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.
5-1
5) Clancy Snell (Gippsland Power)
Has left the other key defenders in this pool in his rearview mirror. The clearest comparison remaining for Snell, the cousin of Willem Duursma, is to look at Harry Dean, who went at Pick 3 in last year's AFL National Draft. Snell has three centimetres on Dean, which makes him an even more enticing prospect, but while there was optimism on both entering their top-aged campaign, for different reasons, it was based on potential, rather than output. Snell had played forward in his bottom-aged season and shown attributes, while Dean's basketball background and injuries got in his way until last year. Arguably ahead of the Under-18s National Championships, Snell is ahead of where Dean was, with his ability to stand under a high ball or float in from the side and take a big contested mark standing out. But Dean went on to win the Vic Country MVP at the Under-18s National Championships; continuing to compare their journeys will be fascinating for draft watchers seeking a gauge on how high a club could take Snell.
4) Arki Butler (Sandringham Dragons)
His highlights reel at APS level as skipper of Brighton Grammar in 2026 is longer than some players get in an entire career. His wicked sidestep, clean ball-handling, dynamism and finishing polish in front of goal have been on show week-in, week-out for an undefeated Brighton Grammar. Has drawn strong comparisons to GWS Giants star Toby Greene, given he is both a forward and midfield threat and as a hybrid option, is hard to beat in one-on-one contests inside 50. Plays with competitiveness and always makes things happen.
3) Harry Van Hattum (Northern Knights)
Still widely viewed as the best openly available prospect, Van Hattum is much closer to readymade than most key-position 18-year-old talent. Has been playing footy at Ivanhoe Grammar in the past month where he is a clear level above the standard; whichever field he walks onto, his combination of speed, vertical leap, skill and ruck craft make him a tough player to come up against.
2) Dougie Cochrane (Central District)
Remains widely tipped to attract a bid in the top three of the AFL National Draft despite being yet to feature this year due to injury. The Port Adelaide-tied prospect is a big part of the Power's future as an exciting key forward. Has plenty of runs on the board from his form as a bottom-ager playing senior footy and impacting for Central Districts, and won the MVP at the Under-16s National Development Championships in 2024.
- Cody Walker (Bendigo Pioneers)
As if his stocks were not already high enough, Walker has slotted seamlessly into Carlton's VFL side in recent weeks. Playing in the midfield, his ball-winning and composure bely his inexperience, and he has brought his trademark competitive edge. The question becomes how high a bid comes for Walker, with clubs heavily incentivised to bid under the new AFL Draft rules. Does he get a bid before Port Adelaide tied-Dougie Cochrane? A midfield containing Cody Walker and Jagga Smith has the potential to excite Blues fans for a generation.
