Each month, ESPN.com.au AFL draft expert Christopher Doerre - aka Knightmare - unveils his power rankings to give readers an early insight into the top 20 prospects ahead of the 2017 draft.

As well as attending live games, Doerre pores through match vision, analyses the stats and talks to industry sources to ensure he can offer the most insightful analysis.

However, these rankings are his personal opinions, and are not reflective of the thoughts of AFL clubs.

Aside from his monthly power rankings Doerre also produces a weekly draft wrap and he will also predict who goes where with his annual phantom draft in November.

1. Cameron Rayner (VIC)

Best position: General forward/inside midfielder

Height, weight: 187cm, 88kg

Recruited from: Western Jets

Projected draft range: top five

Similar to: Dustin Martin

July Ranking: 1

Rationale: Contested-ball winning beast who is hitting the scoreboard in bunches. Rayner is this year's most dominant performer.

Strengths:

Damaging both as a forward and midfielder

Aggression

Scoreboard impact

Strength

Powerful fend-off

Can burst through tackles at speed or stand up through tackles and deliver handball to target

Clean at ground level

Contested-ball winning

Clearances

Draws free kicks

Explosive pace

Evasiveness in traffic

High leap

Tackles with force

Plays with desperation and provides second and third efforts

Powerful and damaging kick over distance

Vision

Decision-making

One-on-one marking

Marking threat on the lead

Aerial marking

Production

Big game performer

Weaknesses:

Endurance

Set shot goalkicking

Cameron Rayner is in the mix to be drafted at No.1 this year. Paul Kane/Getty Images

2. Paddy Dow (VIC)

Best position: Inside midfield

Height, weight: 184cm, 78kg

Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers

Projected draft range: first round

Similar to: Luke Shuey

July Ranking: 2

Rationale: Possesses a winning mix of attributes and impact per possession through the midfield with contested-ball winning, acceleration from the contest and skillset. Under-18 Championships performances have made clear that he is a top-end prospect. May be the best midfielder in this draft.

Strengths:

First possession winner at coalface

Stoppage work

Wins clearances

Burst out of stoppages at speed

Acceleration

Desperation

Tackling

Clean skills

Lowers eyes

Composure in traffic

Evasiveness

High impact per possession

Scoreboard impact

Weaknesses:

Needs to find more of the ball

3. Adam Cerra (VIC)

Best position: Inside midfielder

Height, weight: 186cm, 85kg

Recruited from: Eastern Ranges

Projected draft range: first round

Similar to: Trent Cotchin

July Ranking: 6

Rationale: Despite missing much of 2017 with a meniscus injury in his knee, he is performing strongly. He's winning clearances, first possession at stoppages and displaying class and clean ball use. One of this year's best midfielders.

Strengths:

Contested-ball winning

Stoppage work

Wins clearances

Stands up through tackles

Strong build

Production

Strong mark overhead

One-on-one marking

Clean at ground level

Clean ball user

Decision-making

Vision

Composure under pressure

Production

Evasiveness

Endurance

Work rate

Best suited through midfield but can also be utilised down back or up forward

Weaknesses:

Acceleration

Adam Cerra (with ball) possesses excellent composure under pressure. Paul Kane/Getty Images

4. Luke Davies-Uniacke (VIC)

Best position: Inside midfield/general forward

Height, weight: 187cm, 85kg

Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays

Projected draft range: top five

Similar to: Ollie Wines

July Ranking: 3

Rationale: Slight drop with below expectation Under-18 Championships performances.

Strengths:

Stoppage work

Contested-ball winning

Reading of ruck taps

Gets to best spots at stoppages

Clearances

Explosive 10m burst of speed to break away from contest

Clean at ground level

Vision

Decision-making

Quick hands in close

Scoreboard impact

Overhead marking

Strength

Strength through core and hips to keep his feet in the contest and stands up through tackles

Midfielder with versatility to play forward or back

Has played his best football against more mature bodies

Weaknesses:

Placement of kicks mildly inconsistent

Can have quiet games or quiet patches in games

5. Jarrod Brander (VIC)

Best position: Key forward/key defence

Height, weight: 195cm, 83kg

Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers

Projected draft range: top 10

Similar to: Josh Bruce

July Ranking: 5

Rationale: Possesses attributes to suggest he could develop at either end of the field.

Strengths:

Clean at ground level

Agility

Pace

Endurance

Work rate

Marking threat on the lead

Strong hands overhead

Contested marking

Intercept marking

Clean field kick

Stands up through tackles

Versatility to play key forward or key defence

Weaknesses:

Conversion in front of goal

Can struggle down back to contain key forwards

6. Connor Ballenden (QLD - Brisbane Academy)

Best position: Key defence

Height, weight: 199cm, 95kg

Recruited from: University of Queensland

Projected draft range: first round

Similar to: Jeremy McGovern

July Ranking: 9

Rationale: Recent four-goal performance for Brisbane in the NEAFL against Canberra and convincing play as a key defender through Under-18 Championships sees Ballenden rise. Looks best suited as a key defender.

Strengths:

Intercept marking

Reading of the flight

Size and strength

Contested marking

Kicking

Vision

Decision-making

Physical style of play

Scoreboard impact

Forceful tackler

Versatility to play key defence, ruck or key forward

Weaknesses:

Endurance

Work rate

Athleticism

Agility

Acceleration

Inconsistent performances

7. Noah Balta (VIC)

Best position: Key forward/key defence

Height, weight: 194cm, 92kg

Recruited from: Calder Cannons

Projected draft range: first to second round

Similar to: Jonathon Marsh

July Ranking: 10

Rationale: Has had some big performances but also is lacks consistency from game to game. Rises with Will Sutherland dropping out of draft and Callum Coleman-Jones and Darcy Fogarty out for season.

Strengths:

Freakishly clean and one touch at ground level

Pace

Breaks the lines

Agility

Leap

Strength

Contested marking

Difficult to contain on the lead or leaping up at the football

Takes marks at full stretch

Stands up through tackles

Tackling

Scoreboard impact

Versatility to play either end well

Possible scope to develop into a tall midfielder

Weaknesses:

Unclear best position

Inconsistent performances

Football smarts

8. Aaron Naughton (WA)

Best position: Key defence

Height, weight: 194cm, 84kg

Recruited from: Peel Thunder

Projected draft range: first to second round

Similar to: Jack Hombsch

July Ranking: Not ranked

Rationale: Has transitioned to playing WAFL League football over the past month. His averages of 19 disposals and 10 marks over his three games so far have been outstanding and sees Naughton's draft stocks rise.

Strengths:

Intercept marking

Strong hands overhead

Reading the flight of the ball early

Football smarts

Contested marking

One-on-one marking

Keeps his feet in the contest

Agility

Acceleration

WAFL League performances

Weaknesses:

Kicking while reliable enough is of a high, loopy style which is too easily intercepted

Aaron Naughton looks to pass the ball. Paul Kane/Getty Images

9. Oscar Clavarino (VIC)

Best position: Key defender

Height, weight: 194cm, 80kg

Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays

Projected draft range: first to second round

Similar to: Heath Grundy

July Ranking: Not ranked

Rationale: Improving his rebounding capabilities. Has progressed from reliable shutdown key defender in 2016 to key defender who takes intercept marks and rebounds by foot. A 20 disposal, 11 mark (three contested), best-on-ground performance against Northern, in combination with his dominant play for Haileybury and Vic Metro sees Clavarino rise.

Strengths:

Strength

Body work one-on-one

Intercept marking

One-on-one marking

Reading the flight of the ball early

Keeps his feet in the contest

Shuts down opponents influence

Reliable kick to target

Weaknesses:

Pace

Athleticism

Agility

10. Darcy Fogarty (SA)

Best position: Utility

Height, weight: 192cm, 88kg

Recruited from: Glenelg

Projected draft range: first round

Similar to: Jack Darling

July Ranking: 10

Rationale: Out for the season with a small meniscus tear he carried through the Under-18 Championships. Lack of a clear best position and below expectation 2017 performances sees Fogarty rated here despite early season hype.

Strengths:

Strength

Contested-ball winning

Clearances

Contested marking

Body-on-body strength

Fend-offs

Stands up through tackles

Courage

Competitiveness

Versatility to play anywhere other than ruck

Scoreboard impact

Clean ball user by hand and foot

Vision

Decision making

High leap

Evasion

Agility

Weaknesses:

Endurance

Unclear best position

Production

Inconsistent performances

Poor Under-18 Championships

11. Brayden Crossley (QLD - Gold Coast Academy)

Best position: Ruck

Height, weight: 198cm, 105kg

Recruited from: Labrador Tigers

Projected draft range: second round onwards

Similar to: Braydon Preuss

July Ranking: 16

Rationale: Strength in the ruck combined with his rare followup work by position gives Crossley the scope to be the best ruckman in this draft.

Strengths:

Recovery after ruck contests rare

Followup work with ground-ball winning and tackling exceptional

Freakish cleanness at ground level for someone his height/size

Roves off a contest like a small

Physical impact around the ball

Strength

Bodywork in the contest

Agile

Weaknesses:

Endurance

Leap

Acceleration

12. Callum Coleman-Jones (SA)

Best position: Ruck/key forward

Height, weight: 199cm, 98kg

Recruited from: Sturt

Projected draft range: first to second round

Similar to: Toby Nankervis

July Ranking: 8

Rationale: Big body who can take a mark, find a lot of the ball around the ground and has the performances on the board both through the ruck and up forward. Appears an ideal relieving ruckman. Out for the season with knee surgery to solve a patella issue, but has done more than enough.

Strengths:

Contested marking

Strong hands overhead

Intercept marking

Reading of the flight

Size

Strength

Physicality

Clean at ground level

Disposal numbers per game through the ruck

Scoreboard impact

Taps to advantage

Mobility

Production

Prolific both as a key forward and ruckman

Very advanced game for age

Weaknesses:

Poor leap

Lacks explosiveness

Awkward kicking style

13. Sam Hayes (VIC)

Best position: Ruck/key forward

Height, weight: 203cm, 93kg

Recruited from: Eastern Ranges

Projected draft range: first round

Similar to: Matthew Kreuzer

July Ranking: 7

Rationale: Continues to perform strongly through the ruck and present a marking option when he pushes forward. While Hayes is the most advanced ruckman at this stage, by position he lacks one dominating element to his game to suggest he'll be a star.

Strengths:

Taps to advantage

Often takes ball out of ruck contest himself

Football smarts

Vice-like hands overhead, taking marks at the highest point

Contested marking

Body-on-body strength

Marking on the lead

Scoreboard impact

Finds the ball around the ground

Production

Advanced game for age

Mobile

Capable as ruckman or key forward

Weaknesses:

Pressure defensively

Only average leaper

Lacks a point of difference

Sam Hayes (L) and Lachlan Filipovic do battle during the 2016 TAC Cup elimination final. (Photo by Jack Thomas/AFL Media/Getty Images)

14. Jack Higgins (VIC)

Best position: General forward/outside midfield

Height, weight: 178cm, 76kg

Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers

Projected draft range: first round

Similar to: Lewis Taylor

July Ranking: 12

Rationale: Continuing to perform both as a midfielder and forward to a high level. Only drops slightly with the rises of Naughton and Clavarino.

Strengths:

One touch at ground level

Natural crumbing forward

Kicking skills on both sides of the body

Goal sense

Lowers his eyes and hits forward 50m targets

Plays taller than his height with his overhead marking

Capable one-on-one mark

Tackling pressure

Plays well as forward or midfielder

Production

Leap

Agility

Endurance

Work rate

Work ethic

Consistent performer

Weaknesses:

Impact per possession low as midfielder

Jack Higgins takes a mark during the U18 AFL Championships. Michael Dodge/Getty Images

15. James Worpel (VIC)

Best position: Inside midfield

Height, weight: 185cm, 84kg

Recruited from: Geelong Falcons

Projected draft range: first to second round

Similar to: Brad Sewell

July Ranking: 15

Rationale: Dominant stoppage work and contested ball winning sees Worpel hold his position.

Strengths:

Stoppage specialist

Powerful tackler

Contested ball winning

Clearances

Strong build

Strength through the hips allows Worpel to stand up when tackled and deliver a clean handball to a target without going to ground

Powerful fend offs

Courageous

Can hit the ball at speed and win it at full pace

Consistent performer

Acceleration

Agility

Leadership

Able to play forward and hit the scoreboard

Weaknesses:

Unreliable kick

16. Nicholas Coffield (VIC)

Best position: General defence/inside midfield

Height, weight: 190cm, 83kg

Recruited from: Northern Knights

Projected draft range: first to second round

Similar to: Jackson Nelson

July Ranking: 14

Rationale: One of the few players this year with genuine class and composure with ball in hand. At his height and with his mix of attributes has the scope to develop into a midfielder with time. Just needs to start winning more of the ball in the contest and develop greater consistency from game to game.

Strengths:

Sidestepping and composure in traffic

Sound decision maker in traffic

Classy ball user and clean kick over a variety of distances

Agility

Clean at ground level

Intercept marking

Production

Weaknesses:

Having played mostly back, he remains somewhat unproven as a midfielder other than for short periods

Contested ball winning

Stoppage work

Inconsistent production from game to game.

17. Jaidyn Stephenson (VIC)

Best position: Outside midfield

Height, weight: 189cm, 76kg

Recruited from: Eastern Ranges

Projected draft range: first round

Similar to: Kamdyn McIntosh

July Ranking: 13

Rationale: Stephenson's continued inconsistency sees him drop slightly. Has had his best moments as a tall, line-breaker on a wing.

Strengths:

High leaper

Aerial marking threat

Clean at ground level

Takes on the game with his run and is a genuine line breaker

Acceleration

Agility

Tackling pressure

Reading of ruck taps

Composed with ball in hand

Vision

Versatility to play wing, forward or on the ball for patches as needed

Weaknesses:

Hands overhead inconsistent

Strength

Consistency from game to game

Kicking mildly inconsistency

18. Andrew Brayshaw (VIC)

Best position: Inside midfield

Height, weight: 183cm, 80kg

Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons

Projected draft range: first round to second round

Similar to: Angus Brayshaw

July Ranking: 17

Rationale: Strong production and mix of attributes see Brayshaw placed inside the top 20.

Strengths:

Contested ball winning

Tackling

Stoppage work

One touch at ground level

Footy smarts

Kicking

Vision

Endurance

Weaknesses:

Athleticism

No clear second position

Andrew Brayshaw (R) could join his brother Angus on an AFL list come 2018. Michael Dodge/Getty Images

19. Patrick Naish (VIC - Richmond - father-son)

Best position: Outside midfield

Height, weight: 180cm, 69kg

Recruited from: Northern Knights

Projected draft range: first to second round

Similar to: Connor Menadue

July Ranking: 20

Rationale: Playing high impact per possession football and is one of this year's premier ball users and line breakers.

Strengths:

Agility

Evasiveness

Kicking

Vision

Awareness and composure in traffic

Class

Acceleration

Run and carry

Impact per disposal

Scoreboard impact

Weaknesses:

Contested ball winning

Size

20. Lochie O'Brien (VIC)

Best position: Outside midfield

Height, weight: 184cm, 75kg

Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers

Projected draft range: first round

Similar to: Jimmy Toumpas

July Ranking: 18

Rationale: Does damage on the outside by foot and with his run. Finds enough of the ball but would be higher if he won more contested ball.

Strengths:

Arguably the best kick in the draft with his precision, variety of kicks he can execute, hurt factor and dual sided kicking

Lowers eyes

Vision

Decision Making

Line breaker

Acceleration

Evasiveness

Agility

Overhead marking

Production

Versatility to play midfield or on flanks at either end

Weaknesses:

Stoppage work

Contested ball winning