THE LATEST AFL Draft Power Rankings instalment dropped on Monday, with three fresh faces introduced to the list of 20. Given a couple of perhaps surprise exclusions and quite an even group on the precipice, there were plenty of questions to arise. We attempt to answer them in this Q&A.

>> Top 20: June 2023 Power Rankings

JUNE POWER RANKINGS Q&A

Q: No room for George Stevens?

A: This was easily the most asked question. The GWV Rebels product has been in serious form since shifting to midfield, including his 44-disposal performance on the weekend. He has certainly done his draft chances no harm over the last month, but the top 15 or so prospects are quite settled. Others suit the modern day athletic profile better, and have a touch more flair, upside, hurt factor – however you want to phrase it. Stevens sits outside that prototype, but his form is proving hard to ignore.

Q: How does Ashton Moir not feature in the top 20?

A: The second most asked question, and a fair one at that. Once thought of as a top five prospect, Moir has struggled to hit his stride in 2023 on the back of injury niggles and lowered confidence. It was difficult not to give him the benefit of the doubt after copping another knock in his most recent game for SA, but others are moving around him. On pure talent, he is a lock inside the top 20, but he’ll need to find some consistency and take ahold of games like other players around the same range have.

Q: What about the other two players who fell out of the rankings?

A: Along with Moir, Archer Reid and Luamon Lual slid out of this month’s top 20. You could not have better scripted the timing on Reid’s latest performance, a breakout four-goal game in the Talent League and clearly his best of the season. He simply hadn’t shown the same vigour and authority beforehand. As for Lual, he has great potential but hasn’t quite taken the next step over the last month, currently sitting in a very even 25-40 bracket.

Q: Where does Logan Morris rank?

A: Morris is an interesting talent to rank given he looks like a genuine key position player, but measures up at an undersized 191cm. Much of that is down to his strength against junior competition, which in turn aids his contested marking game. He recently showcased his versatility in Vic Metro’s defence and is certainly steadfast. He’ll remain within draft considerations and will have plenty more chances to prove his quality at National Championships level.

Q: What about Will Brown?

A: Another player around the mark, Brown has proven to be a contested ball winning beast who allows others to shine in midfield, which may be a blessing and a curse. Vic Metro’s bottom-agers ran riot around a much less prolific Brown, and similar could be said in the early stages of the Talent League season. Still, for a 190cm-plus midfielder, he covers the ground well and has a handy point of difference in being able to hit the scoreboard up forward. We’re watching.

Q: Should Connor O’Sullivan be higher?

A: Maybe. O’Sullivan has truly found a groove over the last month, looking every bit a top 15 player with his work in defence for Murray and the Allies. He moves up our draft board from 15 to 12, but has potential to crack the top 10. His dynamism as a tall is terrific, able to impact aerially with intercept marks, but also covering plenty of ground from contest to contest and reading the play well. The versatility to play in a range of other roles also appeals. He’s on the way up.

Q: Will Caiden Cleary and Lachlan Cabor be around the mark?

A: Neither Swans Academy member was in our top 20-30 players to start the year, but have only boosted their stocks in the National Championships. The knock on Cleary has been his kicking, which Allies staff are happy with in the way of improvement, and his contested ball winning acumen can hardly be faulted. Cabor has a lot further to go, but he has been solid as a small defender, at representative level. The former is arguably the better prospect, and both will be monitored by Sydney come draft time.

Q: What about Logan Evans?

A: Evans was just about the next cab off the rank in our May Power Rankings, having just missed out on the top 20. He has played his best football with Norwood as one of the few draftable South Australians to have cracked the senior SANFL grades, but had a comparatively disappointing National Championships campaign. He’s still in our sights, but perhaps not as prevalent in the push for a first round spot at this point. Things can change, though – class is permanent.

Q: Is Lance Collard close to the top 20?

A: Another player who has been on the precipice, Collard is yet to capture his best form at representative level. He burst on the scene with Subiaco in the WAFL Colts and can certainly do some miraculous things inside 50 – whether it be high marks, sharp goals, or tackling pressure which makes defenders sweat. West Coast will hope its NGA prospect survives past pick 40, but a good run in the back end of the year may quash that factor.

Q: Where’s James Leake?

A: Leake is one of the many Allies players to have risen into the 25-40 range after a terrific start to the Under 18 National Championships. He has been a real find for both Tasmania and the Allies this year, playing predominantly in defence where he attacks the ball hard and is seldom beaten both in the air and at ground level. He even swung forward for the Devils on Sunday to boot three goals, also showcasing his marking ability. One to watch.

Q: How many players will be in next month’s rankings?

A: This is a tough one, because there was serious consideration in cutting this month’s list to 15 players. That amount is very easy to determine, and perhaps even up to the 20-mark, but a blanket can be thrown over the next lot of talent. The drop-off is quite steep among this year’s crop and there is an even bunch vying for spots in the second and third round. This is why the National Championships present such a great opportunity for players to prove their worth. Spots are there for the taking.

Q: Will they look much different?

A: As alluded to above, the top 12-15 players are quite settled. They don’t look like changing much over the course of the year, apart from a few shuffles here and there. The main changes will come thereafter and the ranking of many players in that range are sure to divide recruiters, who inevitably have differing outlooks. Speaking of, the race to be number one is becoming a talking point again, and Harley Reid may yet have a challenger in Jed Walter.