They discovered many facets of the US game that will benefit athletes attending DraftStar camps.

As Dixon explains, “The NFL focuses heavily on developing each individual who participates in the Combine. They can see that each player has their own particular X-factor and there’s a big focus on teaching them how to effectively harness that X-factor to ensure they stand out.”

Dixon goes on to explain how body shape plays a crucial part in how each individual experiences the Combine.

“For example, a smaller, faster player is going to be critiqued mainly on his ability to move quickly forward and back off the mark. We can take that back to the AFL - if you can have different tests to focus on players of different positions, you are going to get a bigger insight into that person’s strengths and weaknesses. But of course, the main goal overall is to identify a player’s deficiencies and work out how to stamp them out of your game.”

Campbell was particularly impressed by the emphasis that is given to player profiling, “In the NFL, we saw them go to much greater lengths than I’ve seen here in the AFL to work out each player’s particular character and the best way they respond to coaching.”

Ben and Robbie have been busy incorporating these and other ideas into sessions at the DraftStar camps that will be held these upcoming April school holidays.