Kavanagh has been dogged by persistent hamstring injuries this year and didn't take part in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, but was part of the group of medium midfielders, released on Tuesday, invited to the combine.
The 185cm onballer played the first of two TAC Cup games for the Jets this season in July and is something of an unknown property in terms of his draft standing.
His performances as an under-age player at last year's championships stamped him as first-round quality, but AFL recruiters will keenly observe his efforts in the coming weeks in the TAC Cup and at the combine in a bid to ascertain whether he has maintained that rating.
"Kavanagh is certainly one to watch because he is an exciting prospect," AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan said.
"He's got all of the assets that the clubs are after - the pace, the ability to use the ball well and he's a lovely size to play through the midfield.
"He's had a pretty hectic month trying to make up for lost time playing some rep games and back with the Jets. He's overcome that hamstring issue and there will be a lot of interest in how he finishes off the year."
There is always plenty of interest in the medium midfielders' group at the combine given its track record of producing top-end talent.
"Four of the last six number-one choices in the NAB AFL Draft have been medium midfielders," Sheehan said.
"Carlton's Marc Murphy (2005) and Bryce Gibbs (2006), along with Melbourne's Tom Scully (2009) and Gold Coast Suns' David Swallow (2010) [were all] selected as the best young player in the country."
The national list of medium midfielders includes 11 players from Victoria, three from South Australia, one from Western Australia and one from Tasmania.
A further 31 medium midfielders will attend state draft combines in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth in October.
This year's national combine kicks off at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on Monday October 4 with the testing to be conducted on an athletic floor, purpose-built in Germany, that will be lowered onto the stadium's surface.
The medium midfielders, with Kevin Sheehan's comments
Tasmania
Daniel Joseph
Club: Glenorchy
Age: 17 Height: 184cm Weight: 74kg
"Represented Tasmania at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, averaging 13.5 possessions and 4.5 tackles a game. A very good kick of the ball and has good vision/decision marking skills."
Western Australia
Steven Verrier
Club: South Fremantle
Age: 18 Height: 188 cm Weight: 82 kg
"Represented Western Australia at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, showing his great dash and skills, including ball usage. He is very quick and his decision making is of a high quality."
South Australia
Cameron Ellis-Yolmen
Club: Woodville West-Torrens
Age: 18 Height: 191 cm Weight: 88 kg
"Represented South Australia at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships in one game, showing clean hands and creativity with 13 disposals and four tackles. He has physical strength, especially at stoppages and he is also a very good mark. He is good in one-on-one contests."
Mitchell Grigg
Club: Norwood
Age: 18 Height: 181 cm Weight: 85 kg
"He is very good in close with his hands and he uses the ball very effectively from contested situations. He also has a very accurate left foot kick. He has averaged 24.4 possessions at 69 per cent efficiency, earning him All Australian honours."
Josh Waldhunter
Club: Central Districts
Age: 18 Height: 183 cm Weight: 83 kg
"Represented South Australia at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships playing in all five games. His attack on the ball and team orientation stood out along with his hard edge. He has a penetrating kick."
Victoria
Lachlan Dalgleish
Club: North Ballarat Rebels
Age: 18 Height: 185 cm Weight: 77 kg
"A long penetrating left foot kick who plays as a half-forward or wingman. He has a high ability to kick multiple goals. A real dasher who ran third in a heat of the Stawell Gift this year."
Nick Haynes
Club: Dandenong Stingrays
Age: 19 Height: 191 cm Weight: 76 kg
"Represented Vic Country at the NAB AFL Under 18 championships, playing three matches. He has great agility, a good overhead mark and very good running and aerobic capacity."
Elliott Kavanagh
Club: Western Jets
Age: 18 Height: 187 cm Weight: 78 kg
"Part of the 14th intake into the AIS/AFL Academy. He has excellent endurance and game sense. He had an injury-interrupted year but is now back on track. Uses the ball well, is a strong mark overhead, a good decision maker. He is a real competitor and enjoys winning the contested ball."
Jackson Merrett
Club: Geelong Falcons
Age: 18 Height: 187 cm Weight: 70 kg
"Represented Vic Country at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships. He has a terrific work rate and his run and carry is game breaking. His ability to find space and work to position is very good."
Jack Newnes
Club: Northern Knights
Age: 18 Height: 184 cm Weight: 73 kg
"Represented Vic Metro at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, averaging 14 possessions. He reads the ball well and is versatile enough to play back, midfield or forward. He has a penetrating kick, good user inside and he is a solid tackler."
Sebastian Ross
Club: North Ballarat Rebels
Age: 18 Height: 187 cm Weight: 82 kg
"Represented Vic Country at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, averaging 14.5 possessions and four tackles a game. His strengths are his work rate, contested footy, preparation and leadership. He is the cousin of Jobe Watson."
Tom Sheridan
Club: Calder Cannons
Age: 17 Height: 185 cm Weight: 76 kg
"Represented Vic Metro at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, averaging 14 possessions. He has very good endurance and has the ability to bring others into the game by clever use of the ball by hand or foot."
Liam Sumner
Club: Sandringham Dragons
Age: 18 Height: 182 cm Weight: 73 kg
"Part of the 14th intake into the AIS/AFL Academy. Represented Vic Metro at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, averaging 14.8 possessions. He is a very quick and agile midfielder. He uses the ball well, breaks the lines and is ferocious at the contest. He is very good overhead and he has some real penetration with his kicking."
Dom Tyson
Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Age: 18 Height: 186 cm Weight: 82 kg
"Left footer who represented Vic Metro at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, averaging 22 disposals a game, 11 contested possessions and 3.6 tackles. He has the ability to dispose of the ball even when under pressure or being tackled. He is a very clean player and a good decision maker. He was awarded All Australian honours."
Max Warren
Club: Eastern Ranges
Age: 18 Height: 182 cm Weight: 78 kg
"He is a smart user by hand or foot and he can play inside or outside. He is poised with the ball and very agile."
Jason Williams
Club: Calder Cannons
Age: 17 Height: 188 cm Weight: 78 kg
"He has a strong ability to carry the ball and break the lines. He marks well and has shown he is dangerous when pushing forward. He is very competitive and tackles strongly. He is the cousin of former Hawk and Bomber, Mark Williams."
