AFL.COM.AU's Under-18s expert Jason Phelan takes a look at his top 20 prospects for this year's NAB AFL Draft.
Lachie Whitfield, Dandenong Stingrays, 184cm, 77kg, 18/7/94
Draft range: 1-3
Whitfield battled a virus in the week leading up to the NAB AFL Draft Combine and did very little testing as a result, but the dual All-Australian and Larke medallist had little to gain from testing anyway. He could have given Bradley Hill's 16.1 beep test record a nudge - his personal best is a 16.4 - but his credentials as an elite midfield prospect don't need to be enhanced any further.
Click here to see highlights of Lachie Whitfield
Jimmy Toumpas, Woodville-West Torrens, 182cm, 78kg, 2/1/94
Draft range: 1-3
The classy South Australian midfielder had hip surgery soon after the national carnival finished, which ruled him out of the rest of the season and prevented him from testing at the combine, but he already had the runs on the board. His efforts for SA and the Eagles in a senior premiership team last year make him a bona fide top-three selection.
Ollie Wines, Bendigo Pioneers, 188cm, 90kg, 7/10/94
Draft range: 3-7
Wines is one of the most complete onballers in the draft. He has an elite endurance base, is hard at it around the stoppages, a ferocious tackler and is already physically developed to the point where he will be capable of playing plenty of senior footy in his first year in the AFL. He won All Australian honours after averaging 24 possessions in four games for Vic Country and was named in the Pioneers' best players in nine of his 10 games in the TAC Cup this year.
Click here to see highlights of Oliver Wines
Jonathan O'Rourke, Calder Cannons, 184cm, 73kg, 21/4/94
Draft range: 3-7
O'Rourke is a classy midfielder who makes excellent decisions and has the skills to match. He's quick off the mark, but also has exceptional endurance, which makes him one of the more-rounded midfield prospects in the pool. He won All Australian selection after an excellent championships with Vic Metro and was interviewed extensively by hopeful AFL clubs at the combine.
Brodie Grundy, Sturt, 202cm, 100kg, 15/4/94
Draft range: 3-7
The Sturt giant is widely regarded as the best big man in the draft and it's a credit to him that he sits comfortably in this class given his relatively short time in the game, having crossed over from basketball as a 16-year-old. He earned high praise from former Crows talent spotter Matt Rendell, who did some ruck coaching with SA during the champs, and is a competitive beast who is physically developed enough to play AFL footy in his first season. Dual All-Australian.
Click here to see highlights of Brodie Grundy
Jack Viney, Casey Scorpions, 178cm, 82kg, 13/4/94
The combative onballer played sparingly this year, which had a bit to do with the broken jaw he suffered in his first VFL game, but the Demons knew what they had on their hands all along and were delighted when he slipped to their pick 26 in father-son bidding. Gold Coast threatened to spoil the party at one point, but Viney handled all the conjecture over where he would play his footy in 2013 with aplomb and is ready to start ripping into contests from round one next season.
Click here to see highlights of Jack Viney
Lachie Plowman, Calder Cannons, 192cm, 84kg, 11/9/94
Draft range: 5-10
The athletic Cannons defender will be one of the most sought-after tall backs at the draft despite missing a large chunk of the 2012 season, including the national carnival, after dislocating an elbow. Plowman reads the play well, is an excellent decision maker, a strong organisational influence in the back half and isn't afraid to leave his man to help a teammate or rebound further afield.
Click here to see highlights of Lachie Plowman
Sam Mayes, North Adelaide, 187cm, 78kg, 20/5/94
Draft range: 5-10
After being named All Australian centre half-forward as a bottom ager in 2011, Mayes had a quiet champs by his standards this year. The forward-midfielder showed flashes of brilliance - he kicked a goal that would have done Steve Johnson proud down in Geelong - but it wasn't until he returned home to SA that his class began to shine through once again. His SANFL side the Roosters went deep into the finals and Mayes was a regular contributor at senior level.
Click here to see highlights of Sam Mayes
Jackson Macrae, Oakleigh Chargers, 189cm, 76kg, 3/8/94
Draft range: 5-10
Macrae is a busy midfielder whose draft stocks have steadily risen this year. He booted six goals against Tasmania at Visy Park at the under-18s carnival and was a key member of the Chargers' TAC Cup-winning team. The left-footer starred with 44 touches in a representative schools match later in the season that is a key indicator for AFL recruiters each year. He finished equal-second in the goalkicking test at the combine.
Joe Daniher, Calder Cannons, 201cm, 89kg, 4/3/94
The Bombers picked up Anthony's son with the No.10 selection as expected, but there's little doubt Daniher would've been vying with Lachie Whitfield to be taken first overall at the national draft had he not been a father-son prospect. The towering forward-ruckman was carefully managed this year - he did not test at the combine and only played eight games for the Cannons - and will be eased into AFL life next year.
Click here to see highlights of Joe Daniher
Joe Daniher speaks to AFL Central
Troy Menzel, Central District, 187cm, 78kg, 22/9/94
Draft range: 5-15
Menzel's knees were a big topic of conversation amongst recruiters this year - he had LARS surgery in his right knee as a 16-year-old and partially tore his left PCL playing senior footy for the Bulldogs - but the future looks bright for the gifted forward-midfielder. A positive consultation with world-renowned knee specialist Dr Julian Feller has allayed some fears in the recruiting fraternity and enhanced his credentials as a potential top-10 pick.
Tim Membrey, Gippsland Power, 189cm, 88kg, 25/5/94
Draft range: 10-20
The Power skipper finished the year strongly with 16 goals in his last three games in the TAC Cup. He kicked a goal in every one of his 13 games for Gippsland to finish with an impressively accurate season tally of 45.22. A long season - the Power went through to the Grand Final - probably stopped the full-forward from testing brilliantly at the combine, but coach Nick Stevens maintains he has the ability and endurance to play further up the field.
Click here to see highlights of Tim Membrey
Dayle Garlett, Swan Districts, 180cm, 75kg, 9/1/94
Draft range: 10-20
Garlett comes with some baggage, having been asked to leave the AIS-AFL Academy at the start of the year, but he appears to have turned the corner as the season progressed and on talent alone he certainly belongs in this company. He didn't do much at the combine due to back tightness, but the sublimely skilled onballer doesn't lack for confidence and is one who could excel under the bright lights of the big stage.
Kristian Jaksch, Oakleigh Chargers, 194cm, 83kg, 7/10/94
Draft range: 10-20
Jaksch is one of the most promising key position prospects in the draft. He played a lot of junior footy as a forward, but has seen more action as a key defender this year, which has helped kick along his development. His marking action can look awkward at times, but it is effective more often than not. He took 28 grabs in five games for Vic Metro and kicked a bag of six goals against Tasmania at Visy Park.
Click here to see highlights of Kristian Jaksch
Ben Kennedy, Glenelg, 174cm, 74kg, 3/3/94
Draft range: 10-20
Kennedy is small in stature, but possesses a booming left-foot kick to complement his pace and ability to find the ball. He won All Australian honours for the second time this year after a stellar carnival that saw him gather 131 disposals in five games with 23 clearances and nine goals. He's played senior footy for the Tigers back home in SA and is a likely type later in the first round.
Nathan Hrovat, Northern Knights, 175cm, 79kg, 7/6/94
Draft range: 15-25
There's a bit of Toby Greene about Hrovat in that he isn't the most heralded - or big - onballer in the draft, but he might just be the most effective. The clearance specialist racked up 126 possessions across five games at the national championships at an efficiency rate of 75 per cent to be named Vic Metro's MVP and All Australian. He played eight games for the Knights and was named their best player on five occasions and their second-best twice.
Jake Stringer, Bendigo Pioneers, 191cm, 94kg, 25/4/94
Draft range: 15-25
Like Menzel, the Bendigo hard nut is difficult to place due to injury concerns after he badly broke his left leg in the first round of the 2011 TAC Cup competition. He worked tirelessly to make his return to footy this early this year, but his running gait still appears to be affected. Kicking is one of Stringer's strengths - he booted nine goals in his first game back for the Pioneers and managed a perfect score in the goalkicking test at the combine. He also finished equal first in the clean hands test.
Click here to see highlights of Jake Stringer
Nick Vlastuin, Northern Knights, 187cm, 86kg, 19/4/94
Draft range: 15-25
The Vic Metro captain's pace is a concern to some, but he is one of the 'purest' footballers in the draft. He loves a contest, brings strong leadership, reads the play like few of his contemporaries can and disposes of the ball cleanly. He was given All Australian honours at the national carnival and was named high in the Knights' best players in their last four games of the season.
Click here to see highlights of Nick Vlastuin
Nick Graham, Gippsland Power, 183cm, 79kg, 12/6/94
Draft range: 15-25
The prolific onballer capped a stellar year by taking out the Morrish Medal, and he was the Power's best player in the pressure-packed environment of the TAC Cup Grand Final, which is always a big tick for recruiters. He averaged 25 possessions a game, has a strong competitive streak, is a good distributor by foot and is a ferocious tackler - averaging just over six per match.
Josh Simpson, East Fremantle, 184cm, 73kg, 9/2/94
Draft range: 15-25
Simpson's combination of pace, endurance and skill make him an intriguing prospect. He doesn't get a stack of possessions at this point in his career, but is dangerous around goals and when he's got the ball he's just exciting to watch. He's very evasive, excels in traffic, breaking away from packs, and is a neat disposer of the ball by hand and foot on both sides. Finished equal first in the kicking efficiency test at the combine and equal second in the goalkicking test.
Click here to see highlights of Josh Simpson
Jason Phelan covers the NAB AFL Draft for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter @AFL_JasonPhelan.
