our long-term clients and compare their performance against positional traits.
Does a rebounding defender show composure and decision-making under heat?
Can a small forward apply manic forward pressure and finish cleanly?
Is a ruckman influencing contests beyond hit-outs?
These assessments provide real-time feedback when it matters most, on game day. It’s not about highlight reels from various social media accounts (sorry), it’s about consistent, role-specific impact. Through one-on-one AFL coaching, we help players refine their strengths and address gaps, so their talent translates into selection.
If you're wondering how to get drafted into the AFL or AFLW, this is a critical piece of the puzzle that we help with.
Psychological Resilience & Character
The third area, often overlooked, is mindset. AFL and AFLW clubs invest heavily in understanding a player’s psychological profile and character. Why? Because talent without resilience rarely survives the elite environment.
We’re proud to have a highly respected welfare and mindset coach, Jack Rhodes, who has helped over 50 players reach the elite level. Through tailored help, our athletes learn to:
Overcome setbacks and injuries
Build confidence and self-awareness
Develop leadership and team-first habits
Mindset is an undertrained area in young athlete development, but we take great pride in making it a cornerstone of our program. Whether it’s dealing with selection pressure or bouncing back from a tough game, our players are equipped to handle the mental demands of elite sport.
Private AFL coaching isn’t just about skills, it’s about shaping the whole athlete.
Final Thoughts
If you're serious about getting drafted into the AFL or AFLW, it’s time to think beyond raw talent. Clubs assess athletes holistically—physical metrics, game-day performance, and psychological resilience all matter.
In our HAD Immersion program, players gain insight into these areas of growth and development. In our HAD long-term program, we help young athletes meet the desired standards and thrive by continually refining these areas for their next level of growth, to support their football pathway.
Ready to take the next step in your football journey? Let’s build your future, one GPS metric, one game assessment, and one mindset breakthrough with our specialist coach at a time.
Get in touch with us today to start your football journey on the right foot.