ESPN.com.au's expert Chris Doerre has revealed his AFL Draft Power Rankings for the month of November. 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.
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1. Will Ashcroft (NAB League - Sandringham Dragons)
A Brisbane father-son prospect and the son of Marcus, Will Ashcroft is the most advanced, productive, and competitive midfielder in this draft.
A Round 1-ready midfielder, what makes Ashcroft so impressive is his combination of first possession winning at stoppages, distribution by hand and how he is always on the move at high-speed and constantly driving the football forward. While Ashcroft is the most extreme high-production, ball-winning midfielder to come through the junior ranks, it is the frequency of 5-15 metre bursts at speed after winning or receiving the football that catches the eye and routinely sees him break games open.
After disposing of the football, Ashcroft continues to run in support, not giving up on the play and providing his side with the outnumber on numerous forward forays. Defensively, Ashcroft is influential around the football whether he is intercepting rival handballs in traffic or applying pressure and tackling with force.
During the Under-18 Championships, Ashcroft was the star with averages of 32.8 disposals, 15.3 contested possessions and 8.8 clearances across his four games. In the NAB League, he amassed ridiculous season highs of 51 disposals, 27 contested possessions and 14 clearances for Sandringham against Western in Round 10. While in the VFL for Brisbane, Ashcroft averaged 29.3 disposals, 7.3 tackles, 5.7 inside 50s and five clearances.
Ashcroft holds top spot as his likely immediate impact far exceeds the rest of the draft pool while his floor is the highest in this draft.
October Ranking: 1
2. Mattaes Phillipou (SANFL - Woodville-West Torrens)
The son of Sam, Mattaes is a 192cm, dual position impact player who is arguably this year's most damaging prospect through the midfield and up forward.
As a forward, Phillipou hits the scoreboard at will, sets up teammates inside 50 with precise entry kicks, is a strong overhead mark, powerful ground ball winner and uses his pace to create meaningful separation on the lead and kicks goals on the burst.
Through the midfield, Phillipou is a powerful contested ball winner who regularly wins first possession at stoppages and displays a burst of speed and class with ball in hand. Phillipou's most influential performance this year came for South Australia during the Under-18 Championships against the Allies where he amassed 24 disposals, 17 contested possessions, six marks (one contested), five clearances, two goals and two score assists. The same dominant football was played by Phillipou against Victoria Metro where he was the most influential player early and picked up nine disposals in the first 15 minutes of play before leaving the field under serious duress and requiring treatment on his lower back.
Phillipou was a star performer in the SANFL this year with averages of 33 disposals, 8.3 inside 50s and 3.3 shots on goal over his last four SANFL Under-18 matches, and in his final SANFL Reserves match kicked a game-high three goals. With a December 27th birthday, Phillipou qualifies for this year's draft as one of its youngest. With his performances on the board, mix of attributes, influence on games across multiple positions, rapid rate of improvement and very late-year birthday, Phillipou arguably possesses the highest ceiling in this year's draft.
Phillipou at No. 2 is a decision unique to this draft board.
October Ranking: 2
3. Aaron Cadman (NAB League - Greater Western Victoria Rebels)
Establishing himself as the premier key forward in the junior ranks during the Under-18 Championships, Cadman has demonstrated rapid improvement and separates himself from the pack with the variety of ways he impacts games and takes advantage of opposition key defenders.
Enjoying a late growth spurt, Cadman is a powerful contested mark, creates separation on the lead, is agile and dangerous at ground level and wins the ball when it is there to be won. He works hard up the field to provide an option, hits the scoreboard to a high level and sets up teammates inside 50 with precise passes.
A strong-bodied key forward, Cadman averaged 2.5 goals, 2.5 behinds and 1.5 contested marks in his four Under-18 Championships games. His confidence has only continued to grow over the second half of the season with NAB League averages of 20 disposals, 11.2 contested possessions, 6.2 marks (two contested) and 3.2 goals over his last five games for the Rebels.
October Ranking: 6
4. Harry Sheezel (NAB League - Sandringham Dragons)
Victoria's most damaging and clever forward in this year's draft, Sheezel is both a contested marking and ground level threat inside 50. Finding and winning a good amount of football forward of centre, Sheezel is a one-touch forward who seemingly always keeps his feet and creates more time and space for himself.
Demonstrating rare goal sense, Sheezel only needs half a look before he can quickly get boot to ball and finish. He is as good as any in this draft at setting up teammates inside 50 with his vision and neat kicking allowing him to regularly spot up and hit targets.
Sheezel's set shot goalkicking routine is textbook, with a straight run up and follow through, allowing him to make difficult set shots from impossible angles look simple. As a marking target inside 50, Sheezel reads the drop of the ball exceptionally well and with great bodywork often takes one-on-one marks.
While Sheezel is an established front half difference maker, he is also influential when used through the midfield. When utilised in the engine room, Sheezel can be relied upon to win first possession at stoppages while displaying classy ball use and deceptive agility with his sudden changes of speed often catching out opponents.
A genuine dual-position difference maker, Sheezel on his day can get as hot as anyone in the junior ranks. In the NAB League, Sheezel has enjoyed at his best dominating performances including six goals and six score assists against Tasmania, 37 disposals and 19 contested possessions against Northern and 33 disposals and three goals against Western.
October Ranking: 5
5. George Wardlaw (NAB League - Oakleigh Chargers)
A contested beast who does his best work at stoppages, Wardlaw is a powerful first possession winner who displays the strength to absorb opposition tackles, fend off opponents, burst out of stoppages and use his agility to evade opponents.
Wardlaw is an impressive distributor at stoppages who routinely finds targets on the outside by hand and is an effective field kick who quickly and reliably finds and hits his targets. Defensively, Wardlaw is this draft's most impressive with the pressure he applies, his lateral quickness, strength of his tackles and effort and desperation he plays with setting him apart.
In the AFL Academy vs. Collingwood game, Wardlaw secured a team-high 15 contested possessions to go with eight tackles, in a game where he was the Academy's standout performer in the second half.
Unfortunately, after some strong early season play, Wardlaw has missed most of the year, including the Under-18 Championships, with a hamstring injury. Wardlaw re-injured his hamstring again within the first 10 minutes of his first game back.
October Ranking: 3
6. Bailey Humphrey (NAB League - Gippsland Power)
A dual position impact player, Humphrey impacts games both as a forward and through the midfield.
As a forward, Humphrey is a contested marking force who uses his body exceptionally well one-on-one and displays a superior ability to read the drop of the ball. At ground level, Humphrey is a one-touch ball winner who is strong over the ball and provides heavy scoreboard impact.
Through the midfield, Humphrey is a powerful contested ball winner who distributes effectively by hand, breaks tackles at will and displays the strength to stand up through tackles and effectively dispose of the football.
Humphrey's most outstanding performance this year was his 31-disposal, 14-contested possession, 12-mark (four contested), four-goal, five-behind and two-score assist performance for Gippsland on return from knee surgery against Northern. While Humphrey missed Vic Country's first three Under-18 Championships games, he enjoyed the opportunity to appear against Vic Metro as one of his side's most dangerous targets inside 50 with four shots on goal.
October Ranking: 7
7. Jedd Busslinger (WAFL - East Perth)
The leading key defender in this year's draft class, Busslinger is an elite intercept mark with his early read of the ball in flight and attacks the ball aerially. With ball in hand Busslinger is a composed and reliable kick while defensively he is competitive and able to curb the influence of his direct opponent.
The 197cm key defender averaged 23.8 disposals and eight marks in the WAFL Colts this year and 22 disposals and seven marks in his two Under-18 Championships games before deciding to undergo season ending shoulder surgery.
October Ranking: 10
8. Jhye Clark (NAB League - Geelong Falcons)
A strong ball-winning midfielder, Clark is one of the most complete midfielders in this draft. At 180cm Clark plays taller than his height and is not only adept winning the contested ball but is also a good overhead mark. Clark plays with a competitive edge and shows courage, routinely puts his body on the line and never takes a backwards step when the ball is there to be won.
Clark displays a promising inside/outside midfield balance with the ball winning and tackling on the inside, but then the composure, tidy skills, high work rate and outside run. While mostly used as a midfielder this year, he looks equally adept as a forward. Overhead, Clark is a weapon, because he can not only take marks fully extended, but he is a high leaper who provides an aerial marking threat, when engaged one-on-one uses his body well and uses his superior reading of the ball in flight to position himself at the drop of the ball.
At ground level, Clark is an effective crumber as a one touch ground ball winner who reads the play well and knows when to position himself front and centre. Clark played his best football during the Under-18 Championships with averages of 22.5 disposals, 7.3 marks and five tackles.
October Ranking: 8
9. Cameron Mackenzie (NAB League - Sandringham Dragons)
Even though he's a St Kilda Next-Generation Academy midfielder, the Saints will not have first access to Mackenzie, as under the new rules, only if a bid comes after pick 40 can a Next-Generation Academy bid be matched.
A balanced, well-rounded, damaging, and consistent midfielder, Mackenzie is a strong contested ball winner and wins his share of first possession at stoppages. While his ball winning is a major strength, he also spent much of his year on the receiving end of Ashcroft's distribution by hand. Mackenzie displays speed, agility and evasion, often receiving on the move and weaving through traffic. With time and space, Mackenzie is one of the most damaging by foot of this year's top end midfielders, with his kick placement out in front of targets one of his greatest traits.
Mackenzie was the beneficiary of the absence of projected top five draft choices George Wardlaw and Elijah Tsatas from Vic Metro in their first three Under-18 Championships matches. Mackenzie's first two games were his best, amassing 28 disposals, 13 contested possessions, six inside 50s and two score assists against the Allies, and 28 disposals, five clearances and one goal the next week against Western Australia.
October Ranking: 9
10. Elijah Tsatas (NAB League - Oakleigh Chargers)
Emerging as the premier loose ball winner in this draft, Tsatas is routinely first to the ball and takes the ball on the move at speed.
Averaging 33.8 disposals, 12.2 contested possessions, 8.2 inside 50s and 2.7 score assists in the NAB League, Tsatas is one of the most prolific accumulators in this year's draft.
With the capacity to play inside or outside, Tsatas is not only a capable ball winner but also has an established reputation for the ease and speed with which he breaks the lines with his run and evasion of opponents on the move. When given space on the outside, Tsatas is a good ball user and can place kicks out in front of inside 50 targets to run onto. He also displays an innate ability to finish around goal, particularly when the ball hits the deck.
Due to a foot injury, Tsatas has missed a large portion of the season, including Vic Metro's first three Under-18 Championships matches. However, he has not missed a beat since returning from injury and in Metro's clash against Vic Country secured 29 disposals in a competitive performance.
October Ranking: 4
11. Reuben Ginbey (WAFL - East Perth)
Growing late, Ginbey has grown from 178cm to 190cm and put on 15kg over the past two years. After spending the beginning of the season in the WAFL against league opposition as a defender, and spending time on a wing in the past, Ginbey found his best position as a ball winning midfielder for Western Australia during the Under-18 Championships.
Western Australia's most consistent performer, Ginbey was awarded Western Australia's MVP during the Under-18 Championships. Around stoppages, Ginbey is a strong contested ball winner with a powerful build who distributes effectively by hand. He displays power and acceleration away from stoppages and the strength to stand up through and break tackles. Ginbey works hard around the ground and is at his best when there is a ground ball to be won.
Averaging 20.8 disposals during the Under-18 Championships there was negligible separation between his best and worst game, with a low of 18 disposals across his four matches.
October Ranking: 19
12. Henry Hustwaite (NAB League - Dandenong Stingrays)
The younger brother of Collingwood VFL co-captain Campbell, Henry Hustwaite is a 194cm ball-winning midfielder and one of the premier contested ball winning forces at stoppages in the junior ranks.
Hustwaite also looms as a reliable inside distributor who demonstrates composure in traffic. While he plays his best football through the midfield, he possesses the versatility to play as a key position player and can take strong contested marks.
In a breakout performance for Vic Country in their win against the Allies, Hustwaite amassed 29 disposals and team highs of 13 contested possessions and six clearances. He has since continued his progress in the NAB League for Dandenong with 29 disposals, 17 contested possessions and nine clearances against Eastern, and 27 disposals, 17 contested possessions and 11 clearances against Gippsland among his best performances.
Hustwaite's upside is substantial as a rapid improver who is benefitting from a late growth spurt. Not viewed as a consensus first round prospect, his rating at 12 is unique to this draft board.
October Ranking: 11
13. Oliver Hollands (NAB League - Murray Bushrangers)
The younger brother of Gold Coast's Elijah, Oliver Hollands is one of the elite endurance athletes and two-way runners in this year's draft.
A midfielder with a balanced inside/outside game, Hollands can push through the midfield and win his own ball and is regularly first to the ball when there is a loose ball to be won. He pressures the ball carrier relentlessly, tackles aggressively, and is damaging receiving the ball on the move at speed, gaining valuable metres with his run.
Hollands is a composed and classy user of the football by hand and foot who creates time and space for himself in traffic and covers substantial ground over the course of a game, regularly presenting up at the football and providing overlap run.
Putting forward a best afield display for Vic Country in their Under-18 Championships match against Western Australia, Hollands enjoyed his best game this year, amassing a game-high 34 disposals to go with 11 contested possessions and seven marks.
October Ranking: 12
14. Elijah Hewett (WAFL - Swan Districts)
Hewett is a strong contested ball-winning midfielder whose power when exiting stoppages is notable. He is most damaging when he secures the ball forward of centre.
With good speed, agility and evasion, Hewett looks most impressive either winning loose balls one-touch on the move at speed or receiving from a teammate on the run. Hewett displays damaging skills by foot whether he is locating and hitting inside 50 targets or finishing around goal himself, particularly when given time and space with ball in hand. He has also shown that he can be an aerial threat, taking some high-flying marks this season.
A big game player who routinely stars on the big stage, Hewett was arguably the Swan Districts' most influential in their WAFL Colts premiership triumph against Claremont in 2021, and best afield the following week for Western Australia against South Australia. His best performance this year came during the Under-18 Championships for Western Australia against champs favourite Vic Metro, with game highs of 29 disposals, 11 inside 50s, five score assists, five clearances and an equal team high of two goals. Spending all but one game this season in the WAFL against League opposition, Hewett has grown in confidence over the course of the season and was impressive late in the season kicking one goal in each of his last four matches.
October Ranking: 14
15. Lewis Hayes (NAB League - Eastern Ranges)
The younger brother of Port Adelaide's Sam, Lewis Hayes is a key defender who involves himself regularly as a rebounding defender and demonstrates neat and tidy skills for someone his height.
Standing at 197cm, Hayes is an excellent intercept mark and very mobile. While still lightly built, Hayes has over the course of the season improved his one-on-one craft, which as he continues to get stronger should continue to develop.
Given the uncommon capabilities he portrays as a tall key defender, Hayes possesses considerable upside. His progress so far this season has been promising with his involvement as an intercepter, rebounder and in general play improving by the week.
Hayes averaged 16.5 disposals, six marks and five rebound 50s for Vic Metro over their four Under-18 Championships matches. In the NAB League, Hayes' most impressive performances came for Eastern against Sandringham where he amassed 26 marks, 11 marks (one contested) and nine rebound 50s, while against Dandenong he secured a whopping 30 disposals.
October Ranking: 13
16. Jacob Konstanty (NAB League - Gippsland Power)
As dangerous as any small forward in this year's draft around goal, Konstanty wreaks havoc both at ground level and as a marking target. There is an overwhelming sense whenever Konstanty wins the ball that he is going to impact the game in some way.
At ground level he is an effective crumber, getting to the base of packs, cleanly gathering the ball and quickly getting ball to boot for a shot on goal. When the ball is there to be won, Konstanty puts his head over the ball and generally wins it, with a high proportion of the ball he accumulates coming from contested situations.
A threat on the lead and a strong mark overhead, Konstanty despite standing at just 177cm is an above average contested mark. With Konstanty's early ability to read the drop of the ball, it allows him to get into best position in one-on-one and pack situations and with his strong hands overhead often holds onto his marks.
While Konstanty is a weapon offensively, his speed, agility, forward pressure and tackling inside 50 are also notable strengths. He chases and tackles aggressively and is strong enough to make his tackles stick.
Konstanty's performance in the first week of the NAB League finals for Gippsland against Northern was arguably his best game for the year with 19 disposals, 14 contested possessions, six marks (one contested), seven tackles, four clearances, one goal and two score assists.
October Ranking: 16
17. Olli Hotton (NAB League - Sandringham Dragons)
The son of former Collingwood and Carlton key forward Trent Hotton, Olli is a talented small forward.
A speedy and high leaping forward, Hotton is talented both aerially and as a ground level threat inside 50m. Up forward he can play taller than his height due to not just his leap but strong overhead marking, smart bodywork, one-on-one strength, and early reading of the drop of the ball. Hotton is also a lively ground ball winner inside 50m and displays excellent instincts around goal, needing little more than a small glimpse before he can swiftly get the ball onto his boot and finish.
While best known for his work as a forward, Hotton displays the versatility to play through the midfield and in defence. As a midfielder, he wins first possession at stoppages and is often found winning or receiving the ball on the move. His ball use by foot with the vision he displays and the smart, well-placed kicks for forward 50m targets to lead onto is exceptional. While in defence, Hotton is just as capable, displaying a great balance between intercepting, sound one-on-one defence and generating drive from the back half with his run and work by foot.
Much like most of the Victorian contingent, Hotton has improved over the course of the season and bolted up draft boards on the back of a strong Under-18 Championships, highlighted by 24 disposals, 10 contested possessions, six inside 50m and three goals for Victoria Metro against South Australia.
October Ranking: 17
18. Darcy Jones (WAFL - Swan Districts)
A small but speedy outside midfielder, Jones breaks the lines and takes on the game with an unmatched level of dash and dare, displaying rare speed and agility. When there is a man on the mark or a would-be tackler, Jones regularly turns them inside out before bursting away.
Playing a high impact-per-possession game, Jones not only hurts opposition sides with his run, but he also importantly finds and wins a good amount of his own ball. Jones can win first possession at stoppages and hurt the opposition sides out of those sequences, but his specialty is his loose ball winning and intercept possessions off the bounce on the move at speed that catch the eye the most and allow him to break open games.
A sound ball user, Jones lowers his eyes to find inside 50 targets whether he's on the move at speed or from a stationary position. A noted goalkicker, Jones is dangerous whenever he is within range, averaging one goal per game in the WAFL Colts and kicking two goals in each of his first two WAFL League games.
During the Under-18 Championships, Jones averaged 19.7 disposals, eight contested possessions and 1.3 goals across his three games for Western Australia. While in the WAFL Colts Jones enjoyed a season high 44 disposals for Swan Districts against Perth.
October Ranking: 18
19. Harry Barnett (SANFL - West Adelaide)
This year's most highly touted ruckman, Barnett is a contested marking weapon whether pushing forward or behind the ball. While accustomed to playing through the ruck, with how well Barnett reads the ball in flight and how commanding of a contested mark he is, as evidenced by his nine contested marks across his final four SANFL Under-18 games, Barnett could just as easily be developed as a key defender.
What makes Barnett other than his contested marking such an impressive ruckman is his combination of athleticism and strength by position. At the AFL Draft Combine, Barnett managed testing results better than most midfielders with a 6:32 minute 2km time trial and a 3 second 20-metre sprint. Though the middle, Barnett is an effective tap ruckman, but what separates him at ruck contests is his strength to win the ball himself out of the ruck before disposing of the football.
October Ranking: Outside 20
20. Ethan Phillips (VFL - Port Melbourne)
Winning the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as the VFL's most promising young talent, Phillips has developed into the premier key defender outside the AFL. A 23-year-old, what makes Phillips a difference maker is his intercept marking. An exceptional reader of the ball, Phillips always knows where to be, reading the ball early off the opposition's boot and intercepting.
A strong one-on-one key defender, Phillips rarely loses a contest with his early reading of the ball in flight allowing him to position himself so that he can protect the drop of the ball and with often superior body strength turn one-on-one contests into one-on-one intercept marks. Phillips is also a strong mark in pack situations, positioning himself at the drop of the ball, extending his arms and often securing the contested intercept mark.
Averaging 19.6 disposals and 9.8 marks per game, Phillips has amassed some ridiculous numbers this season for Port Melbourne, including 26 disposals and 16 marks against Richmond and 30 disposals and 14 marks against the Northern Bullants some of his best efforts. He led the VFL in marks, intercept marks and intercept possessions, managing the best numbers in each category since Sam Collins in 2018 for Werribee before earning a second chance for Gold Coast.
October Ranking: 20