ESPN.com.au's AFL Draft expert Chris Doerre has revealed his first AFL Draft Power Rankings of 2021, with the son of a Collingwood legend cracking the top 5.
1. Jason Horne
Widely viewed as the front-runner for pick No. 1 is South Australian Jason Horne. Horne is a goalkicking midfielder who influences games both as a midfielder and forward. Horne plays with the class of a Gary Ablett Jnr, taking on the game with his run, evading opponents with ease and hurting the opposition with his ball use. Through the midfield he is a strong contested ball winner while as a forward, not only is Horne damaging with ball in hand, he's a strong marking threat both aerially and in contested situations.
2. Matthew Roberts
Also a goalkicking midfielder, Roberts kicked eight majors over his last four SANFL Under-18 matches. Roberts is damaging both through the midfield and as a forward. Through the midfield, Roberts plays a well-rounded game; he possesses an ideal inside/outside balance, is a strong contested ball winner, an elite endurance runner who covers a lot of ground, spreads well from stoppages and uses the ball effectively on his left foot. As a forward, Roberts shows good smarts and is a threat both overhead and at ground level. He hurts opponents not only by hitting the scoreboard himself but also with his clean forward 50 entries.
3. Matthew Johnson
A tall, ball winning midfielder at 192cm, Johnson combines ball winning capabilities with composure, class and evasion in traffic. Johnson plays a style of football resembling Scott Pendlebury and shares many of the same rare gifts for a tall midfielder. By hand and foot Johnson hits his targets, with his vision and decision-making additional strengths. Johnson wins a high proportion of his ball in contested situations and connects on his tackles.
4. Josh Rachele
A goalkicking midfielder, Rachele is a capable ball winner who possesses an explosive burst of speed out of stoppages. Rachele was awarded the Kevin Sheehan Medal for the best Division One player during the Under-16 Championships in 2019. At this stage, Rachele plays his best football across half-forward, though this year he will be aiming to spend more time through the middle. Rachele averaged 18 disposals while kicking eight goals during his four NAB League matches in 2019, which speaks to how advanced he was two years out from being draft eligible.
5. Nick Daicos
Arguably more talented than his older brother Josh, Nick Daicos is eligible to join Collingwood as a father-son selection (son of Peter). Nick is the taller of the two brothers and is the far more advanced footballer at the same age. Nick is a natural playmaker with ball in hand with the way he uses the ball to bring teammates into the game and runs with the ball. As you would expect from a Daicos, he possesses precise skills on both feet and is a damaging kick inside 50.
6. Tyler Sonsie
The MVP for Vic Metro during the Under-16 Championships, Sonsie is a classy midfielder and forward. One of the very best kicks inside 50 in this year's draft pool, his ball use, composure and decision making under pressure are his points of difference. Sonsie is a smart footballer who combines his skills with line-breaking capabilities.
7. Josh Sinn
Captain of Vic Metro's Under-16 premiership winning group, Sinn looks at his most damaging across half-back. Sinn generates drive from defence with his run and carry and clean ball use on his left foot, but while he is most recognised for this, he can push up through the midfield in either an outside or inside role. Sinn can win some of his own ball, but it's his outside run and endurance that stand out most.
8. Campbell Chesser
A speedy half-back flanker, Chesser generates substantial drive from defence and on the outside with his run and penetrating kick. Chesser combines this with intercepting capabilities. While looking most comfortable across half-back at this stage, it is expected that we see Chesser looking to develop his ball winning capabilities this year so that he can push through the midfield more.
9. Braden Andrews
A utility who has been asked to play across all lines, Andrews is capable through the midfield, up forward or down back. His composure, ball use and sidestep are the features of his game that allow this. As his ball winning capabilities grow, Andrews is likely to transition into more of a midfielder given his prowess in traffic and can develop that as his best position.
10. Jacob Van Rooyen
Van Rooyen appears to to be the most advanced key forward in this year's draft crop. Van Rooyen kicked 19 goals from 10 WAFL Colts matches last season. Van Rooyen's aerial marking and contested marking are his weapons and give him the future scope to switch into defence. Possessing a strong and advanced body for his age, Van Rooyen has good one-on-one capabilities and importantly for a forward applies forward pressure capably.