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 power rankings: June
Knightmare's power rankings: May
-- Potential top five on list quality --
1. Hugh McCluggage (VIC)
Position: Outside midfield
Height, weight: 185cm, 75kg
Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels
Plays like: Jason Akermanis
Projected draft range: top 10
Rated last month: 6
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Has continued to elevate his standard of performance through division one of the National Under-18 Championships for Vic Country. Scoreboard impact and quality of ball use in combination with his disposal numbers are outstanding.
Strengths:
- Production
- Freakish cleanness at ground level
- Incredible finishing ability from all angles, both from set shots and general play
- Lowers eyes and finds inside 50m targets by foot
- Excellent crumbing ability, getting to right positions and quickly gaining possession
- Instant decision-maker with ball in hand
- Quick and accurate disposal by hand and foot
- Confidence to play on or move ball on quickly
- Football smarts
- Strong, clean hands overhead
- Marking threat in the air and on the lead
- Tackling energy/pressure
- Works hard on outside to find space, creates option outside stoppages and provides overlap run
- Acceleration to break away from stoppages
- Outside run and carry
Weaknesses:
- Light bodied and can get pushed around in the contest
- Attack on the ball
- Able but not dominant contested-ball winner or first-possession winner
2. William Brodie (VIC)
Position: Inside midfielder
Height, weight: 189cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Plays like: Ryan Griffen
Projected draft range: top five
Rated last month: 10
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Performed strongly through the midfield for Vic Country. Won a lot of the ball, winning first possession and also impressive with run.
Strengths:
- Production
- Strong performer against more mature bodies
- Performs in big games
- Grunt work at stoppages with ability to win first possession and distribute by hand
- Contested-ball winning ability at stoppages and around the ground
- Hits stoppage at speed, winning contested ball on the move and bursting out other side with ball in hand
- Wins ground balls at speed on the move
- Work rate
- Two-way run
- Run and carry
- Overlap run
- Sidestep
Weaknesses:
- Rushed under pressure
- Footskills only average
- Contested marking ability
- Scoreboard impact
3. 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: 4
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Has played mostly down back for Allies and looked impressive. Can play anywhere. Natural footballer with complete game.
Strengths:
- Production
- Football smarts
- Grunt work at stoppages and ability to win first possession
- Contested-ball winning ability at stoppages and around the ground
- Strong mark overhead with ability to take contested marks
- One-on-one ability
- Footskills reliable over variety of distances
- Quick and clean hands
- Versatility to play midfield, back and forward
- High workrate and covers the ground well
Weaknesses:
- Pace and athleticism only average
4. 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 10
Rated last month: 1
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Some less impactful than expected games early on through division one of the under-18 championships sees Bowes fall a few positions.
Strengths:
- Production
- Able to dispose of ball quickly and efficiently in traffic by both hand and foot
- Lowers eyes and demonstrates vision and quality use by foot in general play
- Scoreboard impact
- Football smarts
- Capable first-possession winner at stoppages
- Clean at ground level and can rove at bottom of packs
- Ability to absorb tackles and disposal of ball efficiently when tackled
- Capable mark overhead with one-on-one and intercept marking ability
- Versatility to play midfield, back and forward
- Good sidestep and ability to evade tackles in traffic
Weaknesses:
- Pace only average
- Impact sometimes lacking
5. Todd Marshall (NSW/ACT)
Best position: Key forward
Height, weight: 198cm, 87kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Plays like: Darcy Moore
Projected draft range: top 10
Rated last month: 3
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Showing all the attributes to be a star key forward at AFL level, with his speed, agility and cleanness below the knees at his height, plus the fact he hasn't always focused on AFL growing up. The scope to develop is there. Just needs to improve his numbers and become physically stronger.
Strengths:
- Clean below knees
- Agility
- Pace
- Football smarts
- Strong mark overhead
- Attacks ball in flight
- Height for a key forward
- Scope to improve having only this season given up cricket to focus on AFL
Weaknesses:
- Size and strength
- Strength in one-on-one contests
- Set shot goalkicking technique needs ironing out, with too much arc on run-up
- Limited to playing in front 50m
6. 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 to second round
Rated last month: 2
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Remaining high on draft board on basis of stoppage work and classy ball use for a 190cm midfielder.
Strengths:
- Production
- Composure and sound decision-making under pressure
- Lowers eyes and demonstrated vision and quality use by foot from stoppages
- Sidestep and movement in traffic, with ability to create more time and space
- Grunt work at stoppages with ability to win first possession and tackle
- Contested-ball winning ability at stoppages and around the ground
- Strong mark overhead with aerial ability
- Versatility to play midfield, forward or back
- Scoreboard impact
Weaknesses:
- Pace only average
7. Daniel Venables (VIC)
Best position: General forward
Height, weight: 186cm, 81kg
Recruited from: Western Jets
Plays like: Jack Crisp
Projected draft range: first round
Rated last month: 9
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Consolidating high rating showing a diverse range of AFL-quality attributes with hardness at the ball and tackling standing out.
Strengths:
- Hard tackling
- Contested-ball winning ability
- Explosive pace and breakaway speed from stoppages
- Scoreboard impact
- Finishing ability on the move
- Excellent both forward and through the midfield
- Damaging ball user by hand and foot
- Strong mark overhead
Weaknesses:
- Can spend some time through the midfield and have an impact without looking like a full-time midfielder
- Work rate
- Lack of exposed form due to injuries
8. Sam Petrevski-Seton (WA)
Position: Utility
Height, weight: 180cm, 73kg
Recruited from: Claremont
Plays like: Shaun Burgoyne
Projected draft range: top five
Rated last month: 7
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: On return from hamstring injury, he has not taken the game on to the level he has in the past. Willingness to go to stoppages and get his hands dirty has been promising.
Strengths:
- Acceleration
- Evasiveness
- Ambidextrous kick
- Quick, instinctive handballs
- Freakish football instincts for where teammates and opponents are
- Brilliant, clean ground-level pickups
- Plays on at every chance
- Finishing ability around goal
- Versatility to play midfield, back or forward
- Impact per possession
Weaknesses:
- Can win some contested ball but not dominant contested-ball winner or first-possession winner
- Strength
- Unclear best position
- Inconsistency
-- Potential top 10 on list quality --
9. Jordan Gallucci (VIC)
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 183cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Eastern Ranges
Plays like: Hamish Hartlett
Projected draft range: first round to second round
Rated last month: 15
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Hurt factor by foot consistently outstanding, with his vision and precision ball use standing out against all competition. Acceleration also highly impressive.
Strengths:
- Production
- Most damaging right foot kick in the draft, with precision kicking off one or two steps
- Lowers eyes and demonstrates excellent vision and ability to hit inside 50m targets
- Quick, good decision-maker with ball in hand under pressure
- Agility
- Change of direction
- Accelerates away from packs
- Line-breaking ability
- Football smarts
- Reads flight of ball well
- Intercept marking ability
- Versatility to play midfield, back or forward well
Weaknesses:
- Can win some contested ball but not dominant contested-ball winner or first-possession winner
10. Andrew McGrath (VIC)
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 179cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Plays like: Stephen Hill
Projected draft range: first round
Rated last month: 22
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Production, line-breaking ability and impact per possession have been outstanding and require an elevation of McGrath up all draft boards.
Strengths:
- Production
- Acceleration and willingness to accelerate in game with ball in hand frequently
- Line-breaking ability
- Change of direction
- Contested-ball winning ability
- Tackling
- Stoppage work
- Leap
- Aerial marking
- Strong in one-on-one contests
- Reads flight of ball well
- Intercept marking
- Lifts during most important stages of game
- Class and composure with ball in hand
- Football smarts
- Versatility with great ability down back and through the midfield
Weaknesses:
- Sometimes lacking consistency by foot
11. Ben Ainsworth (VIC)
Best position: Forward pocket
Height, weight: 179cm, 74kg
Recruited from: Gippsland Power
Plays like: Jamie Elliott
Projected draft range: top 10
Rated last month: 20
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Impact per possession and that vertical leap and strength of hands overhead sees him rise.
Strengths:
- Vertical leap
- Aerial marking
- Vice-like strong hands overhead
- Ability to read flight of the ball
- One-on-one marking
- Football smarts
- Impact per possession
- Able to push into midfield
- Ground-ball winning ability
- Athleticism
- Footskills
- Vision
- Decision-making
- Tackling and pressuring
Weaknesses:
- Conversion in front of goal
- Endurance
12. Kobe Mutch (NSW/ACT - GWS Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 184cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers
Plays like: Steele Sidebottom
Projected draft range: first round to second round
Rated last month: 13
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Finding the footy inside the contest and on the outside. Among highest production players in this draft. Lack of an X-factor sees him fall behind a few others.
Strengths:
- Production
- Endurance
- Unrewarded outside run
- Work rate
- Stoppage work
- Ability to win first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning ability
- Distribution by hand
- Tackling
- Clean hands
- Links up
- Football smarts
- Comfortable kicking with either foot
- Two-way runner
Weaknesses:
- Lacks an X-factor
- Clean but not damaging ball user by hand and foot
- Pace
- Contested marking
13. Brad Scheer (QLD - Gold Coast Academy)
Best position: Inside midfielder
Height, weight: 184cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Gold Coast
Plays like: Matt Crouch
Projected draft range: first round to second round
Rated last month: 8
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Still winning the contested ball and among the better stoppage players. However, others with high impact per possession in combination with excellent numbers have moved ahead of Scheer.
Strengths:
- Production
- Stoppage work
- Contested-ball winning ability
- Ability to win first possession at stoppages
- Quick distribution by hand at stoppages
- Strong tackler
- Strong mark overhead
- Able play forward and provide a target inside the forward 50m
- Able finisher inside forward 50m
- Reliable kick
Weaknesses:
- Run and carry
- Endurance
- Work rate
-- Potential best 15 on list quality --
14. 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 ranking/change of ranking: Has proven consistently effective up forward so far this season. Given reported elite endurance he needs to start finding more of the footy further up the field to progress up power rankings.
Strengths:
- Good goal, mark and contested mark per game numbers in TAC Cup
- Lead-up marking
- Strong body
- Strong contested mark
- One-o-one strength and marking ability
- Footskills and vision
- Conversion from set shots
- Endurance
- Clean at ground level
Weaknesses:
- Unproven versatility (can he also play through the midfield?)
- Agility
15. Willem Drew (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 188cm, 78kg
Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels
Plays like: Jack Ziebell
Projected draft range: second round to third round
Rated last month: 12
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Has displayed he can play different positions, and shown he has elements to his game that he typically doesn't get the opportunity to in TAC Cup games. Had he received more midfield opportunities through the under-18 titles, he may have had more of an impact.
Strengths:
- Stoppage specialist
- Ability to win first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning ability
- Strong tackling
- Clean below knees
- Capable mark overhead
- Clean skills and can hit targets by foot
- Scoreboard impact
- Has acceleration
- Versatility to play forward or back as required
Weaknesses:
- Limited midfield opportunities through the under-18 championships leaves him slightly unproven against the best competition in the country
16. Sam Powell-Pepper (WA)
Position: Utility
Height, weight: 188cm, 83kg
Recruited from: East Perth
Plays like: Stewart Crameri
Projected draft range: first round to second round
Rated last month: 25
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Has demonstrated game-changing ability through the under-18 championships, with impact per possession and ability to frequently hit the ball at full speed and win it what sees him rise.
Strengths:
- Impact per possession
- Wins ground balls at speed on the move
- Often hits stoppage at speed, winning contested ball on the move and bursting out other side with ball in hand
- Ability to win first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning ability
- Versatility (strong forward, midfield and back)
- Strength of ground-ball winning ability
- Scoreboard impact
- Explosive pace
- Linebreaking ability
Weaknesses:
- Turnover prone by foot
- Contested marking and clean hands overhead
17. Jonty Scharenberg (SA)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 185cm, 79kg
Recruited from: Glenelg
Plays like: Dominic Sheed
Projected draft range: first round to second round
Rated last month: 21
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Moves up on the back of a strong U18 championships, where his ball use by hand and foot were a feature.
Strengths:
- Production
- Precise footskills
- Vision
- Decision-making
- Quick, clean hands
- Contested-ball winning ability
- Ability to win first possession at stoppages
- Can get rid of ball when tackled by keeping arms high
- Stoppage work
- Tackling ability
- Finishing ability around goal
Weaknesses:
- Pace
- Athleticism
- Versatility
- Lack of an X-factor
18. Jack Scrimshaw (VIC)
Best position: Half-back flank
Height, weight: 193cm, 80kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Plays like: Grant Birchall
Projected draft range: first round to second round
Rated last month: Unrated
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Quality of foot skills from the back half has stood out and looked a class above through the under-18 championships.
Strengths:
- Production
- Damaging and efficient kicking
- Vision
- Decision-making
- Reads flight of ball well
- Intercept marking ability
Weaknesses:
- One-on-one strength
- Not suited to playing as a key defender
19. Tim Taranto (VIC)
Best position: General forward
Height, weight: 186cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Plays like: Alex Fasolo
Projected draft range: first round to second round
Rated last month: 30
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Doing substantial damage offensively in the front half. Has made it clear how gifted he is with ball in hand.
Strengths:
- Impact per possession
- Hurt factor by foot
- Ability to hit inside 50m targets
- Vision
- Decision-making
- Evasiveness
- Aerial marking
- Strong hands overhead
- Versatility to play forward and midfield
- Finishing ability around goal
- Contested-ball winning ability
Weaknesses:
- Two-way effort
- Work rate
- Attack on the ball
20. Dylan Clarke (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 187cm, 85kg
Recruited from: Eastern Rangers
Plays like: Daniel Cross
Projected draft range: first round to second round
Rated last month: Unrated
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Proving to be one of the most dominant stoppages players in this draft with his play through the under-18 titles.
Strengths:
- Production
- Stoppage work
- Ability to win first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning ability
- Can get rid of the ball when tackled by keeping arms high
- Distribution by hand
- Tackling
- Clean hands
- Endurance
- Work rate
- Two-way running
- Able to play forward as required
- Scoreboard impact
Weaknesses:
- Foot skills
- Acceleration
- Agility
21. Jack Graham (SA)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 183cm, 85kg
Recruited from: North Adelaide
Plays like: Marley Williams
Projected draft range: first round to second round
Rated last month: 23
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Dominating at stoppages with ability to win first possession and distribute by hand. Showing some pace. If he was a more reliable kick he would be rated more highly.
Strengths:
- Production
- Stoppage work
- Ability to win first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning ability
- Wins 50/50 ground balls
- Distribution by hand
- Tackling
- Clean hands
- Hits stoppage at speed, winning contested ball on the move and bursting out other side with ball in hand
- Versatility to play a role down back
Weaknesses:
- Inconsistent ability to hit targets by foot
- Not a marking threat overhead
--Projected best 15-25 on list standard--
22. Tim English (VIC)
Best position: Ruck
Height, weight: 203cm, 86kg
Recruited from: South Fremantle
Plays like: Josh Fraser
Projected draft range: first round
Rated last month: Unrated
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Skills and ability to find the footy around the ground, and late growth earn English a position in this month's power rankings.
Strengths:
- Late growth, growing from midfield height to ruck height in last three years suggesting physical growth and further football improvement likely
- Rate of improvement
- Midfield-quality footskills with low, precise kicking to targets
- Disposal numbers
- Mobility
- Clean below the knees
Weaknesses:
- Lack of size and strength
- Tap work and hit-out numbers
- Contested marking ability
- Scoreboard impact
23. Harrison Macreadie (NSW/ACT - GWS Academy)
Position: Key defence
Height, weight: 196cm, 89kg
Recruited from: UWS Giants
Plays like: Will Schofield
Projected draft range: first round - second round
Rated last month: 5
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Has lacked the expected impact down back during the under-18 championships.
Strengths:
- Pace
- Linebreaking ability
- Athleticism
- Footskills
- Vision
- Composure with ball in hand
- Decision-making
- Intercept marking ability
- Reads flight of ball well down back
Weaknesses:
- Unproven versatility (can he play forward?)
- Lacks dominant one-on-one ability and one-on-one marking ability
24. Jy Simpkin (VIC)
Position: General forward
Height, weight: 182cm, 72kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Plays like: Jimmy Toumpas
Projected draft range: first round to second round
Rated last month: 18
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Not applicable. Likely to miss remainder of season with broken leg.
Strengths:
- Lowers eyes and demonstrates excellent vision and ability to hit inside 50m targets
- Composed with ball in hand
- Precision kick to target
- Finishes well from general play
- Scoreboard impact
- Pace
Weaknesses:
- Contested-ball winning
- Scope to play through midfield unclear
25. Alex Witherden (VIC)
Best position: General defence
Height, weight: 186cm, 80kg
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Plays like: Brad McKenzie
Projected draft range: first round to second round
Rated last month: 27
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Not applicable. Out for season with broken leg.
Strengths:
- Production by position
- Clean kick with excellent penetration and hurt factor
- Vision to find meaningful targets up the field
- Composure and sound decision making with ball in hand
- Reads the flight well and intercepts
Weaknesses:
- Only average pace
26. Josh Rotham (WA)
Best position: General defence
Height, weight: 192cm, 79kg
Recruited from: West Perth
Plays like: Matthew Broadbent
Projected draft range: first round
Rated last month: 14
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Showing promise with athletic and running ability from the back half but a lack of a clear best position makes him difficult to place.
Strengths:
- Athleticism
- Linebreaking ability
- Acceleration
- Aerial marking
- Intercept marking ability
Weaknesses:
- One-on-one ability
- Ability to negate opponents' influence
- Unclear best position
- Unclear ability to play midfield or forward
27. Jacob Allison (QLD - Brisbane Academy)
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 194cm, 79kg
Recruited from: Brisbane Lions
Plays like: Trent McKenzie
Projected draft range: first round to second round
Rated last month: 17
Rational behind ranking/change of ranking: Has shown some signs with long kicking and strength of marking overhead but impact not as high as through the National Under-18 Championships
Strengths:
- Penetrating (60m kick)
- Athleticism
- Leap
- Acceleration and line-breaking ability
- Strong hands overhead
- Athletic marking
- Contested marking
- Intercept marking ability
- Strong tackler
- Versatility
Weaknesses:
- Unclear best position
- Has he regressed since same time last year?
- Strength
- Contested-ball winning ability
- One-o-one ability
28. Shai Bolton (WA)
Best position: General forward
Height, weight: 177cm, 67kg
Recruited from: South Fremantle
Plays like: Robin Nahas
Projected draft range: first round to second round
Rated last month: Unrated
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Lively play forward of centre, production and impact per possession move Bolton into this month's power rankings.
Strengths:
- Acceleration
- Line-breaking ability
- Clean ground-ball winner
- Evasiveness
- Agility
- Composure with ball in hand
- Wins groundballs at speed
- With ball in hand makes things happen
Weaknesses:
- Defensive run
- Strength
- One-on-one ability
- Raw
- Contested-ball winning ability
29. Zac Fisher (WA)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 175cm, 61kg
Recruited from: Perth
Plays like: Cory Gregson
Projected draft range: second round onwards
Rated last month: Unrated
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Quality of performance through the midfield during the under-18 championships moves Fisher into the top 30. Production, movement and ball use make Fisher an appealing prospect.
Strengths:
- Production
- Stoppage work
- Ability to win first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning ability
- Tackling
- Clean hands
- Precise footskills
- Vision
- Decision-making ability
- Acceleration
- Agility
- Evasiveness
Weaknesses:
- Size by position
30. Jake Pitman (SA)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 177cm, 77kg
Recruited from: Norwood
Plays like: Sam Gray
Projected draft range: second round onwards
Rated last month: Unrated
Rational behind ranking/change of ranking: Quality of performance through the midfield during the under-18 championships was difficult to ignore. Production and ball use were terrific.
Strengths:
- Production
- Stoppage work
- Ability to win first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning ability
- Tackling
- Clean hands
- Precise footskills
- Vision
- Decision-making ability
Weaknesses:
- Pace
- Scoreboard impact
- Versatility