ESPN.com.au's expert Chris Doerre has revealed his AFL Draft Power Rankings for the month of April. Every month, Doerre will assess player formlines and growth both physically and in footy traits to determine a ranking of the upcoming draft's strongest candidates.
1. Will Ashcroft
A Brisbane father-son prospect and the son of Marcus, Will is the early front-runner to be the No. 1 pick in 2022. With a ridiculous 33 disposals, 20 contested possessions, 12 clearances, nine inside 50s and two goals for Vic Metro during their Under-17 Championships match against Vic Country, he showed he is the complete package. Ashcroft is not only a first possession winner at stoppages, but displays quick hands, agility and evasion in traffic. He hurts teams with his kicks to targets inside 50m and scoreboard impact.
2. Harry Lemmey
The favourite to be the first key forward selected in this year's draft. Lemmey, at 202cm, enjoyed a strong 2021 season, ending the year in fine form with three goals in each of his finals, including 12 marks in his last match. Most threatening when leading, Lemmey demonstrates an insatiable appetite for the ball, displays an exceptionally high work rate and routinely generates meaningful separation on the lead.
3. Elijah Hewett
With back-to-back outstanding performances in the WAFL Colts Grand Final and for Western Australia in the Under-17s against South Australia, Hewett showed at the end of 2021 that he is one of the most exciting midfielders in this draft. Hewett is a strong ball winner who displays power when exiting stoppages and is damaging every time he gets the ball forward of centre. With good speed, agility and evasion, Hewett mixes this with damaging skills by foot, whether he's locating and hitting inside 50m targets or finishing around goal himself.
4. George Wardlaw
A strong first possession winner who does his best work at stoppages, Wardlaw has the strength to absorb opposition tackles, fend off opponents and burst out of stoppages after winning the ball. Wardlaw is also an impressive distributor by hand at stoppages and someone who routinely finds targets on the outside by hand.
5. Jackson Broadbent
Broadbent looms as 2022's top ruck prospect after appearing in three WAFL League games in 2021. He stood out during his appearance for Western Australia against South Australia. Broadbent directs hit-outs to advantage, works hard around the ground, demonstrates good skills, is clean at ground level and capable overhead. With a December birthday, and substantial physical development still to come, Broadbent is likely to continue improving sharply this season.
6. Kobe Ryan
One of 2022's most advanced midfielders, Ryan is a strong contested ball winner who displays good speed and agility and is a lively tackler. With a good inside/outside balance, Ryan not only wins the ball on the inside but covers a lot of ground and finds the ball on the outside where he displays neat and tidy skills.
7. Isaac Keeler
A part of Adelaide's Next-Generation Academy, the Crows won't have first access to Keeler if a bid comes inside the top 40. Keeler is one of 2022's most exciting and freakish key forwards as a high-leaping, smooth-moving athlete. At 198cm, he has strong hands overhead and impressive one-touch cleanness at ground level.
8. Jedd Busslinger
One of 2022's leading key defenders, Busslinger is an elite intercept mark. He reads the ball well in flight, attacks aerially and can pluck the ball out of the air. With ball in hand, Busslinger is a composed and reliable ball user, while defensively, he is competitive and able to limit the influence of his direct opponent.
9. Adam D'Aloia
Best afield in the SANFL Under-18s Grand Final, D'Aloia is one of the most advanced and consistent midfielders of the 2022 draft class. D'Aloia is a prolific first possession winner, tackler and an excellent distributor by hand who plays a competitive two-way game and possesses a penetrating kick.
10. Elijah Tsatas
Suited both on a wing and across half-back, Tsatas breaks the lines with his run, evades opponents on the move and is an exceptional ball user by foot, with his precisely placed kicks out in front of targets to lead onto. Tsatas will be hoping to attend more centre bounces, so that he can use his acceleration bursting out the other side of stoppages.