Australian Rules Football is one of the most physically demanding team sports in the world. Players cover 12 to 20 kilometres per game at varying intensities across a ground that can be over 180 metres long. The aerobic demands are exceptional, and the beep test is a standard fitness assessment tool throughout Australian football from school level to the AFL.
AFL Draft Combine Standards
The AFL draft combine includes the beep test as a core fitness assessment. It is one of the most scrutinised fitness measures in Australian sport, and draft combine scores are widely reported and discussed.
Top Draft Prospects (Midfielders)
Midfielders — the most aerobically demanding position — are expected to score at the higher end. Scores below level 13 have historically been a concern during selection.
Tall Forwards / Rucks (Draft)
Key position players have different positional demands. Scores below level 11 have historically drawn scrutiny during selection.
State / SANFL / VFL Midfielders
Expected for midfielders at state and semi-professional level.
State / SANFL / VFL Key Position
Expected for key position players at state and semi-professional level.
Why AFL Players Score So High
AFL players are among the highest beep test scores of any team sport athletes in the world, alongside elite basketball players and some rugby athletes. The reason is the extraordinary aerobic demands of the game: the size of the ground, the 18 players per side, the length of the game (80 minutes plus stoppages) and the high intensity nature of the contest all combine to demand elite aerobic capacity.
AFL teams invest heavily in aerobic fitness development. Beep test scores are tracked throughout the season and used to manage training loads. A player whose score drops significantly mid-season may have it flagged as an early indicator of fatigue or illness.
AFLW and Women's Australian Football
The AFL Women's competition has grown significantly as a professional pathway, and physical standards have risen with it. Published fitness data from AFLW draft combines shows that top midfield prospects typically score in the range of level 12 to 14 — comparable to male players at the state league level and higher than most team sports at the elite female level.
For female players aspiring to the AFLW pathway, the same principle applies as for male players: beep test scores are tracked throughout the pathway, and a strong score relative to your position and age group is a meaningful positive signal to selectors. The same preparation approach applies — train to exceed the target, not just reach it.
Junior AFL and School-Age Targets
Under-18 players in the national underage competition (NAB AFL Draft Series) are routinely tested as part of state academy and national combine processes. Midfielders at under-18 level are typically expected to reach level 12 to 14 by the time of combine testing. Key position players should target level 11 to 13.
For community and school-age players, the reference point shifts significantly. A 15-year-old boy reaching level 10 has excellent aerobic fitness for his age. Level 12 at this age is exceptional and indicates genuine aerobic talent worth developing with targeted conditioning work.
AFL clubs with academies begin systematic beep test tracking from under-16 level. Academy players are typically tested at the start and end of each pre-season period, and results are used to set individual conditioning targets for the following year.
What Happens at the Draft Combine
The AFL National Draft Combine includes the beep test as one of several physical assessments. The full battery also includes a 20 metre sprint (standing and running start), vertical jump, agility run, and measurements of height, weight and arm span. Beep test results are published annually and widely discussed in draft coverage.
A score below level 13 for a midfielder at the draft combine has historically attracted media comment and recruiting department scrutiny. This does not mean a player will be passed over for a low beep test score alone — skill, football IQ and contested possession ability all carry enormous weight — but a very low score relative to position norms may prompt questions about fitness commitment and conditioning approach.
Training for AFL
The 6 week training plan on this site is applicable for AFL players, but the highest performing AFL athletes will need to extend it beyond 6 weeks and work into levels 14 and above. This requires building from a strong base — the plan assumes you start from somewhere around level 8 to 10.
For junior AFL players and those at community level, targeting level 10 to 12 is a realistic and meaningful training goal. The interval sessions that make up weeks 3 to 5 of the plan closely mirror the type of aerobic conditioning work that AFL clubs use with their own players.
For players specifically preparing for the draft combine, beep test scores should be the primary fitness focus for the 8 to 12 weeks before the combine. Training at and above your current maximum level is the core methodology. Trying to cram for the combine in the final four weeks does not work — aerobic capacity takes longer to develop than that.