Each month, ESPN.com.au AFL draft expert Christopher Doerre - aka Knightmare - unveils his power rankings to give readers an early insight into the top 30 prospects ahead of the draft on November 25.
As well as attending live games, Doerre pores through match vision, analyses the stats and talks to industry sources to ensure he can offer the most insightful analysis.
However, these rankings are his personal opinions, and are not reflective of the thoughts of AFL clubs.
Aside from his monthly power rankings Doerre also produces a weekly draft wrap and he will also predict who goes where with his annual phantom draft in November.
Knightmare's 2016 AFL Draft Power Rankings: May
-- Potential top five on list quality -
1. Jack Bowes (QLD - Gold Coast Academy)
Position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 187cm, 76kg
Recruited from: Gold Coast
Plays like: Nick Dal Santo
Projected draft range: Top five
Rated last month: 4
Rationale behind change of ranking: Bowes simply excelled in division two of the National Under-18 Championships. As well as boasting class and silky ball use, the Gold Coast Academy prospect proved he can also win contested footy, suggesting he could be a genuine inside midfielder at AFL level.
Profile: Bowes is a clean, classy and evasive midfielder who consistently does something constructive with ball in hand. He makes excellent decisions and displays fantastic vision, often finding targets by foot that others may not notice. Bowes is very quick getting ball onto boot and hits his targets consistently over a variety of distances, and similarly can delivery by hand very quickly. He is reliable in front of goal and makes the most of his opportunities both from set shots and general play. He also has the ability to absorb tackles and still get off a clean disposal to a target. Bowes also has excellent ability at ground level with his clean groundball pickups and his ability to rove at the bottom of packs. Bowes has the versatility to play inside/outside, forward or back but is mostly plays as an inside midfielder, winning first possession regularly and using it cleanly from stoppages. Bowes also has the ability to take some strong intercept marks and offers some one-on-one marking ability. The missing element for Bowes at the moment is a relative lack of pace, although it doesn't limit his game, as he is mobile and evasive enough to sidestep tackles in traffic, which make him look quicker than he is.
2. Will Setterfield (NSW/ACT - GWS Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 190cm, 79kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Plays like: David Mundy
Projected draft range: First round
Rated last month: 12
Rationale behind change of ranking: As the season has unfolded, Setterfield's gifts have become clearer. He is just so damaging with ball in hand, not wasting a possession and creates damage while also winning first possession at stoppages.
Profile: Setterfield is a tall midfielder who thrives at stoppages with his contested ball-winning ability. With ball in hand, he demonstrates excellent composure and does significant damage with his vision and quality execution by foot, consistently lowering his eyes and finding good targets. Athletically, Setterfield is a very fluid mover with a really nice sidestep which he calls upon at will. Setterfield has a nice leap and is strong overhead, meaning he is a marking threat when he pushes forward and is able to provide strong scoreboard impact. He also reads the play well behind the ball and is a very good intercept mark. Given his skills, marking ability and athletic profile, Setterfield has the versatility to play not only through the midfield but also forward or back if required. Setterfield plays his footy in Victoria for Sandringham Dragons and Caulfield Grammar.
3. Todd Marshall (NSW/ACT)
Best position: Key forward
Height, weight: 198cm, 87kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Plays like: Darcy Moore
Projected draft range: First round
Rated last month: 18
Rationale behind change of ranking: Having had the opportunity to watch more of Marshall, it is abundantly clear how talented he is. With his speed, agility, ground level ability and clean marking, there is terrific scope to continue improving.
Profile: Marshall is a tall goal-kicking forward who plays his best footy close to goal. What makes Marshall such an appealing prospect is at his height, Marshall still has excellent agility, explosiveness and is also extremely clean hands below his knees. Overhead Marshall is very good, taking marks strongly. However, physically he is still developing and needs to put more size onto his frame, and build up his strength in the one-on-one contests. In front of goal Marshall is reliable and able to use the ball around the ground by hand and foot cleanly. Marshall is available to all clubs after the AFL recently ruled GWS could not access him as an academy player.
4. Harry Perryman (NSW/ACT - GWS Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 184cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Collingullie-GP
Plays like: Joel Selwood
Projected draft range: First round
Rated last month: 13
Rationale behind change of ranking: Perryman was on fire in division two of the National Under-18 Championships, dominating at stoppages.
Profile: Perryman is among the youngest in this draft class with a December birthday but has produced the most impactful and productive games of any this year. He is a dominant stoppage player who wins as many clearances as anyone in this draft, often gaining first possession. Despite only weighing 75kg, he wins a high contested to uncontested ball ratio. Perryman is a very good kick who can hit his targets over a variety of distances and also has very quick and clean hands. Perryman overall covers the ground well, displaying a high workrate, but his pace is only average overall.
Which players could your club target with their first pick?
5. Harrison Macreadie (NSW/ACT - GWS Academy)
Position: Key defence
Height, weight: 196cm, 89kg
Recruited from: UWS Giants
Plays like: Cale Hooker
Projected draft range: Top 10
Rated last month: 5
Rationale behind change of ranking: N/A
Profile: What most stands out with Macreadie is what he does with ball in hand. Macreadie can avoid would-be tacklers by selling candy and implementing a sharp sidestep but then has the ability to do something with the ball. He uses the footy well under pressure and has an excellent overall skillset. The Giants Academy prospect is a relatively penetrating kick who uses it well over short, medium and long distances, has the vision to find good targets and has the decision-making ability with ball in hand. Macreadie with space in front of him is also willing to provide run and carry and overlap run on some offensive drives. Macreadie is a very good intercept mark, reading the flight well, getting to the drop off the ball, working off his man at suitable times and often working for front position to take one-on-one marks. From a development standpoint, it would be interesting to see if Macreadie has the ability to play as a forward. Given his athletic profile and mix of attributes, he should theoretically also be a very effective forward as he has good aerial marking ability and can win the ball at ground level. The area of growth for Macreadie will be taking his intercept marking ability and one-on-one game to another level, which by position would enable him to become a dominant key defender at the next level.
6. Hugh McCluggage (VIC)
Position: Outside midfield
Height, weight: 185cm, 75kg
Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels
Plays like: Adam Treloar
Projected draft range: First round
Rated last month: 1
Rationale behind change of ranking: McCluggage is still at the top end of this draft class, but concerns over his contested ball-winning ability see him drop.
Profile: McCluggage is one of those rare midfielder/forwards with excellent ability at ground level and overhead. He is freakish at ground level, so clean with his groundball pickups, and is lightning fast at disposing of the ball under pressure. When utilised in the front half, he consistently gets front and centre in pack situations, invariably winning the ball when it spills. McCluggage is also a genuine marking target in the front half with his very strong and clean hands overhead, making him a threat one-on-one and on the lead. McCluggage is reliable in front of goal both from general play and set shots and is someone you can count on to consistently make the most of his opportunities. He often looks to play on or move the ball on quickly which generates meaningful offense and scoring opportunities. His tackling and pressure game is good. Through the midfield McCluggage has the ability to win first possession from ruck contests and is also capable of winning the ground balls and generating clearances. He works hard into space on the outside and also can offer some overlap run at times. McCluggage has good acceleration and his ball use in the most part is strong. However, his disposal efficiency is lower than it should be, possibly due to spending so much time in the front half. In time - as McCluggage grows stronger and starts to build more confidence attacking the ball harder, further developing the contested side of his game - he should spend less time forward and more time through the midfield.
7. Sam Petrevski-Seton (WA)
Position: Utility
Height, weight: 180cm, 73kg
Recruited from: Claremont
Plays like: Shaun Burgoyne
Projected draft range: Top 10
Rated last month: 2
Rationale behind change of ranking: Petrevski-Seton is an exciting, impactful player, but there are concerns about whether he will win enough of the ball at the next level.
Profile: Petrevski-Seton has excellent acceleration and displays rare evasiveness and agility. He takes the game on frequently with ball in hand and avoids would-be tacklers with ease. The versatile youngster has the ability to play midfield (outside or inside), back or forward and his tackling and pressure areas are very good. Petrevski-Seton is an ambidextrous and damaging kick of the footy who uses the ball by foot just as well on either side of his body over short and medium distances. He has a tendency to play on regularly, and just like star Hawk Sam Mitchell, it is so hard to prevent him from hitting targets because he uses both sides so easily. Petrevski-Seton has excellent finishing ability around goal as someone with great goal sense in general play. The major question marks with Petrevski-Seton is, his numbers at this stage lack consistency and are overall only moderate rather than high which isn't ideal for a potential top selection. But the key understanding with Petrevski-Seton is he is a high impact per possession player who doesn't need to find a lot of the ball to have an impact on the game.
8. Brad Scheer (QLD - Gold Coast Academy)
Best position: Inside midfielder
Height, weight: 184cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Gold Coast
Plays like: Luke Parker
Projected draft range: First to second round
Rated last month: 6
Rationale behind change of ranking: Only drops down a few positions due to others making names for themselves in big ways.
Profile: One of the more dominant inside midfielders in this draft class, Scheer was brilliant at under-16 level but then missed much of 2015 with injury. He is a strong-bodied contested-ball winning midfielder who does his best work inside the contest, often winning first possession from ruck contests and winning clearances. Further to offering inside grunt, Scheer also offers composure with ball in hand and can find targets by hand and foot reliably. Forward of centre, Scheer can prove to be a threat as a relatively strong mark overhead and is able to offer a goal or two a game when he gets time in the front half. Where Scheer is relatively lacking is his run and carry ability, endurance and workrate, which in the AFL system is developable.
9. Daniel Venables (VIC)
Best position: General forward
Height, weight: 186cm, 81kg
Recruited from: Western Jets
Plays like: Christian Petracca
Projected draft range: First round
Rated last month: Unrated
Rationale behind change of ranking: While Venables has only played two TAC Cup games so far after just four last year, it is clear with his talent, mix of attributes and ability to provide heavy scoreboard impact that Venables is a genuine first-round chance.
Profile: Venables has missed time with injury in the past but in the games he has played, his impact has been strong. Venables offers heavy scoreboard impact forward of centre and what stands out is his marking ability, ground ball-winning ability and his finishing skills around goal. Venables also displays the attributes to be an excellent inside midfielder. He is a high-level contested-ball winner and can win first possession, while he has the cleanness at ground level and ability by hand to dish the ball out effectively. He is also very good by foot and is able to hit his targets around the ground. Venables also has excellent acceleration and can burst powerfully away from the contest. From here, Venables just needs to stay healthy and prove that as well as having all the tricks, he also can put the performances on the board.
10. William Brodie (VIC)
Position: Inside midfielder
Height, weight: 189cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Plays like: Ryan Griffen
Projected draft range: Top 10
Rated last month: 3
Rationale behind change of ranking: Yet to demonstrate a clear point of difference, which is specifically what puts him behind others.
Profile: Brodie has a strong inside game, often winning first possession leading to clearances and winning lots of contested ball around the ground. He offers strong tackling pressure and can chase guys down or lay strong tackles. For an inside player, he has an excellent outside balance, offering terrific overlap run. On the outside in space Brodie likes to run with ball in hand when there is the opportunity, and his ball use is good. Brodie would benefit from looking to move the ball on more quickly, as the ball can get stuck in his hands and become stagnant after a mark. Brodie is an overall very good athlete for a tall midfielder, displaying good pace and he has excellent workrate, working hard both ways and looking to run into space and provide overlap run offensively on drives forward. Brodie's ball use by hand and foot is good but not great overall. He can hit his targets for the most part and is a capable finisher from general play in the forward 50m, where he offers good scoreboard impact, but what is missing at times when under pressure is composure in traffic. Brodie has a nice sidestep but in traffic he can get caught with the ball and also often feels pressured, leading to errant disposals by both hand and foot and poor decisions at other times. Overhead Brodie is a clean mark who reads the flight well, getting to the drop of the ball which allows him at times to take some intercept marks, but despite being a tall midfielder he is not yet a contested marking threat which is something Brodie should look to add to his game as a further weapon to his arsenal.
-- Potential top 10 on list quality --
11. Joshua Battle (VIC)
Best position: Key forward
Height, weight: 192cm, 90kg
Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays
Plays like: Jack Darling
Projected draft range: First round
Rated last month: 11
Rationale behind change of ranking: N/A
Profile: Battle is a strong-bodied, strong contested-marking key forward with a real presence to him. He has some quality performances on the board with impressive mark, contested mark and goal-per-game numbers. Where Battle is lacking is in mobility and versatility, as a genuine key forward.
12. Williem Drew (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 188cm, 78kg
Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels
Plays like: Jack Ziebell
Projected draft range: First to second round
Rated last month: 26
Rationale behind change of ranking: Drew's game continues to grow, with his ability to win clearances and tackle like he does highly impressive.
Profile: Drew is a productive tall midfielder who regularly at stoppages wins clearances and first possessions and tackles with great ferocity. Drew is both very clean below the knees and also is a capable mark forward of centre who can exploit smaller opponents in one-on-one contests and provide some scoreboard impact.
13. Kobe Mutch (NSW/ACT - GWS Academy)
Best position: Outside midfield
Height, weight: 184cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers
Plays like: Steele Sidebottom
Projected draft range: First to second round
Rated last month: 22
Rationale behind change of ranking: Seemingly gets better with every game he plays and has this season developed into a high-level midfielder.
Profile: Mutch is another GWS Academy player who has made the move down to Victoria to play TAC Cup football for the Bendigo Pioneers. He is highly productive, runs all day, can win the contested ball, uses the footy well and has the versatility to play midfield, forward or back.
14. Josh Rotham (WA)
Best position: Key defence
Height, weight: 192cm, 79kg
Recruited from: West Perth
Plays like: Troy Chaplin
Projected draft range: First round
Rated last month: 14
Rationale behind change of ranking: N/A.
Profile: Rotham is a highly productive rebounding key defender who uses the footy very well by foot. Will need to become stronger and develop his one-on-one game and ability to negate the impact of his direct opponent.
15. Jordan Gallucci (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 183cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Eastern Ranges
Plays like: Hamish Hartlett
Projected draft range: First to second round
Rated last month: Unrated
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Gallucci's TAC Cup performance against Gippsland made it clear just how much of an impact he can have when he puts in a complete game.
Profile: Gallucci is among the classiest ball users in this draft class with an astounding ability to lower his eyes and find short to medium targets off one or two steps. He also has the ability to accelerate away from contests at will. What will take Gallucci's game to the next level is a stronger ability to win his own ball in the contest.
-- Projected best 22 players --
16. Jack Rolls (QLD - Brisbane Academy)
Best position: Outside midfield
Height, weight: 182cm, 72kg
Recruited from: Brisbane
Plays like: Bernie Vince
Projected draft range: First to second round
Rated last month: 23
Rationale behind change of ranking: Continues to improve and looks like a genuine midfielder with good inside and outside ability.
Profile: Rolls is a high-quality, composed ball user and has the versatility to play multiple positions. He is a very good contested-ball winner who can win first possession and offers excellent acceleration, an explosive change of direction and excellent endurance.
17. Jacob Allison (QLD - Brisbane Academy)
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 194cm, 79kg
Recruited from: Brisbane
Plays like: Robert Murphy
Projected draft range: First to second round
Rated last month: 9
Rationale behind change of ranking: Has struggled to make a position his own so far this year and while still productive, has failed to replicate the impact he had during the 2015 National Under-18 Championships. His kicking efficiency and contested possessions are not at the level expected based on his play this time last year.
Profile: Allison is a tall utility with strong aerial marking ability and can take on the game with his run and do damage with his 55m kick. At this stage, a lack of a clearly defined best position is holding Allison back.
18. Jy Simpkin (VIC)
Position: General forward
Height, weight: 182cm, 72kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Plays like: Zac Merrett
Projected draft range: First to second round
Rated last month: 8
Rationale behind change of ranking: An unfortunate broken leg is part of the equation but Simpkin's disposal-per-game numbers and contested possession numbers aren't high. While his ability to do damage by foot is arguably the best in this draft class, it is difficult to rate someone so highly if they're not winning more of their own ball than Simpkin has.
Profile: Simpkin is arguably the most damaging kick in this draft with his class, composure and playmaking ability all excellent. He finds inside 50 targets easily and also has the ability to finish with several goals each game. What will need to improve for Simpkin is his contested-ball winning ability. Simpkin will miss the National Under-18 Championships and likely the remainder of the season with a broken leg.
19. Jarrod Berry (VIC)
Best position: General defence
Height, weight: 191cm, 80kg
Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels
Plays like: Kade Kolodjashnij
Projected draft range: First round
Rated last month: 17
Rationale behind change of ranking: Berry only drops down a couple of positions due to others moving up slightly.
Profile: Berry is a high-production rebounding defender who reads the play well, uses the footy efficiently and can provide some run and carry from the back half. What is missing is a lack of contested-ball winning ability.
20. Ben Ainsworth (VIC)
Best position: Forward pocket
Height, weight: 179cm, 74kg
Recruited from: Gippsland Power
Plays like: Jamie Elliott
Projected draft range: First round
Rated last month: 16
Rationale behind change of ranking: Like with Berry, no major change necessary having not played any TAC Cup since April.
Profile: Highly productive, strong-marking small forward with good ground level ability who can take a hanger, provide strong scoreboard impact and offer good tackling pressure in the front half. Ainsworth will need to work on conversion in front of goal with his conversion rate of below 50 percent in 2015 which is not where it needs to be for a small forward.
21. Jonty Scharenberg (SA)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 185cm, 79kg
Recruited from: Glenelg
Plays like: Callan Ward
Projected draft range: First to second round
Rated last month: 10
Rationale behind change of ranking: His start to the season has not blown away draft watchers, with his production only classed as solid so far. His lack of an x-factor sees him slide.
Profile: Scharenberg is a productive midfielder with strong contested-ball winning ability and can use the footy well. Scharenberg is an only average athlete and relatively lacks an x-factor, separating him from the next midfield prospect.
22. Andrew McGrath (VIC)
Best position: Outside midfielder
Height, weight: 179cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Plays like: Chris Masten
Projected draft range: First to second round
Rated last month: 30
Rationale behind change of ranking: A 44-disposal, 19-tackle, 14-clearance TAC Cup game is the reason for McGrath's rise. Earlier in the year, McGrath showed an ability on the outside but going onto the ball and having this kind of impact was a clear moment that will have made all watchers re-evaluate their views of McGrath.
Profile: McGrath is a midfielder with the versatility to play multiple positions who shows a willingness to take on the game with his run and carry but also has the ability to win his own ball. He also displays class and composure with ball in hand and is a reliable ball user who uses the ball particularly well by foot.
23. Jack Graham (SA)
Best position: General defence
Height, weight: 183cm, 85kg
Recruited from: North Adelaide
Plays like: Marley Williams
Projected draft range: First to second round
Rated last month: 19
Rationale behind change of ranking: Graham only slips a couple of places because others have risen.
Profile: Graham is a strong-bodied backman who can push through the midfield and win his own ball. He offers good run out of the back half but his big strength is his ground-ball winning ability and ability to win the 50-50 balls which is among the best in this draft class.
24. Connor Byrne (GWS Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 182cm, 76kg
Recruited from: Wagga Tigers
Plays like: Matthew Boyd
Projected draft range: First to second round
Rated last month: Unrated
Rationale behind change of ranking: Strength of performance through the National Under-18 Championships and TAC Cup have seen him rise significantly up draft boards.
Profile: Byrne is a high-level accumulator through the midfield with excellent contested-ball winning ability and endurance. Byrne is a clean ball user and has been a consistent performer across all his games played so far this season.
25. Sam Powell-Pepper (WA)
Position: Inside midfielder
Height, weight: 188cm, 83kg
Recruited from: East Perth
Plays like: Shaun Atley (with stronger contested ball winning ability)
Projected draft range: First to second round
Rated last month: 7
Rationale behind change of ranking: Has not played since May 1 in the WA Colts but his issues hitting targets by foot mean Powell-Pepper is now rated lower rather than higher.
Profile: Powell-Pepper is a tall, strong-bodied midfielder who can also play off a half-back flank. He is outstanding athletically and has an ideal combination of explosive speed, change of direction and endurance. What he needs to improve is his consistency by foot, with Powell-Pepper too often turning the ball over.
26. Brandon Parfitt (NT)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 177cm, 72kg
Recruited from: North Adelaide/Nightcliff
Plays like: Allen Christensen
Projected draft range: First to second round
Rated last month: 15
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: While he has performed solidly through division two of the National Under-18 Championships this past month, Parfitt's continued inconsistency by foot sees him slide.
Profile: Parfitt is a small midfielder with excellent pace and agility who takes on the game well. He can win his own ball and offers great tackling energy and intensity around the contest. Parfitt needs to develop greater consistency by foot, too often turning the ball over.
27. Alex Witherden (VIC)
Best position: General defence
Height, weight: 186cm, 80kg
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Plays like: Brodie Smith
Projected draft range: First to second round
Rated last month: 20
Rational behind change of ranking: With Witherden missing the remainder of the season with a knee injury, movement will be scarce and mostly dependent on the form of others from this point onward.
Profile: Witherden is a clean-kicking back-flanker with excellent penetration and impressive composure with ball in hand. He also offers good run from the back half. Witherden has broken his leg and will miss the remainder of the season.
28. Zachary Guthrie (VIC)
Best position: General defence
Height, weight: 184cm, 69kg
Recruited from: Calder
Plays like: Cameron Guthrie
Projected draft range: First to third round
Rated last month: Unrated
Rationale behind change of ranking: Rated Calder's best in their past three TAC Cup games, and continues to improve rapidly.
Profile: Guthrie is a late bloomer who is coming into his own this year down back and is developing at a similar rate to his older brother Cameron (Geelong) who similarly developed later. Guthrie is effective as a shutdown defender and can also offer some occasional rebound from the back half.
29. Jordan Sweet (SA)
Best position: Ruck
Height, weight: 203cm, 105kg
Recruited from: North Adelaide
Plays like: Matthew Kreuzer
Projected draft range: Second to third round
Rated last month: Unrated
Rationale behind change of ranking: Has performed well so far this season and staked a claim to being the best ruckmen in this draft with the strength of his tap work for the South Australian under-18s in their game against the SA under-20s at the weekend.
Profile: Sweet is a big, tall, dominating ruckman with a good leap. While Sweet is a highly effective tap ruckman, he also has demonstrated some ability to find the ball around the ground.
30. Tim Taranto (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 186cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Plays like: Jarrad McVeigh
Projected draft range: Second to third round
Rated last month: 21
Rationale behind change of ranking: Having not played any TAC Cup this past month due to school football, Taranto drops slightly due to the rise of some others who have furthered their case for selection.
Profile: Taranto is a midfielder who can win first possession but also does damage by foot and has good evasiveness. Taranto offers good versatility with his ability to push forward and hit the scoreboard and push back and take an intercept mark as required.