A YOUNG Chinese man with a bigger leap than Nic Naitanui hopes to impress club recruiters at today's final day of testing in the NAB AFL draft camp.
Shao Liang Chen, 20, is among 10 international athletes trying out at the camp, which started on Tuesday.
He jumped 86cm at the AFL China Academy program in Guangzhou, in southern China, in July. He is the academy's first product.
Naitanui recorded the highest leap in the 19-year history of the draft camp with a 78cm leap in 2008.
Chen, who is 184cm and 72kg, has had hamstring trouble since arriving in Australia, so most testing has been put on hold until today.
But he is enthusiastic about making it in the AFL. At his height, he could play as a medium-sized defender.
Speaking through a interpreter, Chen, who has a basketball background, said he fell more in love with the game watching last Saturday's Hawthorn-Sydney Grand Final. He nominated Hawk Lance "Buddy" Franklin as his new sporting hero.
"It was very exciting and I've never seen so many people at a sporting event," Chen said.
"To see so many fans come out to support a team was crazy and I was excited about it and it gave me passion. I love the game."
Chen, who flies home tonight, hopes to break Naitanui's vertical leap record during today's testing.
He admitted one of his biggest obstacles was to master the oval-shaped Australian football.
"Compared to basketball, the kicking is the most difficult because the ball is not round and is an irregular shape," he said.
"It's hard to kick and control, but with more time I will be better at kicking and handballing and the other things."
Chen said he had fallen in love with footy and planned to practise his kicking when he resumed attending the AFL China Academy.
AFL national and international talent manager Kevin Sheehan said Chen was part of the league's long-term plan to grow the game overseas.
"We want to grow the game in his province and then other provinces," Sheehan said.
"It's part of the learning curve for him to come out and mix it with the best Australians and other internationals and get a greater understanding of the game."
Sheehan said Chen had the powerful legs of an elite athlete.
