Last weekend, the Timbers conducted their annual invite-only combine in Portland, Ore. Roughly 70 prospects attended the combine, and they were put through an intense two days of exercises and scrimmages.
Over the course of the combine, players took part in over 12 hours of soccer activities, including 8v8 games and full-sided matches. Additionally, head coach
Gavin Wilkinson
led a goalkeeper-specific workout on Day 1 between the morning and afternoon sessions for the eight goalkeepers in attendance.
“I participated in the Chivas USA combine last year, and this one has the same environment,” said participant
Max Griffin
, a former standout at UCLA. “Guys come out a little unfamiliar at the start, but once they get settled in, they start working together. Everyone is playing their heart out and I’m doing the same thing.”
As trialists battle for a spot on the Portland roster, a handful of Timbers players stopped by the combine to take look at their potentially future teammates. Among the group was midfielder
Josh Cameron
and forward
George Josten
, who were both participants in last year’s combine.
Unlike the Timbers’ open tryout, the cool, yet mild, winter weather over the course of the combine provided many trialists who had never been to the Northwest a welcoming taste of Oregon.
The next on-field action for the Timbers isn’t for a couple more weeks. The club will host a mini camp for signed players and invited trialists in mid February.
Sights and Sounds from the Timbers’ invite-only combine:
Video from Day 1 – Trialists Jason Bjorgo, Michael Pertz and Wes Allen measure up Day 1 of the combine.
Video from Day 2 – Trialists Max Griffin, Jordan Raybould and Kyle Russell help wrap up the combine and share thoughts on playing for the Timbers.
Photos from the combine
