Koby LeCras wasn't expected to test at the AFL Draft combine. He also wasn't expected to be named best afield amongst the premier prospects of the 2026 draft class, or make his senior WAFL debut in his dad's No. 20 for West Perth.
It was a blazing start to his season that put the nephew of former West Coast forward Mark firmly in first-round contention. From there it all unravelled.
LeCras suffered a partially torn ACL in that WAFL debut. Senior football, the national championships, and flag tilts were all wiped away. It was a cruel end to a year that promised so much.
But the teenager was desperate to get back for something on his calendar, and the final destination for all draft hopefuls is the combine.
Despite just six weeks of training post-injury, LeCras turned out for the 2km time trial. He ran a 6:23, good for a top-15 time and a personal best under heavy duress.
"Going into it I had 6:25 written on my hand, so I got away with a couple seconds," LeCras told ESPN.
"When I started running it was the goal to do the 2km and the 20m sprint at the combine. I knew what the plan was, where I was going to be and what I was going to do."
Worries had been lurking at the back of Lecras's mind. He avoided surgery on the partial tear but it was difficult for him to regain 100% confidence in his knee when he got back to running.
"You look at Gryan Miers, you can rush it back. Being your draft year and you've obviously got a lot more footy to play than just this year [West Perth] were pretty quick to shut that down, that I wasn't going to play again.
"I just wanted to get back as quick as I could, whether it was combine or day one of pre-season. They said 'Yeah you can do the combine and then definitely back for day one of pre-season'."
LeCras's injury was devastating timing given the showing he'd treated recruiters to the previous week. Off a wing, the 192cm utility was best afield for the AFL Academy - a representative side featuring the best of the draft class thrown together against VFL opposition.
LeCras kicked three goals from 19 disposals and nine marks, commanding the air and showing off that aerobic endurance in defence and attack.
It was a performance reminiscent of Ollie Dempsey's ability to capitalise on mismatches with his strong hands in marking contests and sniff out opportunities in dangerous areas.
LeCras was delivering on the next evolution of the winger in the AFL, but he was playing up the ground out of team need and still sees himself as a forward 50 threat.
"I think I'm a natural forward, but I'm open to playing anywhere, whether it's halfback, wing, hopefully inside one day maybe.
"I love watching specific players, I'm probably a bit of a nuff.
"I love watching Jeremy Cameron, I reckon he's a superstar. And then obviously Logan Morris as well, sort of that undersized key forward. I love what he does and how he finds ways to beat his defenders. He's a freak, he's next level."
Koby's uncle Mark LeCras is one of the more underrated small forwards to play in the modern era. The one club player booted 441 goals from 219 games, and was the oldest player in the Eagles's 2018 triumph before retiring.
Similarly to his uncle, Koby is adept at twisting onto his preferred left foot and finding the goals from uncanny positions. He possesses natural forward craft, from leading patterns at challenging size to match up on to a natural, repeatable set shot action and goal nous from tight angles.
While his dad Brent enjoyed his own 141-game WAFL career, Koby's uncle continues to be a wealth of information as he prepares to step up to the AFL level.
"He's been massive. In the pre-season I watched a lot of vision with him, little ways to improve my game," LeCras said.
"If I could be half the player he was, I'd be really happy with that."
Mark's best day came against Essendon in 2010 at Etihad Stadium, kicking 12 goals straight. He booted 46 goals from 15 games against the Bombers in his career.
"We always joke about that, if he played against Essendon every week he would've kicked a thousand. That's what he reckons!"