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: September
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. Scoreboard impact, ground-ball winning, precision ball use and production a rare combination.
Strengths:
- Production
- Freakish cleanness at ground level - Incredible finisher from all angles both from set shots and general play
- Lowers eyes and by foot finds inside 50m targets
- Excellent crumber who gets to right positions, quickly and cleanly gaining possession - Instant decision maker with ball in hand
- Quick and efficient execution of skills by hand and foot
- Confidence to play on or move 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
- Consistent
- Rate of performance this season given limited preseason suggest substantial upside
- Suited to playing both as a forward and as a midfielder
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. Andrew McGrath (VIC)
Best position: General defence/inside midfield
Height, weight: 179cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Plays like: Heath Shaw
Projected draft range: top five
Rated last month: 3
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Strong TAC Cup finals series and production throughout season have seen McGrath's stocks steadily improve. Explosive runner off half-back.
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
- Strength in one-on-one contests
- Reads flight of ball well
- Intercept marking
- Lifts during most important stages of game
- Improvement
- Finals performances
- Class and composure with ball in hand
- Football smarts
- Versatility to play well down back and through the midfield to high standard
- Leadership
Weaknesses:
- Sometimes lacking consistency by foot
- Relative lack of height by position
- Hands not always clean in close
3. William Brodie (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfielder
Height, weight: 189cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Plays like: Ryan Griffen
Projected draft range: top 10
Rated last month: 2
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: The strength of his AFL Under-18 Championships and his performances against VFL opponents earlier this year through the midfield are enough to validate this high ranking. Impactful inside midfielder who wins first possession and has explosive pace.
Strengths:
- Production
- Strong performer against more mature VFL bodies
- Lifts during important moments in games
- Performs in big games
- Reads ruck taps well
- Wins first possession at stoppages in dangerous positions
- Contested-ball winning at stoppages and around the ground
- Hits stoppages at speed, winning contested ball on the move and bursting out other side with ball in hand
- Kicks from stoppages often damaging and find inside 50 target
- Tackling
- Distributes well distribute by 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 sometimes lack consistency
- Contested marking
- Scoreboard impact
4. Tim Taranto (VIC)
Best position: General forward/inside midfield
Height, weight: 186cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Plays like: Robbie Gray
Projected draft range: top 10
Rated last month: 13
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Impact and production through finals series sees Taranto's draft stocks elevated. He does damage forward and through the midfield.
Strengths:
- Impact per possession
- Hurt factor by foot
- Hits inside 50m targets
- Vision
- Decision-making ability
- Football smarts
- Strong first-possession winner at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning
- Tackling
- Aerial marking
- Strong hands overhead
- One-on-one marking
- Can isolate deep in front 50m
- Versatility to play forward and midfield to a strong standard
- Finishing around goal
- Evasiveness
- Production
- Big game and finals performances
- Improvement
Weaknesses:
- Two-way running effort
- Work rate
- Only average pace
5. Jack Bowes (QLD - Gold Coast Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 187cm, 78kg
Recruited from: Gold Coast
Plays like: Nick Dal Santo Projected draft range: top 10
Rated last month: 6
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Improved NEAFL performances through August and solid showing in Under-18 All Stars match see Bowes move slightly up the power rankings.
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
- Strong first-possession winner at stoppages
- Tackling
- Clean at ground level and can rove at bottom of packs
- Absorbs tackles and disposes of ball efficiently when tackled
- Capable mark overhead with one-on-one and intercept marking ability
- Versatility to play midfield, back and forward
- Sidestep and ability to evade tackles in traffic
- Strong performances against state league-standard competition
Weaknesses:
- Pace only average
- Impact sometimes lacking
6. Will Setterfield (NSW/ACT - GWS Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 190cm, 80kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Plays like: David Mundy
Projected draft range: first round
Rated last month: 8
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Impactful for Sandringham at stoppages during finals.
Strengths:
- Production
- Composure and sound decision-making ability under pressure
- Lowers eyes and demonstrated vision and quality use by foot from stoppages
- Damaging skills
- 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
- Aerial marking
- Versatility to play midfield, forward or back if required
- Scoreboard impact
Weaknesses:
- Pace only average
- Durability
7. Harry Perryman (NSW/ACT - GWS Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield/general defence
Height, weight: 184cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Collingullie-GP
Plays like: Rory Sloane
Projected draft range: first round
Rated last month: 7
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: With little exposure since the finish of the under-18 championships, no movement necessary.
Strengths:
- Production
- Football smarts
- Win first-possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning ability at stoppages and around the ground
- Tackling
- Strong mark overhead
- Contested marking
- Strength and smarts in one-on-one contests
- 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. Ben Ainsworth (VIC)
Best position: General forward/inside midfield
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: Dynamic and impactful forward who can push through the midfield and have an impact. With Gippsland missing finals, no movement necessary.
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
- Scoreboard impact
- Footskills
- Vision
- Decision-making
- Tackling and pressuring
Weaknesses:
- Endurance
- It is unclear whether Ainsworth can become a full-time midfielder; at this stage it looks like he is a forward who can rotate through the midfield
-- Potential top 10 on list quality --
9. Sam Petrevski-Seton (WA)
Best position: Outside midfield/general defence
Height, weight: 181cm, 76kg
Recruited from: Claremont
Plays like: Daniel Wells
Projected draft range: first round
Rated last month: 4
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Reduced impact per possession and no WAFL League opportunities over second half of the season sees Petrevski-Seton drop.
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 football instincts for where teammates and opponents are
- Finishing around goal
- Versatility to play midfield, back or forward to a high standard
- Can win contested-ball and first possession at stoppages
- Tackling
Weaknesses:
- Strength
- Unclear best position
- Inconsistency
- Endurance
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: 10
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Arguably matched if not exceed the impact of teammate McCluggage through the TAC Cup finals. Has had an outstanding season through the midfield with his contested-ball winning, aggression at the ball and tackling are as good as any in this draft.
Strengths:
- Stoppage specialist
- Wins first possession at stoppages
- Contested-ball winning
- Aggressive tackler
- Clean below knees
- Courage to win 50/50 ball without fear of getting hurt
- Strength
- Capable mark overhead
- 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 on the outside to become a more frequent and useful link player
- Strength of TAC Cup performances
Weaknesses:
- Limited opportunities through midfield during the under-18 championships and end-of-season Under-18 All Stars match 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 he rushes kicks, too often bombing long to a general area near one of his teammates rather than taking time to find an open target by foot
11. Jack Scrimshaw (VIC)
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 193cm, 80kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Plays like: Brodie Smith
Projected draft range: first round
Rated last month: 14
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Solidified position with promise shown through TAC Cup finals for Sandringham.
Strengths:
- Evasiveness
- Damaging, long kick
- Vision
- Decision-making with ball in hand
- Reads flight of ball early
- Intercept marking
- Movement through traffic with ball in hand
- Takes on the game with run
- Production
Weaknesses:
- One-on-one strength
- Lacks strength to play as a key defender
- Unaccountable in defence
- Footskills sometimes lacking consistency
- Contested-ball winning
- Unclear best position
12. Shai Bolton (WA)
Best position: General forward/outside midfield
Height, weight: 178cm, 68kg
Recruited from: South Fremantle
Plays like: Steven Motlop
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: 19
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Performance and damage over the second half of the season has seen Bolton rise up draft boards.
Strengths:
- Acceleration
- Line-breaking
- One-touch ground ball winner
- Wins groundballs at speed
- Evasiveness
- Agility
- Composure with ball in hand
- With ball in hand displays creativeness and makes things happen
- Scoreboard impact
Weaknesses:
- Defensive run
- Strength
- One-on-one ability
- Raw
- Winning the hard, contested ball
13. Sam Powell-Pepper (WA)
Best position: General forward/inside midfield
Height, weight: 188cm, 83kg
Recruited from: East Perth
Plays like: Stewart Crameri
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: 17
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Strong WAFL Colts grand final and high impact per possession game sees Powell-Pepper placed here.
Strengths:
- Impact per possession
- Strength of ground-ball winning
- 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)
- Scoreboard impact
- Explosive pace
- Breaks the lines
- Endurance
Weaknesses:
- Turnover prone by foot
- Contested marking and clean hands overhead
-- Potential best 15 on list quality --
14. Tim English (VIC)
Best position: Ruck
Height, weight: 204cm, 86kg
Recruited from: South Fremantle
Plays like: Josh Fraser
Projected draft range: first round
Rated last month: 18
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Continued improvement sees English continue to rise up draft boards.
Strengths:
- Late growth, growing from midfield height to ruck height in lpast 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
- Improving tap work
Weaknesses:
- Lack of size and strength
- Raw hitout numbers below peers
- Unreliable mark
- Not a contested marking treat
- Not a marking threat forward of centre
- Scoreboard impact
- Versatility to play a second position
15. Todd Marshall (NSW/ACT)
Best position: Key forward
Height, weight: 198cm, 87kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Plays like: Tyrone Vickery
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: 5 Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Below expectation finals series and a lack of big games from Marshall sees him drop.
Strengths:
- Clean, one-take, ground-ball pickups below knees
- Agility
- Pace
- Football smarts
- 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
- Limited to playing in front 50m at this stage
- Endurance
- No dominant performances, with no games of more than three goals
16. Brad Scheer (QLD - Gold Coast Academy)
Best position: Inside midfielder/general forward
Height, weight: 184cm, 83kg
Recruited from: Gold Coast
Plays like: Josh Caddy
Projected draft range: first to third round
Rated last month: 11
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Strong and productive season through the midfield.
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 marking target inside the forward 50m
- Able finisher inside forward 50m
- Reliable kick
- Endurance
- Work rate
Weaknesses:
- Run and carry
- Outside hurt factor
- Lacks an x-factor
17. Jonty Scharenberg (SA)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 186cm, 80kg
Recruited from: Glenelg
Plays like: Michael Rischitelli
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: 23
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: SANFL Under-18 grand final performance sees Scharenberg's stocks rise in what has been a solid and consistent season.
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
- Finishing around goal
Weaknesses:
- Pace
- Athleticism
- Versatility
- Lacks an x-factor
18. Kobe Mutch (NSW/ACT - GWS Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 184cm, 79kg
Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers
Plays like: Brad Ebert
Projected draft range: second to third round
Rated last month: 12
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: One of this year's most productive and consistent midfielders. Lack of late-season TAC Cup or NEAFL exposure sees Mutch drop because others have improved.
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
19. Zac Fisher (WA)
Best position: Inside midfield/outside midfield
Height, weight: 175cm, 61kg
Recruited from: Perth
Plays like: Lachie Neale
Projected draft range: second to third round
Rated last month: 22
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Numbers and quality of performances during the under-18 championships and at WAFL League level have led to this 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 v WAFL League competition
Weaknesses:
- Size by position
- Unclear versatility
20. Dylan Clarke (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 187cm, 85kg
Recruited from: Eastern Rangers
Plays like: Daniel Cross
Projected draft range: second to third 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
- Lacks an x-factor
21. Daniel Venables (VIC)
Best position: General forward/inside midfield
Height, weight: 186cm, 81kg
Recruited from: Western Jets
Plays like: Jack Crisp
Projected draft range: first round
Rated last month: 15
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: No TAC Cup games since July and limited matches played over 2015/2016 make Venables difficult to place. Has all the attributes but numbers in the games he has played are not as high as many of the other top-end prospects, which sees him placed lower rather than higher.
Strengths:
- Aggressive 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 time through the midfield and have an impact without having the numbers at this point to appear like he will develop into a full-time midfielder
- Work rate
- Inconsistent from game to game
- Lacks four-quarter impact
- Lack of exposed form due to injuries
- Durability
22. Jy Simpkin (VIC)
Best position: General forward/outside midfield
Height, weight: 181cm, 71kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: 26
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Not applicable. Season missed due to 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
- Acceleration
Weaknesses:
- Contested-ball winning
- Scope to play through midfield full-time unclear
- Endurance
23. Alex Witherden (VIC)
Best position: General defence/outside midfield
Height, weight: 184m, 78kg
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. Season missed due to 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
- Scope to play through midfield unclear
24. William Hayward (SA)
Best position: General forward
Height, weight: 186cm, 76kg
Recruited from: North Adelaide
Plays like: James Sicily
Projected draft range: second round onwards
Rated last month: Unrated
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Has earned his way onto draft board on the back of an outstanding SANFL Under-18 finals series up forward.
Strengths:
- Marking at highest point
- Marking on the lead
- Timing of leads
- One-on-one marking
- Aerial marking
- Vertical leap
- Attacks ball in the air
- Gets front position in marking contests
- Reads drop of ball
- Scoreboard impact
- Genuine No. 1 option in forward 50m
- Football smarts
-Clean at ground level
Weaknesses:
- Unproven outside forward 50m
- Not a big ball winner
- Possible but unclear midfield potential
25. Benjamin Ronke (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 181cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Plays like: Luke Shuey
Projected draft range: late/rookie
Rated last month: unrated
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Excellent second half to the TAC Cup season where strong production and explosive speed and contested-ball winning stood out. Rapid rate of improvement demonstrated. Finished in Calder's best in his last seven games and was listed as Calder's best player in five of his last six games. Late season he played two VFL games and at that level also held his own.
Strengths:
- Contested-ball winning
- Wins high proportion of ball in the contest
- Wins first possession at stoppages
- Explosive acceleration
- Breaks away from stoppages
- Tackling - Chase-down tackling
- Energy around the contest
- Gives second and third efforts
- Athleticism
- Rate of improvement and standard of performance through second half of season
- Held his own against VFL standard competition
- Scoreboard impact (19 goals from 15 TAC Cup games and two goals from two VFL games)
- Kicks goals from stoppages and on the move
- Can play forward
Weaknesses:
- Inconsistent footskills
- Does not find much easy outside ball
26. Lachlan Tiziani (NSW/ACT)
Best position: General forward
Height, weight: 189cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Plays like: Daniel Menzel
Projected draft range: late/rookie
Rated last month: Unrated
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Has earned his way onto draft board on the back of strong second half to the season, with a TAC Cup-leading 32 goals in his last nine games.
Strengths:
- Scoreboard impact (32 goals in last nine games for the season)
- Finishing around goal
- Balance between marking and ground level work
- Clean at ground level
- Gets to right positions to crumb effectively
- Genuine forward 50m marking target
- Strong mark overhead
- Uses body well in one-on-one marking contests
- Marking threat on the lead
- Contested marking
- Keeps his feet in the contest
- Balanced
- High leap
- Acceleration
- Agility
- Versatility to play down back or midfield if required
Weaknesses:
- Low volume accumulator when used through midfield
- Contested-ball winning
- Forward pressure
- Endurance
27. Brodie Romensky (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield/general defence
Height, weight: 189cm, 88kg
Recruited from: Western Jets
Plays like: Jack Macrae
Projected draft range: late/rookie
Rated last month: Unrated
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Has been on the fringe of many draft boards throughout the season and sneaks into this top 30 as a few others drop down.
Strengths:
- Movement through traffic
- Evasiveness
- Agility
- Wins first possession at stoppages
- Wins a high proportion of possessions in the contest
- Gets to every contest
- Tackling
- Size and strength
- Run and carry
- Intercept marking
- Reading of the flight
- Production
- Excellent both through the midfield and off half back
- Consistency of performance (named in bests 12 of 15 games for Western)
Weaknesses:
- Inconsistent footskills
- Scoreboard impact through midfield limited
- At height could be a greater contested marking threat
28. Oliver Florent (VIC)
Best position: General forward/outside midfield
Height, weight: 183cm, 74kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Plays like: David Zaharakis
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: Unrated
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Strong finals series and performance in the Under-18 All Stars game.
Strengths:
- Acceleration
- Evasiveness
- Movement through traffic
- Impactful forward of centre
- Composure with ball in hand
- Clean at ground level
- Improvement late season
- Performances in big games
Weaknesses:
Contested-ball winning
- Production
- Not a four-quarter player
- Light bodied
- Inconsistent footskills
29. 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: 21
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Has had an injury-interrupted season but has shown promise in multiple positions.
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 (arguably looking best off half-forward late season)
30. Josh Rotham (WA)
Best position: General defence/outside midfield
Height, weight: 192cm, 79kg
Recruited from: West Perth
Plays like: Andrew Mackie
Projected draft range: first to second round
Rated last month: 30
Rationale behind ranking/change of ranking: Has shown glimpses of promise off half-back and up on a wing with some attributes demonstrated at his height but needs to have more of an impact more often.
Strengths:
- Athleticism
- Line-breaking speed
- Acceleration
- Footskills
- Aerial marking
- Intercept marking
- Possible scope to play multiple positions
Weaknesses:
- One-on-one strength
- Does not always limit opponents influence
- Contested-ball winning
- Production by position
- Four-quarter impact