Each month, ESPN.com.au AFL draft expert Christopher Doerre - aka Knightmare - unveils his power rankings to give readers an early insight into the top 20 prospects ahead of the 2017 draft.
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 analysis.
However, these rankings are his personal opinions, and are not reflective of the thoughts of AFL clubs.
Aside from his monthly power rankings Doerre also produces a weekly draft wrap and he will also predict who goes where with his annual phantom draft in November.
1. Cameron Rayner (VIC)
Best position: General forward/inside midfielder
Height, weight: 187cm, 88kg
Recruited from: Western Jets
Projected draft range: top ten
Similar to: Dustin Martin
May Ranking: 1
Rationale: Contested ball winning beast who is hitting the scoreboard in bunches. It's a winning combination.
Strengths: Contested ball
Scoreboard impact
Contested marking
Strong hands overhead
Marking threat on the lead
Powerful and damaging kick
Vision
Decision making
Damaging both as a forward and midfielder
Clearances
Evasiveness
Strength
Powerful fend off
Stands up through tackles
Clean at ground level
Production
Big game performances
Weaknesses: Endurance
2. Luke Davies-Uniacke (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 187cm, 85kg
Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays
Projected draft range: top ten
Similar to: Michael Barlow
May Ranking: 2
Rationale: Finding a lot of the football and performing in big games and against more experienced opponents. Davies-Uniacke is firming as this year's best midfielder.
Strengths: Stoppage work
Contested ball
Reading of ruck taps
Gets to best spots at stoppages
Clearances
Scoreboard impact
Clean at ground level
Quick hands in close
Rate of improvement
Overhead marking
Versatility
Strength
Stands up through tackles
Work rate
Weaknesses: Lacking hurt factor
Athleticism
3. Darcy Fogarty (SA)
Best position: Inside midfield/general forward
Height, weight: 192cm, 88kg
Recruited from: Glenelg
Projected draft range: top five
Similar to: Jake Stringer
May Ranking: 4
Rationale: Playing SANFL League football where he is competing well enough without dominating. SANFL League football will help him in preparation for the upcoming Under-18 Championships and a spike in form is likely to accompany it.
Strengths: Strength
Contested ball winning
Clearances
Contested marking
Body-on-body strength
Overhead marking
Fend offs
Stands up through tackles
Courage
Competitiveness
Versatility to play anywhere other than ruck
Scoreboard impact
Clean ball user by hand and foot
Vision
Decision making
Evasion
Weaknesses: Endurance
4. Jarrod Brander (VIC)
Best position: Key forward/key defence
Height, weight: 195cm, 83kg
Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers
Projected draft range: top five
Similar to: Joe Daniher
May Ranking: 3
Rationale: Limited exposure so far for this year's mostly highly rated key position player. The upcoming Under-18 Championships will make clearer where he stands in this year's draft.
Strengths: Clean at ground level
Agility
Pace
Marking threat on the lead
Strong hands overhead
Contested marking
Stands up through tackles
Strong 2016 performances
Weaknesses: Conversion in front of goal
5. Sam Hayes (VIC)
Best position: Ruck/key forward
Height, weight: 203cm, 93kg
Recruited from: Eastern Ranges
Projected draft range: first round
Similar to: Matthew Kreuzer
May Ranking: 5
Rationale: Performing strongly through the ruck and also showing strong signs up forward.
Strengths: Vice-like hands overhead
Contested marking
Body-on-body strength
Marking on the lead
Taps to advantage
Smarts
Scoreboard impact
Equally capable as ruckman or forward
Production
Finds the ball around the ground
Performances on the board
Advanced game
Mobile
Weaknesses: Pressure defensively
6. Connor Ballenden (QLD - Brisbane Academy)
Best position: Ruck/key forward
Height, weight: 199cm, 95kg
Recruited from: University of Queensland
Projected draft range: first round
Similar to: Kurt Tippett
May Ranking: 6
Rationale: Performing strongly and looking like a first round prospect.
Strengths: Size and strength
Contested marking
Strong
Reading of the flight
Scoreboard impact
Mobile
Capable as either a ruckman or key forward
Weaknesses: Pressure defensively
7. Noah Balta (VIC)
Best position: Key forward/key defender
Height, weight: 194cm, 92kg
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Projected draft range: first to second round
Similar to: Darcy Moore
May Ranking: 7
Rationale: Balta up forward, down back and through the ruck has shown glimpses of special talent.
Strengths: Freakishly clean and one touch at ground level
Pace
Breaks the lines
Agility
Leap
Strength
Contested marking
Difficult to contain on the lead or leaping up at the football
Takes marks at full stretch
Stands up through tackles
Unselfish
Tackling
Versatility to play either end well
Scoreboard impact
Weaknesses: Unclear best position
Inconsistent performances
8. Callum Coleman-Jones (SA)
Best position: Key forward/ruck
Height, weight: 199cm, 98kg
Recruited from: Sturt
Projected draft range: first to second round
Similar to: Thomas Boyd
May Ranking: 8
Rationale: Big body who can take a mark and has the performances on the board both up forward and through the ruck.
Strengths: Contested marking
Strong hands overhead
Intercept marking
Reading of the flight
Size
Strength
Physicality
Scoreboard impact
Tap work
Prolific both as a key forward and ruckman suggesting ideal relieving ruckman
Weaknesses: Pace
Agility
Endurance
Not always clean at ground level
9. Lochie O'Brien (VIC)
Best position: Outside midfield
Height, weight: 184cm, 75kg
Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers
Projected draft range: first round
Similar to: Pearce Hanley
May Ranking: 9
Rationale: Does damage on the outside but also wins enough of the ball.
Strengths: Acceleration
Line breaking
Evasiveness
Agility
Precise and damaging kick
Vision
Decision
Making
Overhead marking
Production
Versatility to play midfield or on flanks at either end
Weaknesses: Stoppage work
10. Aaron Naughton (WA)
Best position: Key defence
Height, weight: 194cm, 84kg
Recruited from: Peel Thunder
Projected draft range: first to second round
Similar to: Jack Hombsch
May Ranking: 12
Rationale: Taking intercept marks and winning his position most weeks.
Strengths: Intercept marking
Strong hands overhead
Reading the flight
Contested marking
Wins one-on-one contests
Keeps his feet in the contest
Agility
Acceleration
Weaknesses: High, loopy style kick
11. Jack Petruccelle (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 184cm, 73kg
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Projected draft range: first to second round
Similar to: Lin Jong
May Ranking: Not ranked
Rationale: Combination of contested ball winning, pace and scoreboard impact make Petruccelle one of this year's more interesting midfield prospects.
Strengths: Contested ball winning
Acceleration
Scoreboard impact
Chase down tackling
Aerial marking
Protects the drop zone and has the strength to win one-on-one marking contests
Weaknesses: Kicking consistency
12. Adam Cerra (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfielder
Height, weight: 186cm, 85kg
Recruited from: Eastern Ranges
Projected draft range: first round
Similar to: Jobe Watson
May Ranking: 14
Rationale: No TAC Cup games played in May, but in comparing his past performances to the underwhelming performances of others, Cerra with the completeness of his game and production should be rated here.
Strengths: Contested ball winning
Stoppage work
Clearances
Stands up through tackles
Strong build
Production
Strong mark overhead
Clean ball user
Decision making
Vision
Production
Weaknesses: No clear second position
Athleticism
13. Nicholas Coffield (VIC)
Best position: General defence/inside midfield
Height, weight: 190cm, 83kg
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Projected draft range: first to second round
Similar to: David Mundy
May Ranking: Not ranked
Rationale: One of the few players this year with genuine class and composure with ball in hand. At his height and mix of attributes has the scope to develop into a midfielder.
Strengths: Sidestepping and composure in traffic
Sound decision maker in traffic
Agility
Reliable kick
Clean at ground level
Intercept marking
Production
Weaknesses: Having played mostly back, he remains somewhat unproven as a midfielder other than for short periods
14. Toby Wooller (VIC)
Best position: Key forward/inside midfield
Height, weight: 193cm, 90kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh
Projected draft range: first to second round
Similar to: Charlie Curnow
May Ranking: 11
Rationale: Strong performer as a key forward and through the midfield.
Strengths: Clean at ground level
Agility
Acceleration
Reading of ruck taps
Wins contested ball in close
Scoreboard impact
Equally comfortable forward or through the midfield
Reading of ball in flight
Weaknesses: Presence up forward
15. Jack Higgins (VIC)
Best position: General forward/outside midfield
Height, weight: 178cm, 76kg
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Projected draft range: first round
Similar to: Lewis Taylor
May Ranking: Not ranked
Rationale: Higgins started the season as a midfield accumulator, having little impact. Over the past three matches Higgins has shifted forward, kicking 11 goals and having a much greater influence.
Strengths: One touch at ground level
Natural crumbing forward
Tackling pressure
Goal sense
Hits forward 50m targets
Leap
Agility
Plays well as forward and midfielder
Production
Weaknesses: Impact per possession low as midfielder
16. Jaidyn Stephenson (VIC)
Best position: General forward
Height, weight: 189cm, 76kg
Recruited from: Eastern Ranges
Projected draft range: first round
Similar to: Jamie Cripps
May Ranking: 10
Rationale: Possesses several positive attributes which suggests an AFL future, but also has a lot of holes in his game making it difficult to place Stephenson higher.
Strengths: High leaper
Aerial marking threat
Clean at ground level
Tackling pressure
Acceleration
Agility
Reading of ruck taps
Composed with ball in hand
Takes on the game with his run
Decision making
Vision
Possible midfield capability
Weaknesses: Hands overhead inconsistent
Strength
17. James Worpel (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 185cm, 84kg
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Projected draft range: first to second round
Similar to: Brad Sewell
May Ranking: 15
Rationale: Possesses size and power at the coal face. Poor kicking sees him placed here.
Strengths: Stoppage specialist
Powerful tackler
Contested ball winning
Clearances
Strong build
Stands up in tackles
Powerful fend offs
Courageous
Weaknesses: Unreliable kick
18. Cassidy Parish (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 190cm, 84kg
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Projected draft range: first to third round
Similar to: Matt Priddis.
May Ranking: 16
Rationale: As dominant as any midfielder at the coal face. Would be higher if he was a more reliable kick or if he had some other tricks.
Strengths: Contested ball winning
Stoppage work
Clearances
Gets to the right spots at stoppages
Production
Weaknesses: Overhead marking Reading of the flight Kicking consistency Lacks a second position
19. Callan Wellings (VIC)
Best position: Inside midfield
Height, weight: 181cm, 71kg
Recruited from: Greater Western Victoria Rebels
Projected draft range: Second round onwards
Similar to: Bernie Vince
May Ranking: Not ranked
Rationale: Has featured in the beasts for Greater Western Victoria Rebels in all eight games he has played, demonstrating consistency as a ball winner while also using the ball efficiently.
Strengths: Contested ball winning
Stoppage work
Clearances
Gets to the right spots at stoppages
Production
Tackling
Movement in traffic
Agile
Versatility
Skills
Clean at ground level
Scoreboard impact
Weaknesses: Top-age
On the small side
20. Patrick Naish (VIC - Richmond - Father Son)
Best position: Outside midfield
Height, weight: 180cm, 69kg
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Projected draft range: first to third round
Similar to: Connor Menadue
May Ranking: 19
Rationale: Playing high impact per possession football.
Strengths: Agility
Evasiveness
Awareness and composure in traffic
Class
Acceleration
Run and carry
Impact per disposal
Scoreboard impact
Weaknesses: Contested ball winning
Size