Ed Langdon's season looked over when he injured his finger at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, which left him recuperating for three months.
But the medium forward/midfielder trained hard, kept up his fitness and made a surprise appearance in the Sandringham Dragons' preliminary final defeat.
Langdon, the younger brother of Collingwood's Tom, was understandably rusty but gathered 18 disposals and eight handball receives to show his run.
It was only his third TAC Cup game in two seasons, meaning recruiters will need to spend some time assessing his form for school side Melbourne Grammar.
Langdon has some elite speed and endurance, which makes his mix a potent one. At last month's combine, he finished in the top-10 for the beep test (level 15.3), the 20-metre sprint (2.92 seconds) and the repeat sprint test (24.06 seconds).
In the game he suffered his finger injury, Langdon kicked four goals to help Vic Metro to a win over South Australia and it was probably the best game of his season, showing the spark and excitement he can bring to a forward set-up.
Langdon doesn't have huge polish by foot but it's been a focus for him at the Sandringham Dragons during the year. His improvement in that area from the start of the season to when he was injured was obvious.
The main conundrum for recruiters is the fact Langdon has played so little top-level underage football. This season he managed just two TAC Cup games and three national championship games.
He's the size and mould of Hawthorn medium forward Luke Breust. Although he doesn't have the same deadeye approach near goal, Langdon's running capacity should see him move into the midfield more permanently, and he has shown a knack for a goal.
Langdon's lack of footy means he is probably somewhere in the third or fourth round of the draft.
Langdon can make things happen around the ball in different ways: he's quick, active and he throws himself at the ball. Brings some energy to the forward line.
