The AFL's official statisticians Champion Data have bucked the trend of ranking Jacob Weitering as the number one draft prospect for 2015.
Champion Data's ranking system involves analysis of the players games and statistics from back to the age of 15, all the way through to the Under-18 National Championships. The results are published in the annual AFL Prospectus.
Order the AFL Prospectus 2016
With that, Jacob Hopper gained the number one rank ahead of Weitering.
View the full 30-man power rankings below, with analysis of every player.
Don't forget, North has picks 17, 26 and 28 as its first three selections heading into Tuesday night's National Draft.
1. Jacob Hopper (NSW-ACT, North Ballarat Rebels, GWS academy)
A tough, classy midfielder with a ready-made AFL frame, a big presence around stoppages and the ability to hit scoreboard. As NSW-ACT Rams skipper, Hopper starred during this year’s Under 18 national championships, averaging 27 disposals, 16 contested possessions, six inside 50s, nine clearances, one goal and 157 SuperCoach points over three games.
2. Callum Mills (NSW-ACT, Sydney academy)
Still very highly rated despite missing most of the 2015 season due to shin and foot injuries, the in-and-under midfielder can extract the ball cleanly by either hand or foot. He was crowned an under 18s All-Australian in 2014 after averaging 21 disposals in the championships.
3. Josh Schache (Vic Country, Murray Bushrangers)
A star forward who has excellent size, power and marking ability. He won the Larke Medal this year as the best player in Division 1, booting a record 24 goals from six games for Vic Country.
4. Jacob Weitering (Vic Country, Dandenong Stingrays)
An excellent intercept defender who can play both loose or one-on-one. Had a brilliant year for the Stingrays in the TAC Cup, averaging 19 disposals, eight marks (four intercept) and five rebound 50s.
5. Darcy Parish (Vic Country, Geelong Falcons)
Has electric pace, great strength for his size and a real knack for accumulating the footy. He averaged 22 disposals in the national championships and 28 in the TAC Cup this season.
6. Aaron Francis (South Australia, West Adelaide)
A genuine utility at 191cm and 92kg who’s just as comfortable playing at either end of the ground. In defence he’s an excellent intercept player with great game sense, highlighted by his 11 intercept marks for SA in this year’s national championships. Up forward, he just knows where the goals are.
7. Ben Keays (Queensland, Redlands, Brisbane academy)
A strong, inside midfielder who starred for his state and averaged 29 disposals in this year’s under 18 national carnival. Could be a future captain, too.
8. Ryan Burton (South Australia, North Adelaide)
An athletic key forward at 191cm who leads well and has an accurate set-shot for goal.
9. Matthew Kennedy (NSW-ACT, Collingullie-GP, GWS academy)
One of the best and toughest midfielders of this year’s draft class. A bull at stoppages, yet uses his 187cm frame to take contested marks around the ground. Can also push forward and impact the scoreboard.
10. Eric Hipwood (Queensland, Aspley, Brisbane academy)
Incredibly athletic for a man who stands 202cm, the academy prospect can play either back or forward. Won All-Australian honours for his carnival campaign, kicking four goals and averaging 21 disposals and seven marks from three games.
11. Charlie Curnow (Vic Country, Geelong Falcons)
Forward or back, midfield or ruck, the brother of Carlton’s Ed Curnow is one of the most versatile players in the draft, but probably plays his best footy forward. Possesses excellent overhead marking ability and is an accurate kick for goal.
12. Rhys Mathieson (Vic Country, Geelong Falcons)
Of all the midfielders of this year’s draft class, the tough, inside on-baller with clean hands could be the most ready-made for the AFL environment. A footy nut who’s always watching games, the contested ball animal averaged 20 disposals and five clearances per game in the this year’s carnival.
13. Jade Gresham (Vic Metro, Northern Knights)
An explosive, inside midfielder and prolific ball magnet who couldn’t have done much more in 2015 to enhance his prospects. He starred in the TAC Cup (averaged 29 disposals and kicked 15 goals), national championships (23 disposals and five clearances) and draft combine (top-10 finishes in the clean hands and kicking tests).
14. Sam Weideman (Vic Metro, Eastern Ranges)
His 2015 campaign was hampered by an ankle stress fracture, but that hasn’t stopped the tall forward from slipping out of top-10 contention. The grandson of Collingwood legend Murray Weideman is a good contested mark and has an accurate set-shot kick for goal.
15. Kieran Lovell (Tasmania, Kingston Tigers)
Height is no barrier for the 174cm midfielder, who has racked up incredible numbers at both TAC Cup (averaged 34 disposals) and national carnival (35 disposals) levels this season. He’s a tough tackler, natural ball magnet and clearance machine.
16. Mitch Hibberd (Tasmania, Clarence)
A versatile 19-year-old half-back that looms as Tasmania’s best draft prospect, despite Lovell’s incredible numbers this year. With great athleticism and footy smarts, he averaged 24 disposals in both the TAC Cup and national championships this year.
17. Ryan Clarke (Vic Metro, Eastern Ranges)
The fit, hard-working on-baller had an impressive back-end to the TAC Cup season, which included hauls of 45, 42 and 30 disposals — as well as three goals — in the space of three games.
18. Clayton Oliver (Vic Country, Murray Bushrangers)
A gun midfielder who won the Morrish medal as the best TAC Cup player for the season. He finished the year with an average of 24 disposals, as well as a total of 20 goals, from 16 games.
19. Riley Bonner (South Australia, West Adelaide)
Your quintessential rebounding defender who possesses an accurate left-foot kick but can also play on a small or tall opponent. Won All-Australian honours thanks to his excellent under 18 carnival campaign.
20. Harley Balic (Vic Metro, Sandringham Dragons)
A talented junior basketballer who ultimately chose football, the half-forward/midfielder averaged 23 disposals per game in the TAC Cup and 22 touches in the national championships. However a question mark over his kicking efficiency still lingers.
21. Wayne Milera (South Australia, Central Districts)
A classy outside player who could play as either a running half-back or elusive crumbing forward. His five-goal, 24-disposal haul against Glenelg in the SANFL, as well as his impressive time in the 30m sprint test at the draft combine, has seen him rocket into early first-round contention.
22. Ben Crocker (Vic Metro, Oakleigh Chargers)
A competitive half-forward with great hands that can also play through midfield. He kicked 23 goals and averaged 19 disposals from 14 TAC Cup games this year.
23. Luke Partington (South Australia, Norwood)
South Australia’s top ball magnet for 2015 who can find the footy in both contested and uncontested situations. A quick yet durable on-baller who averaged 24 disposals per game during the national championships this season.
24. Callum Ah Chee (Western Australia, South Fremantle)
Clearly WA’s best prospect of this season’s draft class who can change games in an instant and often plays above his height of 182cm. A quick and agile small forward, he featured in both the under 18 carnival and WAFL seniors this year, booting five goals from six games in each competition.
25. Darcy Tucker (Vic Country, North Ballarat Rebels)
Your quintessential running defender that has pace, elite endurance, composure and a damaging left-foot kick. Showed solid consistency in both the TAC Cup and national carnival this year, averaging 23 and 19 disposals in the two respective competitions.
26. Daniel Rioli (Northern Territory, North Ballarat Rebels)
The cousin of Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli booted 14 goals from nine games in the TAC Cup this year. But it was at the draft combine where he truly announced himself, winning the repeat 30m sprint test and finishing inside the top five in the 20m sprint, clean hands and vertical jump tests. He also finished with an impressive beep test time of 14.6.
27. Bailey Rice (Vic Country, Dandenong Stingrays)
The son of former Carlton and St Kilda player Dean Rice had a consistent season at all levels in 2015. An excellent rebounding defender, he averaged 21 disposals at 73 per cent efficiency and five rebound 50s per game during the TAC Cup season, while he quickly adapted to the physicality of VFL level during his two games with the Northern Blues.
28. Brayden Fiorini (Vic Metro, Northern Knights)
A ball magnet and effective ball user that racked up big numbers during 2015. The versatile midfielder, who could also play down back if need be, averaged 32 disposals in the TAC Cup and kicked multiple goals in three of last four games
29. Kieran Collins (Vic Country, Dandenong Stingrays)
A lockdown, ready-made full-back at 193cm and 94kg, however he’s worked hard to improve the offensive aspects of his game this season. Averaged four spoils per game for the Stingrays, while he showed off his attacking improvement at the carnival with an average of five rebound 50s.
30. Josh Dunkley (Vic Country, Gippsland Power)
The son of Sydney champion Andrew Dunkley is an inside midfielder who wins most of his disposals in a contested situation and has good overhead marking ability. Played well for the Power in 2015, averaging 19 disposals, six tackles and four clearances.
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