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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. Noah Anderson
Best position: : Inside midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 190cm, 87kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 1-3
Plays like: Jordan De Goey
April Rankings: 2
Rationale: A match-winner who breaks games open in the matter of minutes. The most influential in the pool whether he's used as a midfielder or forward. Anderson's influence as a forward in addition to what he does through the midfield moves him narrowly ahead of Green.
Strengths: Impact per possession, has moments where he individually takes over games, versatility to impact games midfield, forward or back, ground level threat inside 50m, overhead marking threat inside 50m, finds space inside 50m, first possession winner at stoppages, contested ball-winning, distribution by hand, scoreboard impact, spread from the contest, explosive line breaker, hurt factor by foot, vision, moves the ball on quickly, endurance, work rate
Weaknesses: Inconsistency across four quarters  2. Thomas Green (GWS Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 188cm, 88kg
Recruited from: GWS
Projected draft range: 3-20
Plays like: Patrick Cripps
April Rankings: 1
Rationale: The most prolific stoppage player and contested ball winner I've seen at this age and stage, with his 2018 Under-18 Championships and NEAFL form his most impressive. Drops one spot due to Anderson's rising stocks.
Strengths: Stoppage work, winning clearances, contested ball winning, distribution by hand, capabilities forward of centre, marking inside 50m, scoreboard impact, production on the board in the NEAFL, evasion, composure, vision, reliable skills.
Weaknesses: Athleticism 3. Matthew Rowell
Best position: Inside/outside midfield
Height, weight: 178cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 1-3
Plays like: Joel Selwood
Rationale: Continues to build his reputation as a big-game player. Added best on ground honours in the Under-18 vs. Casey match to best on ground medals in a losing TAC Cup Grand Final and during the Under-17 All-Stars Grand Final curtain raiser. That effort solidifies his position as a pick No. 1 contender.
Strengths: Performances on big stages, attack on the ball, contested ball-winning, distribution by hand, explosive acceleration, run and carry, endurance, works hard both ways, versatility to play inside or outside midfield, leadership and voice on the field
Weaknesses: Unclear capacity to play forward or back, often slow to move the ball on after marks and free kicks, hurt factor by foot  4. Brodie Kemp
Best position: Inside midfield/utility
Height, weight: 192cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers
Projected draft range: 3-20
Plays like: Marcus Bontempelli
April Rankings: 6
Rationale: Among the midfielders with the greatest upside in the pool. Clean ball winner with unbelievable acceleration with ball in hand. Impact through the midfield means his stocks rise.
Strengths: Versatility to impact games in any position other than ruck, acceleration, line breaker, movement and evasion through traffic, ground ball winner, intercept marking, reading of the ball in flight, aerial marking, one-on-one marking, leadup marking, contested marking, hurt factor by foot, vision
Weaknesses: Needs to find more of the ball to become a top tier midfielder, consistency over four quarters 5. Will Gould
Best position: Key defence
Height, weight: 190cm, 93kg
Recruited from: Glenelg
Projected draft range: 3-20
Plays like: Steven May
April Rankings: 12
Rationale: An Under-18 All-Australian, Gould is the most physically advanced and dominant prospect in the pool. A season one ready key defender. Quality of SANFL League performances lead to rise.
Strengths: One-on-one strength, reading of the ball in flight, intercept marking, penetrating kick with 60m range, performances on the board against SANFL League competition
Weaknesses: Endurance ,athleticism 6. Lachlan Ash
Best position: General defence
Height, weight: 186cm, 80kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Projected draft range: 3-20
Plays like: Kade Simpson
April Rankings: 13
Rationale: A well rounded defender who intercepts at a high level, provides run and uses the ball reliably from defence. The quality and consistency of his performances see his stocks rise.
Strengths: Intercept marking, reading of the ball in flight, ground ball winning, tackling, forward pressure, reliable kick, line breaking run and carry, agility, evasion, versatility to push up through the midfield
Weaknesses: Can try to do too much with ball in hand  7. Ryan Byrnes
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 181cm, 80kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Projected draft range: 5-25
Plays like: Jack Steven
April Rankings: 14
Rationale: On performance is making the case that he is one of this draft's most damaging. Winning the ball and hurting the opposition with his acceleration and hurt-factor by foot. Rising rapidly on the back of a fast start to 2019.
Strengths: Wins first possession at stoppages, use of speed with ball in hand around stoppages, line breaking pace, agility, evasion in traffic, hurt factor by foot, high impact per possession, vision to find targets inside 50m, production
Weaknesses: Scoreboard impact, unclear versatility 8. Dylan Williams
Best position: General forward/inside midfield
Height, weight: 185cm, 81kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 3-20
Plays like: Steve Johnson
April Rankings: 5
Rationale: Has the performances on the board for Oakleigh in 2018 and is appealing with the quality of his play forward of centre and through the midfield. Drops with impact to start the season lower than expected.
Strengths: One touch at ground level, strong one-on-one mark, overhead marking, clever finisher around goal, skills, contested ball-winning, midfield capabilities
Weaknesses: Forward pressure, tackling, endurance, consistency 9. Sam Flanders
Best position: General forward/inside midfield
Height, weight: 182cm, 81kg
Recruited from: Gippsland Power
Projected draft range: 3-25
Plays like: Cameron Rayner
April Rankings: 4
Rationale: One of the draft's most damaging forward of centre. Underwhelming start through the midfield relative to what he showed last year as a forward, results in Flanders dropping.
Strengths: Scoreboard impact, one-on-one marking, overhead marking, explosive acceleration, hurt-factor by foot, leadership and voice out on the field, contested ball-winning, first possession winner at stoppages
Weaknesses: Consistency, endurance , impact when used through the midfield 10. Hayden Young
Best position: General defence/midfield
Height, weight: 188cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays
Projected draft range: 3-20
Plays like: Zak Jones
April Rankings: 16
Rationale: Young's drive from defence demonstrated for the Under-18s against Casey see his stocks rise.
Strengths: Versatility to play defence or midfield, aggressive attack on the ball, damaging skills, run and carry, one-on-one defence
Weaknesses: Production, intercept marking 11. Connor Budarick (Gold Coast Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 176cm, 76kg
Recruited from: Gold Coast
Projected draft range: 10-30
Plays like: Devon Smith
April rankings: not ranked
Rationale: Not only finds the ball but his pressure and football smarts earn him this position.
Strengths: Tackling, forward pressure, production, makes winning plays that don't show up on stat sheet, evasion, agility, clean skills
Weaknesses: Scoreboard impact, hurt factor by foot  12. Dylan Stephens
Best position: General forward/midfield
Height, weight: 181cm, 69kg
Recruited from: Norwood
Projected draft range: 5-30
Plays like: Hugh McCluggage
April rankings: 7
Rationale: Solid start to the season showing he belongs at SANFL League level. Drops as others rise.
Strengths: Scoreboard impact, endurance to run all day, Reliable ball user, production, versatility to play forward or midfield in an inside or outside role
Weaknesses: Size, forward pressure 13. Cameron Taheny
Best position: General forward/midfield
Height, weight: 183cm, 76kg
Recruited from: Norwood
Projected draft range: 10-40
Plays like: Shane Edwards
April Rankings: 8
Rationale: Solid start to the season including three goals on SANFL League debut. Drops as others rise.
Strengths: Scoreboard impact, classy and damaging left foot kick, kicking penetration, moves the ball on quickly, smarts around goal, overhead marking threat inside 50m, knack for finding the ball forward of centre
Weaknesses: Unclear midfield capabilities, contested ball-winning 14. Caleb Serong
Best position: Inside midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 178cm, 83kg
Recruited from: Gippsland Power
Projected draft range: 5-25
Plays like: Jamie Elliott
April rankings: 9
Rationale: Strong start to the season through Gippsland's midfield but drops as others rise.
Strengths: One-on-one capabilities, powerful overhead mark, aerial marking threat, high leaper, explosive first step, agility, damaging skills, impact per possession, scoreboard impact, contested ball-winning capabilities
Weaknesses: Numbers lower than many of the other top tier midfielders, consistency  15. Mitch O'Neill
Best position: Outside midfield
Height, weight: 178cm, 69kg
Recruited from: North Hobart
Projected draft range: 5-20
Plays like: Zach Merrett
April ranking: 10
Rationale: An Under-18 All-Australian and the son of a state 400m champion and state netballer. The quality of his ball use, movement and capacity to impact games at ground level or overhead places him among the most promising midfielders in the pool. Drops as others rise.
Strengths: Precision kicking, decision making, vision, evasion and slipperiness in traffic, agility, leap, aerial marking threat, one touch at ground level, able to play outside or inside midfield
Weaknesses: Size, contested ball-winning, stoppage work. 16. Jeremy Sharp
Best position: General defence
Height, weight: 187cm, 73kg
Recruited from: East Fremantle
Projected draft range: 5-25
Plays like: Jack Crisp
April ranking: 11
Rationale: One of the premier rebounding defenders and outside runners in the draft. His speed, endurance and ball use are his greatest assets. Drops as others rise.
Strengths: Speed, endurance, line breaking capabilities, composure with ball in hand, evasion, long, reliable kick, versatility to play in defence or on a wing
Weaknesses: Contested ball-winning, unclear midfield capabilities 17. Brodie Newman
Best position: Key defence
Height, weight: 193cm, 90kg
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Projected draft range: 20-60
Plays like: Jeremy McGovern
April Rankings: not ranked
Rationale: Has started the season strongly and earns his way into the top-20 with a 36 disposal, 17 mark performance against Geelong putting him on the map.
Strengths: Intercept marking, reading of the drop of the ball, contested marking, penetrating and reliable kick, strength one-on-one
Weaknesses: Athleticism, unclear versatility 18. Trent Bianco
Best position: General defence/outside midfield
Height, weight: 176cm, 70kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 10-40
Plays like: Caleb Daniel
April Rankings: not ranked
Rationale: Earns top-20 position off the back of his performance in defence taking the kickouts for the Under-18s against Casey.
Strengths: Precise and consistent skill execution by hand and foot on both sides over a range of distances, vision, decision making, composure with ball in hand, evasion, speed, run and carry, moves the ball on quickly, versatility to play outside midfield or in defence
Weaknesses: Contested ball winning, size and strength 19. Jay Rantall
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 184cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Greater Western Victoria Rebels
Projected draft range: 10-40
Plays like: Jack Macrae
April Rankings: not ranked
Rationale: A basketball convert who has performed consistently, demonstrating AFL traits.
Strengths: Evasion in traffic, linkup by hand, clean hands, run and carry, endurance, clean ground ball winner, finishing around goal, scoreboard impact, untapped potential having shifting focus from basketball to football
Weaknesses: Kicking, consistency 20. Deven Robertson
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 182cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Perth
Projected draft range: 10-50
Plays like: Nathan Jones
Rationale: Nephew of Darren Glass, Robertson is one of the most productive ball-winning midfielders in the pool.
Strengths: Production, attack on the ball, contested ball winning, stoppage work, work rate, endurance, speed, agility, tackling, pressure around the ground
Weaknesses: X-factor, scoreboard impact
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