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.
5-1
5. Gus Teixeira – MID – Sandringham Dragons (-)
Similar to Butler, Teixeira has shown he can play as both an accumulator and a high-impact forward, often in the same game. Super smooth, great skills and an impressive marking ability and forward craft. Well-rounded midfield powerhouse with good skills and goal-kicking ability. Teixeira thrives when given the ball on the run, showing his breakaway speed from stoppage, but he is also more than capable of winning the ball on the inside. Teixeira can also be a tough match-up when resting forward. He can take a mark on the lead and is a willing tackler. He'll no doubt look to step up to VFL level later in the year to confirm his stocks as a ready-made player.
4. Arki Butler – FWD/MID – Sandringham Dragons (-)
Butler showed that he doesn't need many disposals to make his mark on a game. Deployed primarily in the forward half for Vic Metro, he made the most of every touch before unfortunately going down with a broken collarbone. An exciting offensive weapon, Butler has awesome agility and typically makes good decisions. He has great skills and is a strong overhead mark who's also capable of taking a hanger at any moment. Assigning a position to Butler is easier said than done, because he really can do anything. He's capable of playing as a high half-forward, making something out of nothing or as a centre ball-up midfielder who can win his own ball and hit the scoreboard.
3. Harry Van Hattum – RUCK – Northern Knights (-)
Despite some quieter games as Vic. Metro's #1 ruck, Van Hattum remains at the top of the open pool. His outstanding tap work, athleticism, size and skills are all ready for the next level, and he is poised to dominate the latter stages of this year. Rounding out the consensus top-three. A man-mountain who meets all the criteria of a modern ruckman. Van Hattum is capable of winning the hit-out, following up at ground level, taking big pack marks and bullying opponents when rotating forward.
In today's game, clubs are looking for their big men to influence the game in all areas and in multiple positions. Van Hattum has already shown that he is capable of doing almost everything on a football field and shapes as one lucky team's cornerstone for years to come.
2. Cody Walker – MID – Bendigo Pioneers *Carlton F/S (-)
Walker showed that his craft and ability to win the ball both on the inside and outside were at another level compared to other top prospects with his 35-disposal showing against SA
Some questions remain around his ball-use, but he more than makes up for it with just about every other aspect of his game. Elite level stoppage craft with the size and athleticism to step straight up to AFL level. Walker hits the ball hard and likes to take off with it.
His skills are excellent but still have some room to grow, particularly his kicking at full speed. Walker has already stepped up to VFL level, and he has also shown that he can play as either a small or medium forward with skills overhead and at ground level; he has plenty of x-factor and plays with a swagger and clear intention to take the game on.
1. Douglas Cochrane – MID/FWD – Central District Bulldogs/Port Adelaide Magpies SANFL *Port Adelaide NGA (-)
Despite not playing a game this year, Cochrane has remained cemented as the #1 prospect in this year's draft. Cochrane is finally on the comeback trail, and we eagerly await his return for Port's SANFL side. The generational prospect of this year's draft crop. Cochrane possesses every trait needed to be a star of the competition. Size, speed, skills, agility and endurance. Cochrane has played as an intercepting defender, a high-half forward, a key forward and a full-time midfielder.
