200cm American duo out to nab rookie contract

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THE NEXT wave of American AFL hopefuls will trial clubs next week in their bid to win a place on a list for next season.

Zach Lillie and Zach Allmon, both 23, touched down in Melbourne earlier this week and have been working on their skills under 2004 Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams.

The pair will spend time at six clubs across their trip, including Collingwood, Essendon, Geelong, Western Bulldogs and Carlton, as they attempt to win a contract as an international category B rookie. They can sign with a club at any time.

On Friday they were also joined by current Magpie and US convert Mason Cox for some further skills work, with AFL international and national talent manager Kevin Sheehan saying the ruckman had offered a good perspective on transitioning to a new sport.

"It's been a massive learning curve over the first five days and in amongst Mark's coaching, we've had Mason come in as the guy with the practical experience having been through it all," Sheehan said.

"For a couple of hours today it's been fantastic to have his insight into the challenges of adapting to a game that these boys hadn't heard of six months ago."

The AFL has for several years targeted ruck and key position prospects out of America, and sees an opening for cross-code players to excel in those positions.

"From our experience there's so many of our current ruckmen have played other sports in their teens around Australia and weren't playing footy all their lives but they play that specialist rucking role quite brilliantly," he said.

"Whether you're Josh Jenkins, Brodie Grundy or Kurt Tippett from basketball, or Zac Smith from soccer, we've seen it happen a lot."

Lillie and Allmon were selected by the AFL for the trial after their efforts at the LA Combine earlier this year, when they were two of the standout performers.

Allmon (203cm) finished in the top five for repeat sprints and running vertical jump, while Lillie (201cm) won the agility run and came third in the 20-metre sprint with a time of 2.92 seconds.

"Zach Allmon has been playing some footy in Orange County in the USA of late once he knew he was coming out here. His skill acquisition has been quite amazing with his kicking in particular. He's become a fanatic really quickly," Sheehan said.

"Lillie's agility is super elite and he's exciting when he floats and takes the ball at his highest point. He's developing his kicking technique and is a little bit behind Allman in that, but only because he's been thrown the Sherrin for the first time in the past couple of weeks. He's 201cm with a brilliant natural spring.

"He will go via China on the way home because he's got a basketball try-out there. That's the space we are working in where there are Asian and European opportunities for college basketball, but hopefully these boys want to be professionals like Mason Cox for the next 10 years."

The duo will attend their first AFL match at Friday night's qualifying final between Richmond and Geelong at the MCG.