Key Position Forward/Defender (WWT Eagles/South Australia)
09/08/2000 | 196cm | 84kg

June rank: #1

Lukosius started the season as the consensus number one after jumping on the scene as a 17-year-old for WWT Eagles in the SANFL Preliminary Final, booting four goals and clunking eight marks on his League debut. He has continued his form into this season, booting seven goals from five matches, including an 18-disposal, 11-mark and three-goal game against Glenelg. He also showed his versatility collecting 25 disposals, 14 marks and six inside 50s from centre-half back in a South Australia Under 18 trial match at the beginning of the year. For the AFL Academy he was utilised at both ends, looking most at home as a forward, finishing the match with 12 disposals and two goals. The thing that separates Lukosius from other talls is his foot skills, where you could argue he is one of the best kicks in the entire draft pool, hitting targets at ease off his right foot around the ground. A genuine franchise player.

Past month:

Lukosius has done everything expected of him in the National Under 18 Championships, dominating against Western Australia with 14 marks from 17 disposals and three goals, before back-up performances against Vic Country and the Allies. While he only booted the one goal against the Allies, he had 18 disposals and seven marks playing everywhere from forward to back, to the wing. An out and out star and as versatile as any player in the draft crop.

…

#2 Sam Walsh
Outside Midfielder (Geelong Falcons/Vic Country)
02/07/2000 | 183cm | 74kg

June rank: #3

The best midfielder in the 2018 AFL Draft pool has started the season exceptionally well at TAC Cup level. Walsh’s smarts help him around the ground and it is very hard to keep him quiet or out of a game. Against the North Melbourne VFL team, Walsh had 22 disposals, nine marks and four clearances, working through the midfield and booting the opening goal of the game. His spread on the outside is good and he has shown he can win the footy in both contested and uncontested situations. He leads from the front and is probably the safest player in this draft pool for a club to draft. The knock was his disposal at full speed last season, but he is as consistent as they come across all areas.

Past month:

Walsh moves up to number two in our Power Rankings after an impressive National Championships carnival. It was no surprise to see him win Vic Country’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, after another 30-disposal game against Western Australia. He was dominant against Vic Metro with 29 touches and in Country’s top couple of players in every game. The standout non KPP in the draft.

…

#3 Max King
Key Position Forward (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
07/07/2000 | 201cm | 86kg

June rank: #2

The tall forward is one of the best tall prospects we have seen in recent years and is most certainly in the mix as a top five pick, despite the fact that King will not play another game this season. After booting a few goals in the opening quarter for Haileybury College at school football, King’s knee buckled from underneath him in the second quarter and he was stretchered off. Scans later confirmed that the talented forward suffered a torn ACL. Nevertheless, King is a superb prospect who is outstanding in the air (thanks to a big wingspan) and a goal-kicking option, having booted 8.5 against Oakleigh Chargers earlier in the TAC Cup last month. A real strength of King’s is his ability to collect the ball when it hits the ground, with a strong recovery helping the 201cm tall. While some say he could slip down the order due to injury, he won’t be falling outside the top 10, or even maybe the top five due to his impressive skill set.

Past month:

Recovering from an ACL injury which will see him miss the rest of the 2018 season.

…

#4 Ben King
Key Position Defender/Forward (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
07/07/2000 | 201cm | 85kg

June rank: #4

The twin brother of Max King has started the season very well, used at both ends at all levels. While Ben is a natural key defender, he has shown at school level that he can be a valuable forward, booting 18 goals in the first two school games. Like brother Max, he is very mobile and has an outstanding leap. He recovers very well when the ball hits the ground and when he flies to mark or spoil the ball and it falls to the ground. Is one of the best tall defenders and competes exceptionally well. Reckon we might see him more as a forward as the season goes, could become a genuine ‘swingman’ if he isn’t already. After a good AFL Academy game, Ben King won the Melbourne Cricket Club’s President’s Medal as the best player.

Past month:

…

#5 Izak Rankine
Small Forward/Balanced Midfielder (West Adelaide/South Australia)
23/04/2000 | 180cm | 76kg

June rank: #5

Probably the most exciting prospect in the 2018 AFL Draft pool, Rankine can do some special things that a majority of others cannot. He is a lively forward who can push into the midfield and win his own footy, with his agility a key trait. Rankine was so good in last year’s NAB AFL Under 17 All Stars match that they made him switch teams at half-time! He missed the opening few weeks through suspension, but has since returned back to SANFL League footy with West Adelaide, booting four goals from 12 disposals. At this stage he is more of a forward/midfielder than a pure midfielder – and it will be interesting to see how he goes throughout the year, working on his craft with more midfield time for the South Australian side in the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships.

Past month:

Just when the midfield power of Bailey Smith or the sheer ball-winning ability of Sam Walsh was the talk of the smaller brigade, Izak Rankine comes out and produces a performance to remember against the Allies. He racked up 20 disposals, five marks, four clearances, six inside 50s and three goals – including one from the 50m arc off a couple of steps – and signalled his intentions as a top five pick in case anyone had forgotten.

…

Smith is the biggest bolter in the top-end of the list and well and truly deserved the spot inside the top six. A month is a long time in football and with each game he plays he seems to move higher. Just makes the right decisions, stands up when required and can play anywhere on the ground. In the best couple in each of his three Under 18 Championships games and is firming as a potential top five pick.

…

#7 Nick Blakey
Key Position Forward (Sydney Swans Academy/Allies)
27/02/2000 | 195cm | 80kg

June rank: #6

Up until this time last week, Blakey had multiple options as the son of former North Melbourne and Brisbane player John. Blakey also fell into the Sydney Swans Academy, while he could have opted for the open draft. However – Blakey has made a decision to stick with the Sydney Swans Academy and the Swans are going to get a ‘goodie’. Blakey is a natural forward with a good goal sense and marks well overhead. He glides around the ground and can play in defence if required, while there is midfield potential should some of his coaches see fit. Blakey has dominated in the AFL Under 18 Academy Series against some average opposition, but he booted an exceptional goal off a few steps in the AFL Academy match against North Melbourne’s VFL side. While injuries kept him out of a lot of football last year, expect Blakey to warrant an early bid inside the top 10 at this stage.

Past month:

#8 Tarryn Thomas
Balanced Midfielder (Tasmania/North Melbourne Academy/Allies)
25/03/2000 | 189cm | 73kg

June rank: #7

Thomas is a really exciting player whose glimpses over the last few years suggest he is going to be a special player in the future. The Tasmanian falls into North Melbourne’s Next-Generation Academy and therefore the Kangaroos will have first dibs on Thomas who will likely command a first round bid. Thomas is an outside midfielder who has a good burst of speed and agility, using it well off his right foot. He can also push forward and hit the scoreboard. One of the cleanest players in the draft crop, Thomas is a one-touch player and turns an inch into a mile.

Past month:

#9 Jackson Hately
Inside Midfielder (Central District/South Australia)
21/10/2000 | 192cm | 80kg

June rank: #10

Jackson Hately is one of the few pure inside midfielders in the top half of the rankings list. While he still has some size to put on, the 192cm midfielder is strong in the contest, where he can win the contested ball, tackle hard and win clearances. Hately can also hit the scoreboard when required. The Central Districts product has had a taste of SANFL League footy, recording 21 disposals and seven tackles against Glenelg a few weeks ago. Hately was one of the standouts for the AFL Academy in their match against the North Melbourne VFL side, where he had 17 disposals, eight tackles and kicked two goals.

Past month:

#10 Ian Hill
Small Forward (Perth/Western Australia)
09/02/2000 | 175cm | 76kg

June rank: #8

Ian “Bobby” Hill is an exciting small forward similar to Rankine in the way that he can make recruiters and fans go “wow” at certain moments. While at this stage, he’s far from the finished product – he has produced plenty of glimpses that suggest he’ll be a strong player for the future. He has superb speed and agility, while his goal sense is outstanding. So far in the WAFL Colts for Perth he has been very good – having overcome a concussion earlier in the season. Hill is Western Australia’s best draft prospect and the second cousin of Fremantle pair Brad and Stephen Hill. He will be one to watch at the National Championships.

Past month:

#12 Bailey Williams
Key Position Forward/Ruckman (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
17/04/2000 | 198cm | 95kg

June rank: #9

The red-haired Williams burst onto the scene last year with some eye-catching displays for the Dandenong Stingrays, while he was also able to represent the Vic Country Under 18 team as a bottom-ager, where he mostly played in the ruck. While Williams is a strong ruck, he is probably a better forward at the moment – in the mould of Gold Coast’s 2014 draftee Peter Wright. Williams has an outstanding leap and is a capable set shot for goal and booted a stunning bag of seven against the Western Jets in Round 4 of the 2018 TAC Cup.

Past month:

A quieter game against Western Australia, but still managed to lay seven tackles on the weekend. He looked the goods against Vic Metro with two first quarter goals, but could not quite capitalise in front of the big sticks after that. His pressure game is as good as any and he has maintained a clear first round spot on the rankings.

It has been hard to assess Rozee this carnival as he has played in a myriad of roles. He retains a spot in the mid first round, because his use by hand or foot, and his vision is spectacular. He just had the 13 touches on the weekend, but he uses it so well he hurts opposition off a dozen possessions. Just does not do too much wrong and there will be a better indication of his capabilities when he faces the strong Vic Metro midfield.

After a big month at the National Championships, Duursma did have a quieter game against Western Australia. He still managed three clearances, but had the 13 touches and did not have as much impact as his impressive game against Vic Metro where he had seven inside 50s, five clearances, six marks and five tackles from 19 disposals. One to watch in the back-end of the TAC Cup season because he has that potential to be a first rounder.

Perhaps the best ruck of the National Championships along with Allies’ Kieren Briggs, Bowman did his draft chances no harm with a really promising month of performances. He was rested in the first game and has shared the ruck load throughout the final three games, impressive against Vic Metro with 20 hitouts and a goal from 10 disposals and three marks. Played second fiddle to Mark Marriott in the final match against Western Australia, but that was more about his versatility to play anywhere on the ground, than anything else.

West has been one of the big performers for Vic Metro in the National Under 18 Championships and finds himself inside our top 20. Working in tandem with Bailey Smith and doing a lot of the grunt work on the inside to allow Smith to go forward, West is the one player challenging Smith for the Metro Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. He played forward at St Kevin’s and does have the versatility and strength in the air to have an impact inside 50.

…

A classy midfielder who can also hit the scoreboard, Jones has been going about his business very nicely. The Tasmanian was overshadowed by the efforts of top 10 pick Tarryn Thomas at the Under 18 Academy Series, but his ability to win clearances and burn off his opponents is eye-catching. He often gets forward and hurts opposition teams on the scoreboard, and is always dangerous at ground level. Just the 180cm, but is versatile and slot in anywhere.

Past month:

Jones has been really consistent in the National Championships and is another player who has done his draft chances no harm. He had 21 disposals, four clearances and five inside 50s against South Australia, and while there were some who stood out more, Jones continues to find the football and cover ground well. His best game of the carnival came against Vic Country, finishing off with two goals from 28 disposals, five marks, five clearances, five inside 50s and four rebounds while laying six tackles.

…

Valente is knocking down the door of South Australia’s MVP Award for the carnival despite the class of Izak Rankine and the sheer eye-opening ability of Jack Lukosius. He is often the player that does not receive the hype those guys do, but his role through the middle is vital. He had a sensational game against the Allies, racking up six clearances and 28 disposals, and most importantly, had 15 kicks showing he can use it well by hand or foot in transition.

…

Stocker was unfortunate to miss the National Under 18 Championships due to a broken jaw he sustained against Gippsland in the TAC Cup. He has now returned to the TAC Cup and picking up some good form, named the Dragons’ best in their win over Oakleigh Chargers in Round 10 and had a sensational 30-disposal game against the Eastern Ranges on the weekend. He is an inside midfielder who uses the ball well and could well enter the top 20 again with some consistent form and his injury behind him.

…

#22 Zak Butters
Outside Midfielder/General Forward (Western Jets/Vic Metro)
08/10/2000 | 178cm | 70kg

June rank: N/A

The lightly-built outside midfielder who spends a lot of time forward, is a little on the small side, but plays taller than his 178cm. He has that touch of class that shines through when he wins the football, and his first few steps are lightning. Butters spreads well across the ground and can win the ball on the wing and be on the receiving end of a pass inside 50 moments later.

#23 Mitch Riordan
Inside Midfielder (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
25/01/2000 | 186cm | 79kg

June rank: #18

Riordan is a player who flies under the radar a little bit, but continues to improve. While his numbers aren’t as big as some of the other Stingrays players, their game plan very rarely sees any player get above 25 disposals, with a team input seeing an even performance across the board. Riordan is strong in the contest and is a decent ball user off his right foot. He wins the contested ball and is a good tackler, working hard to win the ball back. Riordan averaged 16 disposals and three tackles in the TAC Cup at the start, but he will spend the month leading up to the National AFL Under 18 Championships at school level for reigning APS Premiers Haileybury College.

Past month:

June rank: #20

Bendigo Pioneers and Geelong Grammar product Jye Caldwell is a good midfielder who has some strong tricks. Injury forced him off the ground early in the AFL Academy match against the North Melbourne VFL team, but he has returned to football and is one who showed some talent in the Under 18 Championships last year for Vic Country, averaging 18 disposals. Caldwell tackles well and can win both the contested and uncontested ball.

Past month:

#26 Isaac Quaynor
Medium Defender (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro/Collingwood NGA)
15/01/2000 | 179cm | 82kg

May rank: #23

…

#27 Zac Foot
Balanced Midfielder/Utility | Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
25/12/2000 | 180cm | 71kg

June rank: N/A

Past month:

Foot had a quieter game against Western Australia, with the 12 touches, two inside 50s, two rebounds and four tackles, but he works hard in transition and is a real metres-gained player. He makes the list on the future ceiling he provides, and his ability to do damage by foot on the inside or outside. Keep his name down as a bolter if he has good form in the back half of the year.

…

#28 Zane Barzen
Tall Forward/Inside Midfielder | Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country
29/10/2000 | 193cm | 77kg

June rank: #25

Barzen is one of the dark horses in the 2018 draft pool, and similar to Riley Collier-Dawkins in the sense that you draft him on potential scope. In his bottom-age year, Barzen showed his class up forward, with the ability to hit passes inside 50 that very few could. He plays that high half-forward role well, and with increased fitness and miles in the legs, Barzen could transition to more midfield minutes in the future. He is strong overhead and has an impact up forward, and only needs a dozen possessions to hurt the opposition.

Past month:

If you have any questions, tweet us at @AFLDraftCentral or leave us a comment on our Facebook page.