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: August
Knightmare's power rankings: July
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 five
Rated last month: 1
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Arguably this year's best performed under-18 prospect and only getting better. Earning top spot through performance with his scoreboard impact, ball use and production a rare combination.
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 the 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 the ball on quickly
- Keeps his feet and has natural balance
- Football smarts
- Reads ruck taps
- 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
- Rapid rate of improvement
- Standard of performance this year, given his limited preseason, suggest substantial upside
Weaknesses:
- Light bodied and can get pushed around in the contest
- Attack on the ball
- More a ground-ball winner than a contested-ball winner, with the hard contested ball something he would benefit from winning more of
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: 2
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: No real change in ranking needed with form remaining consistent. Strength of AFL Under-18 Championships and his performances against VFL opponents earlier this year through the midfield enough to validate high ranking.
Strengths:
- Production
- Strong performer against more mature VFL bodies
- Lifts during important moments in games
- Performs in big games
- Reads ruck taps well
- 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
- Tackling
Weaknesses:
- Rushed under pressure
- Footskills only average
- Contested-marking ability
- Scoreboard impact
3. Andrew McGrath (VIC)
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 179cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Plays like: Stephen Hill
Projected draft range: top 10
Rated last month: 8
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Production and regular game-breaking explosive run sees McGrath rise despite being a relatively small midfielder or backman at 179cm.
Strengths:
- Production
- Acceleration
- Line breaking
- Takes on the game at every opportunity and provides meaningful drive in doing so
- Change of direction
- Contested-ball winning
- 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 games
- Class and composure with ball in hand
- Football smarts
- Versatility to play well back and through the midfield
- Leadership
Weaknesses:
- Sometimes lacking consistency by foot
- Relative lack of height by position
4. 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: 4
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: High impact per possession and good production in the most part sees Petrevski-Seton placed here.
Strengths:
- Acceleration
- Evasiveness
- Sidestep
- Freakish clean ground-level pickups
- Plays on at every chance
- Impact per possession
- Keeps his feet and has natural balance
- Ambidextrous kick
- Quick, instinctive handballs
- Freakish instincts for where teammates and opponents are
- Finishing around goal
- Versatility to play midfield, back or forward to a high standard
Weaknesses:
- Can win some contested ball but not dominant contested-ball winner or first possession winner
- Strength
- Unclear best position
- Inconsistency
- Endurance
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: 5
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: One great performance away from moving up. The challenge playing for Murray is, there are so many good tall options in the same forward line. He has just yet to produce a game with more than three goals or more than seven marks to earn a higher position in these rankings.
Strengths:
- Clean, one-take, ground ball pickups 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
- Marking against body contact
- Set shot goalkicking technique needs ironing out, with too much arc on run-up
- Limited to playing in front 50m at this stage
- Endurance
- No dominant performances yet
6. 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: 7
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Improved NEAFL performances during August results in Bowes moving slightly up again.
Strengths:
- Production
- Disposes 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
- Can absorb tackles and dispose 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
7. Harry Perryman (NSW/ACT - GWS Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 184cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Collingullie-GP
Plays like: Rory Sloane
Projected draft range: first round
Rated last month: 3
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: No NEAFL games played lately, with others moving ahead on quality of recent play.
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 well
- High work rate and covers the ground well
Weaknesses:
- Pace and athleticism only average
8. 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 to second round
Rated last month: 6
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Now back playing for Sandringham just in time for finals. First game back was a good one and he will be looking to build upon that performance. Only shifted down on the back of recent good form of others and revision of their rankings.
Strengths:
- Production
- Composure and sound decision-making under pressure
- Lowers eyes and demonstrates vision and quality use by foot from stoppages
- Sidestepping and movement in traffic with ability to create more time and space
- Tackling
- Contested-ball winning at stoppages and around the ground
- Wins first possession at stoppages
- Strong mark overhead with aerial marking ability
- Versatility to play midfield, forward or back
- Scoreboard impact
Weaknesses:
- Pace only average
-- Potential top 10 on list quality --
9. Ben Ainsworth (VIC)
Best position: General forward
Height, weight: 179cm, 74kg
Recruited from: Gippsland Power
Plays like: Jamie Elliott
Projected draft range: top 10
Rated last month: 9
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Has built into the season and performed particularly strongly through August. Dynamic and impactful forward who can push through the midfield and have an impact.
Strengths:
- Vertical leap
- Aerial marking
- Vice-like strong hands overhead
- Reads flight of the ball
- One-on-one marking
- Football smarts
- Impact per possession
- Able to push into midfield
- Ground-ball winning
- Athleticism
- Footskills
- Vision
- Decision-making
- Tackling and pressuring
- While best as a forward, is able to have an impact through the midfield
Weaknesses:
- Inconsistent conversion in front of goal
- Endurance
- Unclear whether Ainsworth can become a full time midfielder - at the moment he looks more like a forward who can rotate through the midfield
10. Willem Drew (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 188cm, 78kg
Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels
Plays like: Jack Ziebell
Projected draft range: second to third round Rated last month: 17
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Continues to remind draft watchers, on the back of his contested-ball winning, aggression at the ball and tackling, that he is one of the best midfielders in this draft.
Strengths:
- Stoppage specialist
- Wins first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning
- Strong tackler
- Clean below knees\
- Courage to win 50/50 ball without fear of getting hurt
- Strength
- Capable mark overhead
- Relatively clean skills and can hit targets by foot around the ground
- Scoreboard impact
- Acceleration
- Versatility to play forward or back as required
- Reads flight well and takes intercept marks
- Late season has started to run to better spots to become a more frequent and useful link player on the outside
Weaknesses:
- Limited opportunities through midfield during the under-18 championships leaves him slightly unproven against best competition in the country
- Limited outside hurt factor as an infrequent linebreaker with an only average kick
- Endurance
- From stoppages rushes kicks, too often bombing long to a general area of one of his teammates rather than taking time to find an open target by foot
11. Brad Scheer (QLD - Gold Coast Academy)
Best position: Inside midfielder
Height, weight: 184cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Gold Coast
Plays like: Josh Caddy
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: 11
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Strong and productive season through the midfield and, with stoppage work and some ability forward of centre, is an appealing prospect.
Strengths:
- Production
- Stoppage work
- Contested-ball winning
- Wins first possession at stoppages
- Draws free kicks for high tackles
- Quick distribution by hand at stoppages
- Strong tackler
- Strong mark overhead
- Able to play forward and provide a target inside 50m
- Able finisher inside forward 50m
- Reliable kick
Weaknesses:
- Run and carry
- Endurance
- Work rate
12. Kobe Mutch (NSW/ACT - GWS Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 184cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers
Plays like: Brad Ebert
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: 12
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: One of this year's most productive and consistent midfielders.
Strengths:
- Production
- Endurance
- Unrewarded outside run
- Work rate
- Stoppage work
- Wins first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning
- Distribution by hand
- Tackling
- Clean hands
- Links up well
- 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
-- Potential best 15 on list quality --
13. Tim Taranto (VIC)
Best position: General forward
Height, weight: 186cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Plays like: Alex Fasolo
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: 15
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Finds plenty of the footy, does significant damage, hits the scoreboard and continued to improve over the second half of the season. On the rise up draft boards.
Strengths:
- Impact per possession
- Hurt factor by foot
- Hits inside 50m targets
- Vision
- Decision-making ability
- Evasiveness
- Aerial marking
- Strong hands overhead
- Versatility to play forward and midfield to a strong standard
- Finishing around goal
- Contested-ball winning
- Tackle numbers
Weaknesses:
- Two-way running effort
- Work rate
- Attack on the ball
- Unclear whether he has the game to step into full-time midfield role
14. 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
Rated last month: 10
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Impressive rebounding capabilities as a tall back flanker but recent inconsistent kicking sees Scrimshaw drop a few places.
Strengths:
- Production
- Damaging and efficient kicking
- Vision
- Decision-making with ball in hand
- Reads flight of ball early
- Intercept marking
- Evasiveness
- Movement through traffic with ball in hand
- Takes on the game with run
Weaknesses:
- One-on-one strength
- Can play too loose and lose track of direct opponent
- Not suited to playing as a key defender
- Footskills sometimes lacking consistency
15. 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: 14
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: No TAC Cup games since July and limited games played over 2015/2016 make Venables difficult to place. Has all the attributes but numbers are not as high as many of the other top-end prospects.
Strengths:
- Hard tackler
- Explosive pace and breakaway speed from stoppages
- Scoreboard impact
- Finishing ability on the move
- Damaging ball user by hand and foot
- Strong mark overhead
- Contested-ball winning
Weaknesses:
- Can spend some time through the midfield and have an impact without having the numbers at this point to appear like a full-time midfielder
- Work rate
- Inconsistent from game to game
- Lacks four quarter impact
- Lack of exposed form due to injuries
16. Joshua Battle (VIC)
Best position: Key forward
Height, weight: 192cm, 90kg
Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays
Plays like: Joshua Bruce
Projected draft range: second round
Rated last month: 13
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Form has tapered off over the second half of the season, with only one goal in each of his games in August.
Strengths:
- Good goal, mark and contested mark per game numbers in TAC Cup
- Lead-up marking
- Strong body
- Strong contested mark
- One-on-one strength and marking
- Footskills and vision
- Conversion from set shots
- Endurance
- Clean at ground level
Weaknesses:
- Unproven versatility (can he also play through the midfield?)
- Agility
- Is he tall enough to be a genuine key forward at AFL level?
17. Sam Powell-Pepper (WA)
Position: Utility
Height, weight: 188cm, 83kg
Recruited from: East Perth
Plays like: Stewart Crameri
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: 22
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: High impact per possession player whose late-season WAFL league play was promising.
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
- Wins first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning
- Versatility (good forward, midfield and back)
- Strength of ground-ball winning
- Scoreboard impact
- Explosive pace
- Breaks the lines
Weaknesses:
- Turnover prone by foot
- Contested marking and clean hands overhead
- Low numbers per game by position
18. 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: 18
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Reserves form promising. Rare accumulator for a ruckman.
Strengths:
- Late growth -- growing from midfield height to ruck height in past 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 hitout numbers behind his peers
- Contested marking
- Scoreboard impact
- Versatility to play a second position
19. Shai Bolton (WA)
Best position: General forward
Height, weight: 177cm, 67kg
Recruited from: South Fremantle
Plays like: Steven Motlop
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: 21
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Lively play forward of centre. Production and impact per possession see Bolton continue his rise up draft boards. Had Bolton received WAFL league or reserves games and performed well there, he would have been even higher.
Strengths:
- Acceleration
- Line breaking
- Clean ground-ball winner
- Evasiveness
- Agility
- Composure with ball in hand
- Wins groundballs at speed
- With ball in hand makes things happen
- Scoreboard impact
Weaknesses:
- Defensive run
- Strength
- One-on-one ability
- Raw
- Winning the hard, contested 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 to second round
Rated last month: 20
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Consistent contested-ball winner with excellent endurance. Has had a highly productive and consistent season.
Strengths:
- Production
- Stoppage work
- Wins first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning
- Can get rid of 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:
- Inconsistent footskills
- Acceleration
- Agility
21. Jarrod Berry (VIC)
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 191cm, 80kg
Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels
Plays like: Jack Grimes
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: Unrated
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Has found form late season now that he is healthy.
Strengths:
- Leadership
- Run and carry
- Burst of pace
- Shrugs tackles
- Contested-ball winning
- Puts body on the line
- Versatility to play multiple positions with the scope to play midfield, forward or back well
- Scoreboard impact when used forward of centre
- Reading of the flight
- Intercept marking
- Aerial marking
- Vision
- Hurt factor by foot when given time to lower eyes and find a target up the field
Weaknesses:
- Inconsistent footskills
- Rushes decision-making under pressure
- Unclear best position
22. Zac Fisher (WA)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 175cm, 61kg
Recruited from: Perth
Plays like: Lachie Neale
Projected draft range: second to third round
Rated last month: 19
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Numbers and quality of performances during under-18 championships and at WAFL league level have led to this high rating.
Strengths:
- Production
- Stoppage work
- Wins first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning
- Tackling
- Clean hands
- Precise footskills
- Vision
- Decision-making
- Acceleration and burst away from stoppages
- Agility
- Evasiveness
- Performances vs. WAFL League competition
Weaknesses:
- Size by position
- Unclear versatility
23. Jonty Scharenberg (SA)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 185cm, 79kg
Recruited from: Glenelg
Plays like: Bernie Vince
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: 23
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Consistent season at SANFL League and reserves levels through the midfield. Skills and production through the midfield make him desirable.
Strengths:
- Production
- Precise footskills
- Vision
- Decision-making
- Quick, clean hands
- Contested-ball winning
- Wins first possession at stoppages
- Can get rid of ball when tackled by keeping arms high
- Stoppage work
- Tackling ability
- Finishing around goal
Weaknesses:
- Pace
- Athleticism
- Versatility
- Lack of an x-factor
--Projected best 15-25 on list standard--
24. Jordan Gallucci (VIC)
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 183cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Eastern Ranges
Plays like: Hamish Hartlett
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: 16
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Numbers and footskills have lacked consistency of late that was shown earlier in the season.
Strengths:
- Production
- Lowers eyes and demonstrates excellent vision and ability to hit inside 50m targets
- Can hit targets by foot off one or two steps
- Able to kick on non-preferred left foot.
- Quick, good decision-maker with ball in hand under pressure
- Agility
- Change of direction
- Accelerates away from packs
- Line breaking
- Football smarts
- Reads flight of ball well
- Intercept marking
- Versatility to play midfield, back or forward well
- Ground ball winning
- Reading of ruck taps
Weaknesses:
- Inconsistent by foot
- Lacks a clear best position
- Inconsistent production with difference between best and worst games too wide
- More a groundball winner than a hard, contested-ball winner
25. Luke Ryan (VIC)
Best position: General defence
Height, weight: 185cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Coburg
Plays like: Michael Hibberd
Projected draft range: first to third round
Rated last month: 24
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: On performances in the VFL for Coburg and mix of attributes, Ryan has become this year's most in-demand mature-age recruit.
Strengths:
- Reads the flight of the ball in the air early
- Intercept marking
- Efficient kick
- Decision-making
- Production
- Rate of improvement
- Strong one-on-one
- Able stopper
Weaknesses:
- Unproven versatility
- Athleticism
26. Jy Simpkin (VIC)
Position: General forward
Height, weight: 182cm, 72kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Plays like: Jimmy Toumpas
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: 25
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
- Provides heavy scoreboard impact
- Acceleration
Weaknesses:
- Contested-ball winning
- Scope to play through midfield unclear
27. Jack Graham (SA)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 183cm, 85kg
Recruited from: North Adelaide
Plays like: Levi Greenwood
Projected draft range: second to third round
Rated last month: 26
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: This year's Larke medallist would be rated higher if he was a more reliable kick.
Strengths:
- Production
- Stoppage work
- Wins first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning
- Wins 50/50 ground balls
- One-on-one strength
- 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
28. Alex Witherden (VIC)
Best position: General defence
Height, weight: 186cm, 80kg
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Plays like: Brad McKenzie
Projected draft range: second to third round
Rated last month: 28
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
29. Jacob Allison (QLD - Brisbane Academy)
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 194cm, 79kg
Recruited from: Brisbane Lions
Plays like: Trent McKenzie
Projected draft range: second to third round
Rated last month: 27
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Good talent at his height but lack of improvement since 2015 places Allison here.
Strengths:
- Penetrating (60m kick)
- Athleticism
- High leap
- Acceleration and line breaking
- Strong hands overhead
- Athletic mark
- Contested marking
- Intercept marking
- Strong tackler
- Versatility
Weaknesses:
- Unclear best position
- Has arguably regressed since the same last year, becoming more outside this year
- Strength/size
- Contested-ball winning
- One-on-one strength
30. Josh Rotham (WA)
Best position: General defence
Height, weight: 192cm, 79kg
Recruited from: West Perth
Plays like: Matthew Broadbent
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: 29
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Promising athletic type with height but a lack of a clear best position sees Rotham placed here.
Strengths:
- Athleticism
- Linebreaking speed
- Acceleration
- Aerial marking
- Intercept marking
- Scope to play multiple positions
Weaknesses:
- One-on-one strength
- Ability to negate opponents' influence
- Unclear best position
- Sometimes inconsistent kick