Canberra Demons star Angus Baker and GWS Giants academy's Matt McGrory invited to AFL state combine

The key defender and ex-Sydney academy member has been on the Swans' radar in recent years having trained with the club ahead of last year's rookie draft.

That chance came a year after returning from an anterior cruciate ligament tear which ruined his hopes of being drafted as a teenager.

The NEAFL Rising Star nominee has average 31 disposals per game this season with the Demons clinging to their slim finals hopes heading into the final three rounds.

Baker joins Gungahlin Jets product and GWS Giants academy member McGrory at the combine.

McGrory turned heads in western Sydney this past summer when he claimed line honours in the Giants' two kilometre time trial.

The teenage prospect has played seven NEAFL games for the Giants this season and the finals-bound AFL club would have first chance to nab him should they wish at the draft.

McGrory's elevation to the AFL would be brilliant news for the Jets - but it didn't always seem that way.

The young gun was almost lost to Ainslie before the trio of his father, the club president and a six pack decided he was best suited to Gungahlin.

The Canberra pairing are among 118 players that claimed enough nominations from club recruiting teams to get a start at the state combine in October.

NSW/ACT prospects will join counterparts from around the nation at the Victorian combine on October 4-5, with South Australian and Western Australian prospects to have their own testing days.