The 2018 AFL Draft has been run and done (and won?) but it's never too early to look at next year's crop.
ESPN.com.au draft expert Chris Doerre casts his eye over the country's best talent ahead of the 2019 draft, listing his top 20 in alphabetical order.
Noah Anderson
High-impact-per-possession utility who influences games heavily through the midfield, forward or back. He's an explosive line breaker who hurts the opposition by foot, breaking open games and can kick multiple goals in the space of a few minutes. A sample of Anderson's ability is his 20-disposal, four-goal and four-goal assist game for Vic Metro in their win against Western Australia. He is the son of ex-Hawk and Saint Dean Anderson, who didn't clock up enough games for Noah to be eligible as a father-son.
Lachlan Ash
Playing much of his best football in defence, Ash is an intercept marking machine who can push up through the midfield and win the contested ball or push forward and take a mark. Ash is a prolific ground ball-winner who chases and tackles intently with a season high of 13 tackles coming against the Geelong Falcons. He is a reliable kick from defence, provides run and carry while possessing agility and evasion.
Charlie Dean
Key position player able to play forward or back. As a key defender, Dean holds his own one-on-one and takes intercept marks. When use as a key forward, he provides a reliable marking target and hits the scoreboard. His 17 marks in his last three TAC Cup games is something he can build upon.
Sam Flanders
With the most appealing mixes of attributes, Flanders possesses the upside to become one of if not the best from the 2019 draft crop. He's an explosive contested ball-winner with one-on-one marking strength who hits the scoreboard heavily and hurts the opposition with his kicking. Flanders has had two four-goal and one five-goal haul as a forward who also has the capacity to push up through the midfield.
Will Gould
An Under-18 All-Australian, Will Gould is one of the most physically advanced and dominant prospects in the pool. He possesses one-on-one strength, reads the ball in flight effectively and takes intercepts marks in defence. He's a penetrating kick who can launch the ball 60m and hit targets reliably.
Thomas Green (GWS Academy)
During the Under-18 Championships, including the Allies' trial match against Vic Metro, Green averaged 21 disposals and competition highs of 15 contested possessions and six clearances in his four matches. His averages of 24 disposals and eight clearances per game from his three NEAFL matches are even more impressive. There is no better stoppage player in the 2019 crop with Green the standout ball winner and distributor by hand. The bonus with the powerful Green at 188cm is he can push forward and provide a marking and goalkicking threat, kicking three goals from his four games representing the Allies on the national stage.
Luke Jackson
Athletic, high leaping ruckman who follows up powerfully, often winning first possession following ruck contests and tackling aggressively. A powerful contested mark who reads the ball in flight effectively, Jackson has made the decision to pursue football over basketball. He announced himself for Western Australia against South Australia during the Under-18 Championships with 13 contested possessions, two contested marks and 29 hitouts.
Brodie Kemp
Arguably the most advanced defender from the 2019 crop, Kemp is an intercept marking machine across half-back. He reads the ball in flight as well as any in the pool and takes aerial and one-on-one marks. While intercept marking is his greatest strength, he's a powerful ground ball-winner and provides drive from defence with his run and kicking. Defence is likely is best spot, but he does have the ability to push forward as a marking target or through the midfield as a ball winner. Kemp averaged more than one contested mark per game and took eight in his final four TAC Cup matches.
Mitch O'Neill
The son of a state 400m champion and a state netballer, O'Neill is a skilful midfielder who makes sound decisions and displays the vision and skills to hit targets inside 50m. In traffic, he displays evasion and agility while on the outside he provides run. A natural at ground level and an aerial marking threat who was named in the Under-18 All-Australian team.
Lachlan Potter
The premier line breaker in junior ranks, Potter can often be found running the ball 20-40m at a time with ball in hand. He is the fastest and most daring runner, backing himself to get around opponents and is impossible to catch from the rear.
Matthew Rowell
Provides an ideal balance through the midfield between winning the ball on the inside -- attacking the ball furiously with breakaway speed -- and breaking the lines on the outside. Winning best-on-ground honours in a losing TAC Cup Grand Final and the Under-17 All Stars Grand Final curtain raiser, Rowell finished the season ominously and is deserving of pick 1 favouritism the way he closed the season.
Caleb Serong
Serong is a ball winner with explosive speed and an incredible first step. He is dangerous one-on-one, strong overhead, a high leaper who possesses damaging skills and is among the highest impact per possession in the draft class. In the Under-17 Grand Final curtain raiser, Serong secured a game-high 28 disposals and looked a class above all except Matthew Rowell.
Jeremy Sharp
One of the premier speed and endurance athletes in the 2019 draft, Sharp breaks the lines off half-back and runs all day. The Under-18 All-Australian is composed with ball in hand, evasive and possesses and long, reliable kick. He has grown rapidly over the past 12 months and is likely to continue which is a great indicator that his football has further room to grow.
Cooper Stephens
One of the premier ball winners of the 2019 crop, Stephens has the production on the board and is one of the most prolific at stoppages. His contested ball-winning and distribution by hand are his most pronounced strengths with his burst of speed out of stoppages another weapon. Stephens was among Geelong Falcon's bests in each of his last six matches.
Dylan Stephens
Kicking 13 goals from his eight SANFL Under-18 matches, Stephens is a prolific ball-winning forward and midfielder who can play inside or outside. He runs all day and hurts the opposition with his kicking. His most prolific performances came in the finals with games including 27 disposals, 11 inside 50s and four goals and 35 disposals, 15 contested possessions, seven clearances and one goal.
Cameron Taheny
One of South Australia's most talented forwards, kicking eight goals in one game and four goals in two successive weeks in the SANFL Under-18s. Taheny is one of the classiest left foot kicks in the pool and a powerful overhead mark. He racks up the ball endlessly forward of centre and is dangerous both as a marking target close to goal and pushing up the field.
Corey Watts
Watts won the Sandringham best and fairest this season on a list featuring first-round selections Max and Ben King (picks 4 and 6), Bailey Smith (pick 7) and Morrish medallist Liam Stocker (pick 19). Watts as a key defender is an intercept marking force who averages five marks and one contested mark per game. His kicking is reliable and one-on-one Watts is strong enough to beat most opponents.
Joshua Worrell
Tall, intercept marking defender who reads ball the ball in flight effectively. Possesses good speed, providing run and carry from defence. One-on-one Worrell beats his opponents and takes one-on-one marks. He has taken 12 contested marks from 11 games TAC Cup games and 29 marks in his last four.
Dylan Williams
A talented forward who kicked 14 goals in his three TAC Cup finals for Oakleigh. As a forward, Williams is one-touch at ground level and a strong one-on-one mark who is clever around goal. While his best football has been played as a forward, he is a capable ball-winning midfielder who should spend more time through there in 2019.
Hayden Young
Likely to play more through the midfield in 2019, Young has been used primarily in defence this season. He's an aggressive attacker of the ball with clean skills who provides run and carry from defence. A solid all-around talent who can beat his opponents one-on-one and rebound.