With no TAC Cup games last weekend and each state preparing their players for the division one National Under-18 Championships which begin on Saturday June 4, this week ESPN AFL draft expert Christopher Doerre analyses the possible first selections for each club in this year's AFL draft.
While of course ladder positions will almost certainly change before the end of the season, plus the likelihood of picks changing hands during the AFL exchange period, Doerre has assessed each club on the ladder as it stands.
Next Wednesday, Doerre will return to his regular draft wrap as well as providing some thoughts from the final round of division two of the National Under-18 Championships.
Knightmare's AFL Draft Power Rankings: May
FIRST ROUND
Fremantle (currently 18th)
Possible bid: As things stand, classy midfielder and Gold Coast Academy prospect Jack Bowes is the likely No.1 overall draft pick. The expectation is, whichever club ends up with the first selection will place a bid on Bowes. The Queenslander possesses exceptional decision-making, vision, footskills and composure, while he has the ball-winning ability, marking power and the versatility to play several positions well.
Possible draft selection: Sam Petrevski-Seton is West Australia's highest-rated draft prospect and is arguably this year's most exciting talent. He can provide scintillating offense and excitement to compliment Fremantle's taller midfielders. Petrevski-Seton has rare acceleration and evasiveness, also displaying the versatility to play wherever he is required. Petrevski-Seton is this year's best dual-sided kick and one of the most damaging kicks in this draft class.
Also in the mix: GWS Academy key defender Harrison Macreadie is among this year's top draft prospects and should be a strong consideration for the team with pick No.1 to bid on. Midfielder Hugh McCluggage is another likely consideration as a freakishly talented midfielder who is finding a lot of the ball but also having a substantial impact on games. Promising 198cm athletic key forward Todd Marshall may also receive consideration if he continues to improve over the second half of the season.
Essendon (17th)
Possible bid: If Essendon end up with the second pick, they may bid on Harrison Macreadie based on what he has demonstrated so far as a junior. He is arguably the most skilled key defender to come through the junior ranks in recent memory, offering meaningful drive with his precision footskills and running ability at 196cm.
Possible draft selection: Will Brodie is one of the more prominent midfielders in this draft class and with his two performances earlier this season for the AFL Academy in their games against VFL teams Werribee and Geelong, he was adjudicated his team's best player in both games. At 189cm, he is a capable contested-ball winner and tackler, but also offers excellent overlap run and work rate outside the contest.
Also in the mix: Hugh McCluggage, while not as strong in the contest offers as Brodie, arguably offers greater hurt-factor with his freakishness at ground level and ability to provide heavy scoreboard impact while also having the ability to play through the midfield to a high level and impact games. Petrevski-Seton if available may also be in the mix along with key forward Marshall.
Brisbane (16th)
Possible draft selection: The Lions may look to snare Hugh McCluggage, who is an energiser through the midfield and up forward with his quickness and cleanness at ground level, damaging footskills and tackling energy. He can hit the scoreboard and has very good disposal-per-game numbers through the TAC Cup so far this season.
Also in the mix: Will Brodie, Sam Petrevski-Seton and Todd Marshall if still available likely receive strong consideration as the best talents available. Daniel Venables, as a general forward who can provide heavy scoreboard impact and also play through the midfield, may also receive consideration here.
Academy notes: Brisbane academy players Jacob Allison and Jack Rolls as damaging utilities look set to receive either first- or second-round bids from AFL clubs.
Gold Coast (15th)
Due to the quantity of academy players Gold Coast have access to, it is highly unlikely this selection will be available for the Suns to use.
Academy notes: Unless the Suns pull off a trade for pick No.1, academy player Jack Bowes looms as the likely top overall selection. Hard midfielder Brad Scheer is a second highly promising academy player and may also attract a first-round bid.
Richmond (14th)
Possible bid: GWS academy product William Setterfield is a 190cm midfielder with good contested ball-winning ability and rare composure in traffic, vision, decision-making and footskills through the midfield.
Possible draft selection: Daniel Venables is a strong-bodied forward with excellent acceleration who can also play through the midfield. He is a strong contested-ball winner with solid marking ability and also provides heavy scoreboard impact when used forward of centre.
Also in the mix: Will Brodie, Hugh McCluggage, Sam Petrevski-Seton and Todd Marshall if still available will be strong considerations. Small marking forward Ben Ainsworth will be another who may receive consideration here.
St Kilda (13th)
Possible bid: Harry Perryman, a strong contested-ball winner from the GWS Academy is among the more promising midfielders in this draft class with his ability to accumulate the footy and use it constructively.
Possible draft selection: Josh Rotham is one of the better tall backmen in this draft class, offering at 192cm an excellent skillset and the ability to provide rebound from the back half, either potentially at AFL level as a key back or medium defender.
Also in the mix: Will Brodie, Hugh McCluggage, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Daniel Venables and Ben Ainsworth if still available will surely receive strong consideration here.
Carlton (12th)
Possible draft selection: Todd Marshall if still up for grabs would be a terrific choice as a still developing 198cm key forward with clean hands below his knees, strong marking ability and a nice athletic mix of traits with his pace and agility excellent for a key forward of his height.
Also in the mix: Daniel Venables, Josh Rotham and Ben Ainsworth will likely be strong considerations here if they're still around. Joshua Battle as a strong-bodied, contested marking key forward and Jarrod Berry, a 191cm rebounding defender, may also receive consideration from this point in the draft.
GWS (via Collingwood, currently 11th)
GWS have rights on Collingwood's first pick after last year's Adam Treloar deal. Due to the quantity of academy players GWS have who look like first-round selections, this pick will likely not be available for GWS to use.
Academy notes: GWS Academy key defender Harrison Macreadie, 190cm midfielder Will Setterfield and productive midfielder Harry Perryman all are top-10 chances with highly productive midfield pair Kobe Mutch and Connor Byrne both potential first-round chances.
Port Adelaide (10th)
Possible bid: Big-bodied, star Gold Coast Academy midfielder Brad Scheer stands out with his work at stoppages and has excellent contested-ball winning ability. He can also offer some scoreboard impact when he pushes forward.
Possible draft selection: Ben Ainsworth, as a 179cm marking forward, may appeal here as someone who may be able to step into a team early year one and contribute.
Also in the mix: Josh Rotham, Joshua Battle and Jarrod Berry if still available may appeal here as some other alternatives. Offensive dynamos Jy Simpkin and Jordan Gallucci are some other alternatives likely to receive consideration by Port Adelaide with their ability to create meaningful offense by foot likely appeal.
Gold Coast (via Melbourne, currently ninth)
The Suns have this second first-round pick after a deal struck between the two clubs last year. Like Gold Coast's previous selection, this pick likely will not be used due to the demand there is sure to be for academy talents Jack Bowes and Brad Scheer.
Adelaide (eighth)
Possible bid: Brisbane Academy talent and 194cm utility Jacob Allison with his pace, damaging footskills, versatility and ball-winning ability brings something different to the table that will appeal to clubs.
Possible draft selection: Jy Simpkin with his footskills and hurt factor would be an excellent choice here as someone who can either use his vision and footskills to hit the forward 50m targets or kick the goals himself.
Also in the mix: Ben Ainsworth, Josh Rotham, Jarrod Berry, Joshua Battle and Jordan Gallucci if available here would represent other alternatives around this point.
Hawthorn (seventh)
Possible draft selection: Joshua Battle, as a strong-bodied key forward with excellent contested marking ability and scoreboard impact, represents strong value here if available.
Also in the mix: Jarrod Berry, Jy Simpkin and Jordan Gallucci would also if available here be tempting choices as some high-level ball users.
West Coast (sixth)
Possible bid: GWS Academy midfielder Kobe Mutch, with his consistently high standard of performance and ability to win the footy, would prove a strong value selection around this point.
Possible draft selection: Jarrod Berry, a 191cm rebounding defender who stands out with his intercept marking ability, footskills and running power, could be in the mix if available.
Also in the mix: Jy Simpkin, Jordan Gallucci and strong bodied, athletic midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper are others if available who may be in the mix around this point.
Western Bulldogs (fifth)
Possible bid: The Dogs could look to grab quality ball user and ever improving Brisbane Academy player Jack Rolls around this point.
Possible draft selection: Jordan Gallucci with his ability to lower his eyes and hit targets off one or two steps is a perfect fit for the Bulldogs. His burst of acceleration and versatility are bonuses that only increase his appeal.
Also in the mix: Jy Simpkin if still available would be a nice fit here. Sam Powell-Pepper will receive consideration around this point along with midfield livewire Brandon Parfitt and midfielders Andrew McGrath, Jonty Scharenberg and Williem Drew.
Sydney (fourth)
Possible draft selection: Sam Powell-Pepper if available here would represent solid value for the Swans. While excellent through the midfield, with his size and contested ball-winning strength, he also has the ability to offer meaningful run and carry off a back flank which may make him a suitable fit here.
Also in the mix: Jy Simpkin, Jordan Gallucci, Andrew McGrath, Brandon Parfitt, Jonty Scharenberg and Williem Drew.
Academy notes: With no academy prospects looming as first- or second-round selections, Sydney look set to have some freedom this year to use or trade their picks as they see fit.
GWS (third)
As noted before, due to the quantity of academy players GWS have that loom as likely first-round selections, this pick will likely not be available for GWS to use.
GWS (via Geelong, currently second)
As above.
North Melbourne
Possible bid: Midfield prospect Connor Byrne at this point given the strength of his performances this year would prove a solid value selection here as yet another GWS Academy player who wins the ball in bunches through the midfield.
Possible draft selection: Andrew McGrath is one of several who may receive consideration towards the back-end of the first round. McGrath appeals with his versatility and how well rounded his game is as a capable player both inside and outside the contest and on the flanks, also offering good pace and ball use.
Also in the mix: Jy Simpkin, Jordan Gallucci, Sam Powell-Pepper, Brandon Parfitt, Jonty Scharenberg and Williem Drew if available around this point will be among those considered.
SECOND ROUND
Collingwood
Possible draft selection: Given Collingwood's tendency to select well performed top-age players, Nick Dodge may be a speculative player with a chance around this point if he continues his strong form. Off a half-back flank, Dodge particularly this year has caught the eye of recruiters with his willingness to take on the game with his run and carry, after previously proving his ability as a dynamic goal kicking forward in 2015.
Also in the mix: Midfielders Jy Simpkin, Jordan Gallucci, Sam Powell-Pepper, Brandon Parfitt, Jonty Scharenberg, Williem Drew and Tim Taranto if available would be among those considered. Rebounding back flankers Alex Witherden and Harry Morrison based on list needs would be strong choices at this stage, along with hard-bodied defender Jack Graham and tall defender Jack Scrimshaw.
Melbourne
Possible draft selection: Exciting, high-flying, top-age forward Brett Blair may be among those considered if available and could offer similar to what Jeremy Howe and Russell Robertson previously provided for the Dees up forward.
Also in the mix: Outside of the best available sliders, around this point if available ruckmen Jordan Sweet, Peter Ladhams, Timothy English and Jeremy Goddard all offer strong value and could add to Melbourne or another club's ruck depth in this rough draft range.
Geelong
Possible draft selection: Brother of Cameron Guthrie, Zachary Guthrie down back has started the season strongly and has continued to go from strength to strength. If still available in the second round, Guthrie may prove a strong value choice.
Also in the mix: Myles Poholke as a strong-marking medium forward, enigmatic 192cm utility Jarrod Korewha and strong-marking 191cm utility Oscar Junker all offer potentially strong options in the second round.