AFL international and national talent manager Kevin Sheehan said it was a remarkable performance by the Broadbeach youngster, who beat brief record holder Eastern’s Brad Harvey.
Port Adelaide’s Danyle Pearce previously held the record with a run of 2.79 seconds in 2004.
“This record has been with us since the year dot, when we had our first camp 17 years ago - the 20-metre sprint is our core thing,” Sheehan told melbournefc.com.au.
“Wilkinson ran 2.76 and then ran 2.75 seconds, so he’s become the fastest player we’ve ever tested.
“He’s the youngster who walked into his sports coordinator two years ago and said ‘I want to give athletics away and play AFL in the school team’. He then captained Queensland in the under 18s this year.”
Sheehan said “all recruiters” were dazzled by Wilkinson’s performance.
“He went as quick as a flash and all of the recruiters took note - it was fascinating to see,” he said.
“He had 28 possessions and took five marks in one match.
“He’s interesting, because he’s from Queensland, so he could be one the Suns look at, but if not, there will be 16 other clubs I reckon.”
But earlier Harvey held the record, running 2.78 seconds. Sheehan said his background helped his cause.
“He played for Vic Metro and had an athletics background, despite always playing footy, showing his great speed after leading the standing vertical jump,” Sheehan said.
“He was just three centremetres below [West Coast’s] Nic Naitanui - he did a 75-centremetre standing vertical. Naitanui did 78cm.
“His speed also put him the fastest player we’ve ever tested, which is more than 1700 since we started.”
Harvey then had his record blown away 45 minutes later.
