ESPN.com.au's expert Chris Doerre has revealed his AFL Draft Power Rankings for the month of November with less than a week to go until the big night.
1. Jason Horne-Francis
Best position: Inside midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 185cm, 81kg
Recruited from: South Adelaide
Projected draft range: 1-2
Plays like: Toby Greene
October ranking: 1
Rationale: Finishing the SANFL season with a bang, Horne-Francis' preliminary final for the South Adelaide Panthers was the performance of the year, and one that will stick with draft watchers for a long time. Over the last two months of the season, Horne-Francis arguably developed into the SANFL's most influential player. What separates the highly-touted youngster from fellow draft fancy Nick Daicos is his impact per possession and influence defensively, with his aggression, pressure, tackling, second and third efforts and run back in support elite even by AFL standards.
Strengths:
Consistency of application defensively
Pressure applied to the ball carrier
Strong tackler
Defensive run
Aggression
One-touch ground ball winner on the move at speed
Loose ball winning
Impact per possession
Aerial marking
Contested marking
Threat when isolated one-on-one inside 50
Versatility to impact games both through the midfield and up forward
Scoreboard impact
Kicking at full speed on the run to targets inside 50
Proven star against senior state league opposition
AFL ready-to-go game
Weaknesses:
Inconsistent production
Inconsistency of impact offensively
Limited outside accumulation
Inconsistent kick
2. Nick Daicos (Collingwood - Father-Son)
Best position: Balanced midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 183cm, 72kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 1-5
Plays like: Zach Merrett
October ranking: 2
Rationale: Had the NAB League season continued, Daicos may still be ranked above all. The debate around the real number one has been hotly debated all year and it should come as no surprise that there is no meaningful separation between the two young stars. Daicos is the more productive of the pair and finds the football at will around the ground, but while much improved defensively over the last month of his season, he isn't nearly on the same level, with his impact per possession the lower of the pair.
Strengths:
Composure in traffic
Decision making under pressure
Anticipation of opposition decisions in traffic
Draws free kicks from high tackles
Agility
Evasion
Go-to-guy around the ground
Scoreboard impact
Inside-outside midfield balance
Versatility to impact games both through the midfield and up forward
Stoppage work
Contested ball winning
Consistency
One-touch at ground level
Production
AFL ready-to-go game
Weaknesses:
Inconsistent application defensively
Lack of size or strength
3. Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs - Father-Son)
Best position: Key forward
Height, weight: 205cm, 93kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: 1-5
Plays like: Max King
October ranking: 3
Rationale: In a draft lacking in the way of star key forwards, Darcy is the standard of excellence. Given his rapid rate of improvement and mix of rare attributes at his height, he is one of this draft's highest upside choices for the long term.
Strengths:
One grab contested marking
Long arms and reach often taking marks fully extended
Attack on the ball aerially
Early reading of the ball in flight
Protects the drop zone
Scoreboard impact
Versatility to impact games as a key forward, key defender or contribute through the ruck
Agility
One-touch at ground level
Instinctive finisher around goal
Speed to create separation on the lead
Rapid rate of improvement
Late growth spurt suggests likelihood he keeps improving as he grows into his body
Weaknesses:
Lack of endurance
Low work rate
Lack of repeat efforts
Inconsistency
Will require time to develop before he can impact AFL games regularly
4. Finn Callaghan
Best position: Balanced midfielder
Height, weight: 191cm, 86kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Projected draft range: 2-7
Plays like: Jack Macrae
October ranking: 4
Rationale: Callaghan's special sauce is his rare movement for someone his height, with his agility, evasion and speed respectively special in traffic. If Callaghan becomes more aggressive with his attack on the ball and his tackle attempts, he has the scope to be as good as any in this draft. Callaghan's ceiling is elevated by his late growth spurt and the hope will be that as he grows into his body the contested side to his game develops with it.
Strengths:
Rare time, space and composure in traffic
Evasion
Agility
Sidestep
Acceleration
Takes the game on at speed with ball in hand
Hits contests at speed and times his moves well to receive on the burst
Work rate
Endurance
Overlap run
Class and composure under pressure to hit his targets by hand and foot
Skill execution by hand and foot
Versatility to play inside or outside midfield
Rapid rate of improvement
Late growth spurt suggests likelihood he keeps improving as he grows into his body
Weaknesses:
Lack of aggression or hardness at the ball
Hesitant contested ball winner
Hesitant tackler
5. Josh Ward
Best position: Balanced midfielder
Height, weight: 183cm, 79kg
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Projected draft range: 3-15
Plays like: Marc Murphy
October ranking: 5
Rationale: A low risk, ready-to-go midfielder who is one of the very best and most complete players in this draft. His production and impact during the latter part of the NAB League campaign was up there with the play of Daicos.
Strengths:
Skills
Lowers his eyes and places kicks out in front of targets inside 50
Vision
Decision making under pressure
Composure
Go-to-guy around the ground
Contested ball winning
Inside/outside midfield balance
Works hard both ways
Endurance
Work rate
Run and carry with ball in hand
Agility
Acceleration
Rises to the big occasion
AFL ready-to-go game
Production
Consistency
Weaknesses:
Limited scoreboard impact
Unclear scope to impact games forward of centre
6. Neil Erasmus
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 190cm, 82kg
Recruited from: Subiaco
Projected draft range: 3-15
Plays like: Elliot Yeo
October ranking: 6
Rationale: With rapidly improving ball winning capabilities, a strong overhead mark and his ability to read the game, Erasmus is clearly one of this year's best midfielders. With Erasmus still growing, improving rapidly and having a December birthday, he is one of the prime upside choices in this draft.
Strengths:
Early reader of the ball in flight who consistently gets to the drop of the ball
Intercepting marking
Aerial marking
Leap
Attack on the ball
Contested ball winning
First possession winner at stoppages
Big game performer
Versatility to impact games through the midfield and up forward
Scoreboard impact
Consistency
Rate of improvement
Endurance
Weaknesses:
Inconsistent kick
Limited exposure against strong opposition
Only average speed
7. Matthew Johnson
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 193cm, 81kg
Recruited from: Subiaco
Projected draft range: 5-20
Plays like: Scott Pendlebury
October ranking: 8
Rationale: Finishing the WAFL Reserves season off strongly and named Western Australia's best in their first two clashes against South Australia, Johnson is rapidly progressing up draft boards around the country. A classy tall midfielder, there are few as composed and sound by both hand and foot as Johnson in this pool. Incredibly, Johnson finished third in the agility test, and it shows in game with how freakishly quick his first step is and how he evades opponents so easily with ball in hand. Johnson rises one spot due to the drop of Matthew Roberts.
Strengths:
Composure
Classy and sound decision making with ball in hand
Creates time and space for himself in traffic
Evasion in traffic
Agility
Quick first step
Already knows what he is going to do before he gets ball in hand
Vision in traffic
Long handballs to targets
Reliable ball user who displays vision on his kicks
Places kicks out in front of leading targets inside 50 to lead onto
Makes something happen when he has ball in hand
Weaknesses:
Early season lack of consistency
Limited contested ball winning - can win some ball but prefers to receive at this stage
Lack of strength
8. Mac Andrew (Melbourne Next-Generation Academy)
Best position: Ruck
Height, weight: 201cm, 77kg
Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays
Projected draft range: 2-15
Plays like: Paddy Ryder
October ranking: 10
Rationale: Andrew is a light-bodied ruckman and long-term project player who is likely to spend his early years developing as a key position player while he adds muscle to his light frame. What is breathtaking with Andrew is how high he leaps at centre bounces, often getting his waist above the head of rival rucks when he gets a clear jump at the ball. The slight rise of Andrew's position on this draft board comes off the back of his commitment to his diet and strength gains in recent months, progressing the expectation around how quickly he is likely to develop.
Strengths:
Leap
Soft hands through ruck
Hitouts to advantage
Long arms and reach
Reading of the ball in flight
Contested marking
Clean below the knees
Mobile and fluid mover
Clean by hand and foot
Tackling
Weaknesses:
Lack of strength
Too light at this stage to play through the ruck and will need to start his career as a key position player
Struggles through the ruck when a body engages him and prevents him from using his leap to advantage
Struggles one-on-one
A long term project who is likely to require a number of years before his play through the ruck translates to AFL performance
9. Leek Alleer
Best position: Key defence
Height, weight: 196cm, 84kg
Recruited from: Central Districts
Projected draft range: 20-50
Plays like: Aliir Aliir
October ranking: 9
Rationale: Rapidly developing, Alleer has become an intercept marking force in the SANFL and is this year's most exciting mature age prospect. Although he is two years older than his peers, his scope to develop is enormous based on his rapid rate of development and the tools he has at his disposal. Securing a record at the draft combine in the running vertical jump -- having that elite leap in combination with how Alleer reads the game and takes towering intercept marks -- Alleer is this year's most exciting key defender. His Round 16 match against South Adelaide was an eye-opener with five contested marks, seeming to intercept every high ball that went near him.
Strengths:
Reading of the ball in flight
Intercept marking
Contested marking
Aerial marking
Wins one-on-one contests routinely and often turns one-on-one contests into intercept marks
Attack on the ball aerially
Leap
Courage to back into packs and put his body on the line
Rapid rate of improvement
Closing speed
Capacity to lock down tall, medium and small forwards
Weaknesses:
Inconsistent kick
Poor decision maker with ball in hand
Limited as a rebounder
Finds little of the ball in general play
One-dimensional
10. Josh Rachele
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 180cm, 81kg
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers
Projected draft range: 3-15
Plays like: Alan Didak
October ranking: 15
Rationale: Possessing the versatility to play through the midfield, win first possession and hurt teams forward of centre by foot, Rachele is a genuine dual position impact player. There is a case to be made that Rachele while he hasn't had the opportunity could also set up play by foot from defence. Consideration around Rachele's versatility to impact games across several positions elevates his position on this draft board.
Strengths:
Best in class level precision kick with hurt factor
Kicks placed out in front of targets to lead onto
Scoreboard impact
First possession winning at stoppages
Explosive speed
Agility
Leap
Aerial marking threat
Ground level craft
Forward pressure
Tackling
Versatility to impact games both as a forward and through the midfield
Possible versatility to play in defence
AFL ready-to-go game
Weaknesses:
Finds little easy outside ball
Lack of consistency
Relatively limited progression since 2019
11. Angus Sheldrick
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 179cm, 88kg
Recruited from: Claremont
Projected draft range: 25-late
Plays like: Lachie Neale
October ranking: Outside-20
Rationale: Building his draft resume late in the season, Sheldrick has earned a reputation as this draft's ultimate competitor. From winning a midfield matchup against Horne-Francis during the Under-19 Championships, to copping a physical beating in the WAFL Colts Grand Final and still playing to an arguably best-afield standard, Sheldrick's close to the season has been among this draft's most impressive. A contested beast, Sheldrick led the Under-19 Championships for contested possessions, averaged two goals per game during the WAFL Colts finals and has displayed a serious burst of acceleration at stoppages.
Strengths:
Performances on the big stage
Competitiveness
Aggression
Toughness
First possession winner at stoppages
Contested ball winning
Distribution by hand
Strength to shrug tackles
Strong tackler
Burst of speed with ball in hand
Receives on the move at high speed
Scoreboard impact
Two-way game
Negates the influence of opponents
Work rate
Weaknesses:
Inconsistent kick
Poor decision maker with ball in hand
12. Zac Taylor
Best position: Balanced midfielder
Height, weight: 180cm, 78kg
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Projected draft range: 15-45
Plays like: Jy Simpkin
October ranking: 14
Rationale: With one of the strongest closes to the NAB League season, the only question is what Taylor could have produced had the season extended longer. One of the most productive and complete midfielders in this draft, Taylor ended his campaign with the Cannons with 37 disposals, 22 contested possessions and 11 clearances in a 10-point win against the Murray Bushrangers. With the remaining midfielders not sharing the combination of weapons and completeness to their games Taylor possesses, he moves up two spots.
Strengths:
Production
Precise and damaging kick
Vision to hit meaningful targets around the ground and inside 50
Decision making under pressure
Distribution by hand
Composure with ball in hand
Speed
Agility
Evasion
Endurance
Work rate
Inside/outside midfield balance
Contested ball winning
Weaknesses:
Limited scoreboard impact
Unclear forward capabilities
Lack of physical strength
13. Ben Hobbs
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 183cm, 80kg
Recruited from: Greater Western Victoria
Projected draft range: 3-15
Plays like: Andrew Brayshaw
October ranking: 18
Rationale: A dominant contested ball winner and tackler, Hobbs is one of the readiest to play midfielders in this draft. Lacking in the way of speed, athleticism and x-factor, Hobbs doesn't play the most exciting brand of football but is nonetheless effective, dependable, and productive. His improved draft position is based on his high floor and a higher probability of a career relative to the remaining prospects.
Strengths:
First possession winner at stoppages
Contested ball winning
Tackling
Pressure and application defensively
Distribution by hand
Reading of the ball in flight
Overhead marking
Production
AFL ready-to-go game
Scoreboard impact
Outside accumulation and involvement around the ground
Versatility to push forward as part of a large midfield rotation as required
Weaknesses:
A stationary ball winner who rarely wins the ball at speed or on the move
Limited time and space in traffic
Limited hurt-factor by foot
Lack of speed
Lack of athleticism
Lack of agility
Low impact per possession
14. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
Best position: Outside midfield/general defence
Height, weight: 188cm, 71kg
Recruited from: Glenelg
Projected draft range: 5-15
Plays like: Shane Edwards
October ranking: 15
Rationale: Spending most of the season in the SANFL Reserves and playing solid football throughout, Wanganeen-Milera has played a consistently exciting brand of footy with his freakish evasive movement with ball in hand and skills a major highlight. His performances for South Australia against Western Australia to finish the season only elevated his draft stocks as SA's best performer.
Strengths:
Agility
Evasion
Creates time and space with ball in hand
Composure with ball in hand
Precision kicking
Decision making
Vision
Impact per possession
One touch at ground level
Performances on the board
Weaknesses:
Lack of size or strength
Limited contested ball winning
Limited to playing on the outside
15. Josh Gibcus
Best position: Key defence
Height, weight: 196cm, 87kg
Recruited from: Greater Western Victoria
Projected draft range: 2-15
Plays like: Liam Jones
October ranking: 20
Rationale: On review of Gibcus' early season play where he was aggressive in flying for intercept marks, it's clear he has the capability to intercept to a good level and be an aerial marking threat in defence which sees his position on this draft board rise. With the intercepting and negating components to his game, there is a promising deal of scope for Gibcus to develop into a capable key defender.
Strengths:
Vertical and running vertical jump
Contested marking
Intercept marking
Reading of the ball in flight
One-on-one defence
Shutdown capabilities
Closing speed
Tackling
Weaknesses:
Low frequency of impact
Limited as a rebounder
Intercepts infrequently when focused on locking down his direct opponent
Looks lost when asked to play forward
16. Jye Amiss
Best position: Key forward
Height, weight: 196cm, 85kg
Recruited from: East Perth
Projected draft range: 5-20
Plays like: Jack Gunston
October ranking: 19
Rationale: A late bloomer, Amiss has this year become the dominant goalkicker in the junior ranks, kicking a WAFL Colts competition high 51 goals from his 15 games and the highest across any of the junior competitions. The intrigue with Amiss is he's a late bloomer who has been living and training in Busselton, over 200km away from East Perth, and given this, the sense with the key tall is there is substantial untapped upside which in an AFL program will surface. With Amiss' height upgraded to 196cm, he rises on the back of an increased likelihood that he will be able to develop into a genuine key forward.
Strengths:
Speed to create separation on the lead
Marking on the lead
Leading patterns
Repeat leads
Set shot conversion
Clean at ground level
Heavy and consistent scoreboard impact
Consistency
Late developer
Limited opportunity to train to date suggests substantial scope to develop in an AFL setting
Weaknesses:
Unclear versatility
Limited contested ball winning
Inconsistent contested marking
Struggles to impact games further afield
Struggles to get involved when the delivery isn't top notch
Lacks composure with ball in hand in general play
17. Arlo Draper
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 186cm, 75kg
Recruited from: South Adelaide
Projected draft range: 10-25
Plays like: Robbie Gray
October ranking: 12
Rationale: With his mix of contested ball winning, classy ball use, agility and strong marking, Draper is one of this draft's more appealing and versatile prospects. The key for Draper will be developing his durability and building his body up so that it can withstand play against AFL standard competition. Draper drops down this draft board as others rise.
Strengths:
Contested ball winning
Tackling
Stoppage craft
Composure in traffic
Decision making with ball in hand
Clean hands
Vision
Locating and hitting targets by foot in the corridor
Lowers his eyes for kicks inside 50
Overhead marking
Contested marking
Agility
Evasion
Acceleration
Takes on the game with his run
Positional versatility
Scoreboard impact
Weaknesses:
Lack of physical strength
Lack of outside accumulation
Injury prone
Unclear best position
18. Bodhi Uwland (Gold Coast - Academy)
Best position: Inside midfield/general defence
Height, weight: 185cm, 84kg
Recruited from: Gold Coast
Projected draft range: Pre-listed by the Suns as a rookie
Plays like: Luke Hodge
October ranking: 13
Rationale: One of the lesser-known prospects, Uwland is as aggressive and competitive as any in this draft. Uwland is not just a strong ball winner, but a powerful athlete who shrugs tackles at will and has a penetrating and damaging kick. His drop can be attributed to the rise of others.
Strengths:
Contested ball winning
Powerful shrugging of tackles
Aggression
Physical edge
Penetrating and damaging but reliable kick
Kicks placed out to the advantage side for teammates to lead onto
Decision making with ball in hand
Vision
Evasion
Acceleration
Leap
Versatility to impact games either through the midfield, defence or across half-forward
Proven performer against VFL competition
Weaknesses:
Lack of endurance
Inconsistent work rate
Would benefit from lowering his eyes and looking to hit up shorter targets more often
19. Mitch Owens (St Kilda Next-Generation Academy)
Best position: Utility
Height, weight: 191cm, 87kg
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Projected draft range: 10-30
Plays like: Jarrod Berry
October ranking: 11
Rationale: Growing around 15cm between the start of 2019 and the beginning of 2021, Owens is a late developer who only in the last few months of the NAB League season entered the first-round conversation. His performance as a late call-up for Vic Metro in a trial match against Vic Country was the game that elevated his draft standing, securing 29 disposals, one goal and two score assists. He immediately backed this up with strong NAB League play for Sandringham. With his movement, overhead marking, ball winning capabilities and rapid rate of improvement, Owens is an upside choice who with continued rapid improvement could become one of this draft's best players. Had the season not been cut short, Owens may well be rated higher than this, though with others doing more over the course of the season and having higher ceilings, Owens drops in favour of other better performed, less speculative choices.
Strengths:
Late growth
Rate of development
Agility
Speed
Evasion in traffic
Composure with ball in hand
Courage
Intercept marking
Aerial marking
Versatility
Inside/outside balance
Versatility to play on a wing or through the midfield
Contested ball winning
Weaknesses:
Not as advanced as other top end prospects
Small sample size late in the Victorian campaign of high performance
20. Mitch Knevitt
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 194cm, 83kg
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Projected draft range: 10-30
Plays like: Patrick Cripps
October ranking: 17
Rationale: A tall, strong bodied midfielder, Knevitt was one of Vic Country's stars in their challenge match against Vic Metro. His second half to the NAB League season was also excellent and elevated his position on draft boards. Knevitt fits firmly in the high risk, high reward basket as a midfielder who doesn't have the volume of impactful games others do, but has the right height, size and athletic tools if his game continues to develop rapidly to become one of this draft's best midfielders. Had the season continued Knevitt may be rated much higher than this, though with the season ending early, he moves down in favour of better performed, relatively less speculative alternatives.
Strengths:
Strength to stand up through tackles
Distribution by hand
Tackling
Pressure applied to the ball carrier
Overhead marking
Contested marking
Contested ball winning
Versatility
High work rate
Endurance
Mobility
Weaknesses:
Lack of consistency or hurt factor by foot
Relatively low impact per possession
Occasionally fumbles at ground level
Small sample size late in the Victorian campaign of high performance