Each week, ESPN.com.au AFL draft expert Chris Doerre casts his eye over the country's best junior footballers to give readers an early insight into the next generation of AFL stars.
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 draft analysis.
Aside from the weekly wraps, Doerre will also unveil his power rankings at the end of each month and as we get closer to November's national draft, Doerre will also predict who goes where with his annual phantom draft.
1. Jack Lukosius (SA)
Best position: Key forward
Height, weight: 194cm, 85kg
Recruited from: Woodville West Torrens
Projected draft range: 1-3
Plays like: Nick Riewoldt
August Ranking: 1
Rationale: The best draft prospect we have seen in the past 10 years. The next prototype key forward who covers the ground like Nick Riewoldt and hits impossible targets like no key forward we have seen. Hurts the opposition with each touch and is one of the rare few who can break open games with his kicking from behind the centre square, finding and hitting targets no one else would recognise as being open.
Strengths:
Endurance
Work rate
Creates separation on the lead
Leading patterns
Precise long kick
Field kicking out in front of targets to lead onto
Vision
Lowers eyes
Scoreboard impact
Dominant as a key forward and key defender
Production at SANFL League level
Success in the biggest games including four goals on SANFL League debut in a final
Football smarts
Impact per possession
Weaknesses:
Overhead marking not consistently one-grab
One-on-one marking
Contested ball-winning
2. Bailey Smith (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 185cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Sandringham
Projected draft range: 3-10
Plays like: Jaeger O'Meara
Rationale: Arguably the best and most complete midfielder in the draft. Smith places ahead of the more highly touted Sam Walsh with his contested ball-winning, kicking and acceleration of a higher standard. Currently sitting out with achilles bursitis which he has played through since the start of the season.
August Ranking: 2
Strengths:
Production
Work ethic
Contested ball-winning
Stoppage work
Outside accumulation
Kicking precision and placement
Vision
Endurance
Work rate
Acceleration away from the contest
Versatility to play midfield or defence
Reading of the ball in flight
Intercept marking
Weaknesses:
Impact forward of centre
Contested marking
3. Sam Walsh (VIC)
Best position: Inside/outside midfield
Height, weight: 183cm, 74kg
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Projected draft range: 1-3
Plays like: Adam Treloar
Rationale: The most highly touted midfielder in the draft class. His play is as advanced as any in an inside or outside role.
August Ranking: 3
Strengths:
Production
Endurance
Work rate
Run and carry
Agility
Leap
Contested ball-winning
Ground ball winner
Outside accumulation
Weaknesses:
Consistency of kick placement
Size
Lack of acceleration to create separation on the move
4. Izak Rankine (SA)
Best position: General forward/inside midfield
Height, weight: 180cm, 77kg
Recruited from: West Adelaide
Projected draft range: 3-10
Plays like: Andrew McLeod (forward version)
Rationale: Rankine's impact per possession is as high as any in this draft. He has the performances on the board at SANFL League level and can perform from day dot.
August Ranking: 4
Strengths:
One-touch ground ball pickups at full pace
Evasiveness
Agility
Acceleration
Change of direction
Anticipation
Skills under pressure
Impact per possession
Scoreboard impact
Instincts for where the goals are
Performances on the board at SANFL League level
Contested ball-winning
Damaging as a forward and midfielder
Weaknesses:
Height
Can get caught with the ball when he tries to do too much
Good but sometimes inconsistent production
Endurance
5. Max King (VIC)
Best position: Key forward/ruckman
Height, weight: 202cm, 85kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Projected draft range: 2-10
Plays like: Joe Daniher
Rationale: Out for the season with a torn ACL. As difficult to defend inside 50m as any junior key forward in recent years.
August Ranking: 5
Strengths:
Height
Long arms
Takes front position in marking contests
Body positioning in the contest
Draws free kicks inside 50m
Jumps towards the ball when taking marks
Contested marking
One-on-one marking
Marks at the highest point
Clean at ground level
Leap
Mobility
Leading patterns
Weaknesses:
Endurance
Work rate
Rarely pushes up outside the forward 50m arc
Conversion in front of goal
6. Nick Blakey (NSW - Sydney Academy)
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 195cm, 80kg
Recruited from: University of New South Wales
Projected draft range: 3-10
Plays like: Jarryd Roughead
Rationale: Physically developing tall with mix of attributes to suggest he'll emerge. Rises as Ben King's form drops off.
August Ranking: 7
Strengths:
Mobility
Leap
Marking at the highest point
Leading patterns
First possession winner at stoppages on the move
Toughness
Versatility to play all 18 positions
Clean at ground level
Production
Reliable kick
Quick hands
Weaknesses:
Size
Strength in the contest
Consistency
Unclear best position
7. Ben King (VIC)
Best position: Key defence
Height, weight: 202cm, 85kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Projected draft range: 3-10
Plays like: Harris Andrews
Rationale: This year's premier key defender. Terrific both as a stopper and rebounder. More versatile and effective up the ground than Max, but the less dominant close to goal. Drops a spot due to indifferent TAC Cup form up forward, where he is playing in the absence of his brother.
August Ranking: 6
Strengths:
Height
Contested marking
One-on-one work in the contest
Intercept marking
Reading the ball in flight
Capability to play either end
Protects the drop zone on marks
Lockdown defence
Skills
Mobility
Versatility to play key defence or key forward
Weaknesses:
Endurance
Work rate
8. Jackson Hately (SA)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 190cm, 81kg
Recruited from: Central Districts
Projected draft range: 5-20
Plays like: Brad Ebert
Rationale: Ready-to-go midfielder who is a consistent performer in the SANFL at League level. Balances contested ball-winning with outside accumulation and run.
August Ranking: 8
Strengths:
Production
Clean at ground level
Distribution by hand
Contested ball-winning
Stoppage work
Endurance
Work rate
Run and carry
Outside accumulation
Overhead marking
Versatility to play forward, midfield or back
Scoreboard impact
Weaknesses:
Decision-making under pressure
Prone to rushing disposals and not lowering his eyes
Lacks hurt-factor
Acceleration
9. Connor McFadyen (QLD - Brisbane Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 190cm, 88kg
Recruited from: Brisbane Lions
Projected draft range: 10-30
Plays like: Nat Fyfe
Rationale: Was arguably the Allies' most powerful ball-winner and most threatening marking target forward of centre during the Under-18 Championships. Has backed up that play with promising NEAFL performances.
August Ranking: 9
Strengths:
Contested ball-winning
Distribution by hand
Stoppage work
Marking threat forward of centre
Contested marking
Reading of the ball in flight
Protects the drop of the ball
One-on-one strength
Scoreboard impact
Clean at ground level
Equally effective forward as he is through the midfield
Weaknesses:
Pace
Agility
10. Rhylee West (VIC - Western Bulldogs father-son)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 180cm, 80kg
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Projected draft range: 5-20
Plays like: Nathan Jones
Rationale: Ball-winning midfielder with production on the board. A star for Vic Metro during the Under-18 Championships.
August Ranking: 10
Strengths:Strong body
Contested ball-winning
Tackling
Composure with ball in hand
Vision
Reliable ball user
Midfielder who can push forward
Strength through hips to stand up through tackles
Acceleration
Agility
Weaknesses:
Height
X-factor
11. Connor Rozee (SA)
Best position: General forward/outside midfield
Height, weight: 185cm, 72kg
Recruited from: North Adelaide
Projected draft range: 5-20
Plays like: Dale Thomas
Rationale: Damaging forward who applies impressive forward pressure and possesses the scope in the future to push through the midfield.
August Ranking: 11
Strengths:
Skills
Vision
Kicking inside 50m
Finishing around goal
Sticky hands overhead
Freakish at ground level
Acceleration
Breaks the lines
Agility
Leap
Change of direction
Pressures the ball carrier
Forward pressure
Tackling
Overhead marking
Impacts games as a forward and midfielder
Clean at ground level
Weaknesses:
Stoppage work
Strength
12. Liam Stocker (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 183cm, 83kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Projected draft range: 5-25
Similar to: David Armitage
Rationale: Missing the Under-18 Championships due to a broken jaw, Stocker has quietly been playing a consistent brand of football for Sandringham and has been one of the stoppage stars of the TAC Cup. Rises due to consistency of output.
August Ranking: Not ranked
Strengths:
Stoppage work
Contested ball-winning
Tackling
Distribution by hand
Endurance
Work rate
Agility
Acceleration over the first 10m
Kicking to targets inside 50m
Weaknesses:
No clear second position
Outside accumulation
13. Jye Caldwell (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 184cm, 78kg
Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers
Projected draft range: 5-25
Similar to: Luke Shuey
Rationale: On return from hamstring injury, Caldwell has reminded recruiters why he was one of the most highly touted prospects coming into the season.
August Ranking: Not ranked
Strengths:
Stoppage work
Effective as a midfielder or forward
Scoreboard impact
Contested ball-winning
Tackling
Acceleration from the contest
Dual sided
Weaknesses:
Consistency of skills
Little exposed form due to injury
14. Riley Collier-Dawkins (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 193cm, 88kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 10-25
Plays like: Marcus Bontempelli
Rationale: First-possession winner at stoppages with a burst of speed and clean skills. Drops due to below expected output.
August Ranking: 12
Strengths:
Impact per possession
Wins first possession at stoppages on the move
Contested ball-winning
Clean at ground level
Distribution by hand
Kicking
Vision
Decision-making in traffic
Acceleration
Agility
Evasiveness in traffic
Overhead marking
Contested marking
Capable through midfield or up forward
Weaknesses:
Production
Consistency
15. Sydney Stack (WA)
Best position: Inside midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 177cm, 72kg
Recruited from: Perth
Projected draft range: 20-50
Plays like: Sam Petrevski-Seton
Rationale: One of the most exciting and impactful players through the Under-18 Championships. A prolific ball winner who hits the ball at speed and accelerates away. Production strong and tackling energy around the ball as impressive as any through the carnival. Not looking out of his depth at WAFL League level.
August Ranking: 15
Strengths:
Wins first possession at stoppages on the move
Tackling
Pressure around the ball
Acceleration
Speed
Agility
Composure and evasion in traffic
One-touch ground ball winner
Clean ball user
Weaknesses:
Size
16. Curtis Taylor (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 186cm, 79kg
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Projected draft range: 10-30
Plays like: Jordan De Goey
Rationale: Goalkicking midfielder who provides a marking target up forward and wins the ball through the midfield. Drops due to less-than-expected output.
August Ranking: 13
Strengths:
Impact per possession
Contested ball-winning
Skills
Lowers eyes
Brings teammates into the game
Hurt factor with ball in hand
Movement through traffic
Agility
Leap
Overhead marking
Tackling
Weaknesses:
Endurance
Production
17. Xavier O'Halloran (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 187cm, 83kg
Recruited from: Western Jets
Projected draft range: 10-30
Plays like: Shaun Higgins
Rationale: High-impact-per-possession player with the tools to become one of this year's best midfielders. Drops due to below expected output.
August Ranking: 14
Strengths:
Acceleration away from the contest
Impact per possession
Kicking
Decision-making
Vision
Leadership
Tackling
Contested ball-winning
Stoppage work
Attack on the ball
Weaknesses:
Production
18. Thomas Sparrow (SA)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 182cm, 81kg
Recruited from: South Adelaide
Projected draft range: 15-45
Similar to: Ben Ronke
Rationale: Shows hints of Patrick Dangerfield-like ball-winning ability and acceleration away from the contest. Rises on the back of strong SANFL form and performance for Prince Alfred College in their final against Henley, where he showed the attributes that suggest he'll develop.
August Ranking: Not ranked
Strengths:
Contested ball-winning
Stoppage work
Attack on the ball
Courage
Impact per possession
Tackling
Breakaway speed from the contest
Acceleration
Agility
Evasion
Weaknesses:
Production
Outside accumulation
19. Luke Valente (SA)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 186cm, 80kg
Recruited from: Norwood
Projected draft range: 15-35
Plays like: Jordan Lewis
Rationale: Prolific ball winner with reliable skills. Drops as others rise.
August Ranking: 17
Strengths:
Contested ball-winning
Stoppage work
Attack on the ball
Tackling
Kicking
Decision-making
Vision
Scoreboard impact
Evasion
Production
Weaknesses:
Pace
X-factor
20. Jarrod Cameron (WA - West Coast Next Generation Academy)
Best position: General forward
Height, weight: 180cm, 69kg
Recruited from: Swan Districts
Projected draft range: 30-60
Plays like: Charlie Cameron
Rationale: Sharing the same gifts as his brother Charlie, Jarrod announced himself against Vic Country kicking a game-high five goals. Making Cameron's performances noteworthy is how exceptional his play has been performing through hip issues he has carried since the start of the season. Drops as others rise.
August Ranking: 18
Strengths:
Speed
Agility
One touch at ground level
Tackling
Forward pressure
Finishing around goal
Aerial marking
Protects the drop zone
Weaknesses:
Tackles don't always stick and can be easily broken
Endurance
Unclear scope to play up the ground