The first day of the month means Craft of the Draft's latest power rankings have dropped.
The list is headlined by a big riser in the top 10 and five changes to May's 30. Club-tied duo Cody Walker and Dougie Cochrane still occupy the top two spots, while there are a further three club-tied prospects in the top 30.
With many players currently taking part in schoolboy footy, the quality of talent pathways footy around the country has been diluted, but the cream of the crop has still risen to the top.
Trial matches in South Australia and Western Australia in May have lifted the stocks of several players, which is reflected by greater representation of those states in this ranking.
The top half of the rankings have remained largely unchanged, save for some minor shuffling, while several new names have been included in the later sections of the top 30.
Albert MacGowan was the most difficult name to leave out, but has been usurped by players who have performed at a higher level than the APS competition he is currently playing in. His Vic Metro teammates Sam Gayfer and Seb Marsic were also around the mark - the latter currently sidelined with an ankle injury.
Sam Tassone looks set for a big Under-18s National Championships and was unlucky to just drop out, while Croweaters teammate Harry Franz is also right there.
3. 15-11
15) Darcy Szerszyn (Dandenong Stingrays)
Finally played his first game back from a shoulder injury on Saturday night and took some strong marks, getting through unscathed, save for some second half cramp. Despite having missed much of the first half of the season, remains ensconced in the rankings given his strong form as a bottom-ager which earned him selection in Vic Country's squad last year. An excellent one-on-one defender with prototypical attacking skills suited to the modern game, he'll be forgiven for not being at his absolute best at the Under-18s National Championships given the minimal footy he's coming off and upside he has previously shown.
14) Cody Templeton (Gippsland Power)
If you're going to demand high standards, Cody Templeton is a player you would want to get inside your football club. Oozes leadership and does so many of the little things off the footy that set him apart in a competition that is focused on offence. Can burst his way through the front of a stoppage as a midfielder, gets on the move at contests inside 50 and his pound-for-pound strength, footy smarts and natural forward nous make him a tough match-up forward. There is a view that he will likely play as a half-forward at the next level and would bring beautiful balance to the position.
13) Harrison Chapman (Eastern Ranges)
Clubs are very high on the sort of player Chapman could become. In a transition game played at increasingly breakneck speed where metres gained and effective disposal are valued like liquid gold, Chapman would integrate in seamlessly. His midfield exposure this season is giving Chapman the opportunity to improve his work around the contest, given he has shown compelling attributes as an attacking, game-breaking half-back. Looks to go forward with venom at every opportunity.
12) Gabriel Patterson (Glenelg)
A general forward who is always looking to make things happen, Patterson creates chaos for opposition defenders. Leaps high, can break away from a pack and usually finishes on the run if he's given space. Enhanced his stocks in the AFL Academy series off limited preparation and is a player with significant scope.
11) Ethan Herbert (North Adelaide)
Has been putting up video game numbers at school footy level in South Australia in recent times, continuing a scintillating start to the season in the ruck for North Adelaide and the AFL Academy. Has also performed in the Croweaters' trial games. Can take strong clunks around the ground, follows up well to impact at stoppage and his ruck craft trails only top-three prospect Harry Van Hattum. Is perhaps a touch undersized for a modern day ruck, but has proven his capability to anchor the forward line, able to stand under a high ball, compete and take contested marks, and could even play behind the footy given his safe distributive skills and ability to read the play. Keeps on keeping on.
