It's moving month, and there are many big changes to the top 100 AFL Draft rankings.
The biggest risers over the past month have been Northern Knights trio Harvie Cooke, Toby Krasna and Sam Gayfer, as well as Sandringham duo George Dimer and Lochie Burrows, who have all had amazing months for Vic. Metro at the national championships.
The biggest fallers from last month's rankings were Dandenong's Ben Carroll, Calder's Sam Harris, and South Australian defenders Harry Franz and Kale Matthews Hampton.
The national championships have concluded for 3 out of the 5 teams. It's time to attempt another top 100 prospect ranking. This is always a pretty mentally challenging and stressful endeavour, but it's also pretty fun, and this year's draft crop is growing increasingly deep and interesting to follow.
Whilst the 21-50 bracket has some notable risers and fallers, the top 20 has remained largely the same this month. Almost all the players in this bracket have solidified their standings at the pointy end of the draft. I have the top 10 sitting a level above the next 10 as it stands, but the upper echelon of this year's draft is growing by the week and the number of players outside the top 20 pressing their case to join that group is super impressive considering the amount of football still to play this year.
The depth of this year's draft is evident in the quality of names currently sitting outside the top 50. The 51-100 bracket was extremely hard to rank which is great for the strength of talent this year and means that there will be something for everyone all the way to the latter stages of this year's draft. There are still plenty of high-quality players sitting outside the top 100 who are very stiff to miss out on this list.
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10. Ethan Herbert – RUCK – North Adelaide Roosters (-1)
Finally got the chance to play as the #1 ruck for SA. and demonstrated his awesome ruck craft, athleticism and marking. Herbert certainly has all the skills to play as a key forward, but his preferred position became clear as his skills are most valuable around the ball.
A genuine fourth midfielder with clean hands and elite skills at stoppage and around the ground. Herbert has put up some monster disposal and clearance games at colts and school level. He can also take a strong mark and is developing his forward craft nicely. Herbert has the "rip the ball out of the air", clearance-winning modern ruck-craft down and uses his body smartly to position himself to grab the ball and kickstart his team's attack.
9. Koby LeCras – GEN. FWD/UTILITY – West Perth Eagles (-1)
Someone who has flown somewhat under the radar due to an ACL strain. LeCras showed that he deserves to be in the top group of prospects in this draft with his unique attributes and skills, especially during the National Academy games at the beginning of the year.
In a similar mould to Malady, LeCras doesn't necessarily fit any particular position's traditional description. LeCras excels in a role that gives him the freedom to bring his points of difference which are his agility for his size, ground-level skills and elite kicking ability. LeCras is no doubt one of the most talented players in this year's draft class; it'll be important that he is drafted by a club that sees the vision and wants to give him a role with the freedom to thrive.
8. Cody Templeton – FWD/MID – Gippsland Power (-2)
Templeton has spent the majority of his time forward over the past few weeks, where he has been at his damaging best, kicking goals and applying strong physical pressure. Plays with an obvious intensity and has left even more goals on the table. Another midfield-/forward hybrid player who makes up for any lack of speed with intensity, smarts and forward craft. Templeton also has excellent stoppage craft and brings a toughness and strong clearance-winning ability when playing on-ball. Capable of taking a strong mark overhead and beating his opponent one-on-one with his forward craft. Templeton has had both high-possession games as a midfielder and big goal hauls playing as a primary forward both this year and last year as a bottom-ager.
7. Ethan Drever – MID – GWV Rebels (+3)
Drever has now officially joined the upper echelon of talent in this draft class. Solid with most of his possessions, with the ability to turn up the hurt factor at any moment when the opportunity arises. His power out of stoppage and running goals have been impossible to miss for Vic Country. An awesome combination of size and explosive speed. Drever is at his eye-catching best when he gets the ball at the front of stoppage where he only has one opponent to beat before finding himself in open space. Drever's size is another point of difference at stoppage and around the ground. He showed last year that he can be effective playing in a half-back role using his kicking skills and strong marking ability.
6. Wil Malady – GEN. FWD/UTILITY – Gippsland Power (+1)
Malady missed the most recent state game for Vic. Country but was at his damaging best against WA at Marvel. Malady can win the ball in multiple ways and gets so much value from his touches. Huge upside with so much positional flexibility. Malady has played the previous two years as a low-possession, high-impact forward prospect with excellent forward craft and strong hands. This year he has shown another side to his game, moving to a wing at times and spending time on-ball at school level for Caulfield Grammar.
Malady will look to continue highlighting his versatility as the year continues; he has shown that he is someone whose impact increases exponentially the more times he gets the ball in his hands.
