5 October 2026
Three HAD Football Athletes, Lacey Nihill, Lily Milner and Harvie Cooke, finished in the top 10 of their testing events at the 2026 AFL and AFLW National Draft Combine, held in Melbourne in October.
Lacey Nihill: VIC Country, Bendigo Pioneers and Sandhurst
In 2026, Lacey was selected for Vic Country at the AFL Under 18 National Championships and named an Under 18 All-Australian.
At the AFLW National Draft Combine, Lacey ran 5:50 in the 1.6km time trial to finish sixth, showing the running capacity that recruiters look for in the modern AFLW game.
Lacey has worked with HAD Football since 2025, with her program focused on two areas: building her confidence and improving her kicking. Both have improved significantly, helping earn her a Combine invitation.
She is now a prospect for the 2026 AFLW National Draft.
Read more about Lacey in Rookie Me Central’s Profile.
Lily Milner: VIC Country, Gippsland Power and Warragul Industrials
In 2026, Lily captained the Gippsland Power and was selected for Vic Country at the AFL Under 18 National Championships.
She finished runner-up in the Talent League Girls best and fairest count, and runner-up in Gippsland Power's best and fairest.
At the AFLW National Draft Combine, Lily finished fourth in the 20m sprint with 3.198 seconds and eighth in the agility test with 8.376 seconds, ranking her among the quickest players at the Combine.
Lily works with the HAD Football team, including Brad Jenkinson, Clay Smith, Bek and Jack Rhodes, whose mentoring is tailored to how she likes to receive feedback. Her dad, Brett, says the HAD team "has been instrumental in shaping our daughter, Lily's, athletic journey", and that their direct communication and mentoring have built her dedication and discipline.
Read more about Lily in Rookie Me Central’s Profile.
Harvie Cooke: VIC Metro, Northern Knights and Eltham
Harvie finished fifth in the 2km time trial in 6:08, fifth in the agility test in 7.962 seconds, and tenth in the running vertical jump with 89cm.
It capped a 2026 season in which he won the Morrish Medal as the best player in the Talent League and was named an Under 18 All-Australian for Vic Metro.
Harvie formerly worked with HAD Football for two years and is a prospect for the 2026 AFL National Draft.
Read more about Harvie in AFL.com.au's profile and Cal Twomey's form guide.
Combine testing is one part of the picture: recruiters weigh it alongside games, character and how players handle the pressure of a draft year. Harvie, Lacey and Lily have backed up their seasons with strong results, and we're proud of the work they've put in with HAD.
Good luck to each of them in the lead-up to the AFL Draft on Thursday, November 19 and AFLW Draft on Monday December 14.
Want to know what recruiters actually take from the Combine? Read Draft Ready Part 3. See every HAD client on an AFL and AFLW list on our Drafted page.