The business end of footy season has arrived, and the AFL Draft Power Rankings are starting to stabilise.
With school footy wrapping up after the Under-18s Championships in recent weeks and players slowly filtering back to talent pathway programs, only a handful of new players have emerged on the scene and commanded attention, but there has been plenty of shuffling as clubs gain an increasing understanding of the sorts of selections they are likely to have access to.
20-16
| 20 RANK |  | George Dimer Sandringham Dragons Forward HEIGHT: 173cm |
The silky goal-sneak has had close to the perfect season, showing his traits early in the season at Talent League level, rising again during the Championships and maintaining a high standard throughout in the APS competition for Haileybury College. Throw on top of that his top-tier character references, and he is a complete package as a crumbing, hard-working and selfless small forward who makes good decisions in the front end. The question will be whether the club that gets him utilises his front and centre timing as a deep small forward who prefers him higher up the ground to bring his field kicking into play.
GEORGE DIMER: TOP TIER CHARACTER
| 19 RANK |  | Tyson Bradley Sandringham Dragons Defender HEIGHT: 196cm |
Was an intercepting force for Brighton Grammar this year, is renowned at Sandringham for his on- and off-field leadership and won Vic Metro's MVP. It's a brilliant resume for Bradley, who has hardly put a foot wrong at any level this year. He is the sort of player a club can build a backline around and is the most physically developed of the three key defenders in the top 20. Has drawn Harris Andrews comparisons, a testament to his strength, marking, competitiveness and leadership.
| 18 RANK |  | Ethan Herbert North Adelaide Ruck HEIGHT: 200cm |
Has been a floater in the middle of the first round to second round for much of the season, not because of his output, which has been enormous at school and Talent League level, but because of the query around how it translates to the next level. What is his best position? It remains a point of conjecture. A player with his height, skill and aggression should be taken at some stage, but it can be difficult to predict exactly where a ruck will land given many have fallen far further than expected in recent drafts.
ETHAN HERBERT ON PREFERRED POSITION, AFL-LISTED MENTOR AND MORE
| 17 RANK |  | George Gale Claremont Midfielder HEIGHT: 190cm |
The hard-working utility has flown somewhat under the radar for Claremont's senior side because of what teammate Heath Mellody is doing, but Gale is also advancing his stock on the wing. He's purposeful with the ball in hand, runs hard both ways, and time seems to slow down when he's got it because of his calmness as opponents shut down his space. Marking and kicking penetration are other strengths of the Western Australian co-skipper's game.
| 16 RANK |  | Jake Eime Central District Defender HEIGHT: 182cm |
The athletic, line-breaking defender was a big riser through the Under-18s Championships and is built for modern footy with his willingness to take off when he gets the footy, take territory and use the most direct route for goals. Ball use and acceleration are his two major strengths, and he is building a nice defensive side to round off his game.
