Each week, ESPN.com.au AFL draft expert Chris Doerre casts his eye over the country's best junior footballers to give readers an early insight into the next generation of AFL stars.

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 draft analysis.

Aside from the weekly wraps, Doerre will also unveil his power rankings at the end of each month and as we get closer to November's national draft, Doerre will also predict who goes where with his annual phantom draft

Player Focus

Showing the class of an established AFL footballer, Curtis Taylor was Calder's best in their loss to Northern. The 186cm, 79kg, midfielder is a likely first round draft choice. He secured 19 disposals, 10 contested possessions, seven clearances and two goals.

Taylor is a high impact per possession player who shone at stoppages at the weekend. He frequently won first possession and accelerated away. Taylor often won the ball on the move and it felt like around stoppages he was always in motion. He also produced a brilliant snap and finish from a stoppage 25m from goal after winning first possession.

Taylor's game bares some similarities to Robbie Gray as a ball-winning midfielder who also can play forward and hit the scoreboard. The next stage in Taylor's development is to start finding more of the football. Averaging 19 disposals per game, a lift in output could see Taylor enter the top-five conversation.

Curtis Taylor of Vic Metro kicks during the U18 Championships match against WA in 2017. Paul Kane/Getty Images

TAC Cup

Showing off his versatility, Essendon Next Generation Academy (NGA) member Daniel Hanna was one of Calder's best players. The 199cm, 81kg, overager amassed 22 disposals, nine marks (two contested) and one goal. The combination of Hanna's intercept marking and mobility impressed recruiters.

A further Essendon NGA prospect for Calder, Ismail Moussa caught the eye. Gathering 18 disposals and eight marks, the 179cm, 76kg, defender demonstrated a burst of speed, the strength to shrug off a tackle and was not afraid of taking on the game. His reliable ball use and sound decision making with ball in hand was also noteworthy with 11 of his 13 kicks effective.

Improving his draft stocks, Carlton NGA prospect Sunny Brazier made the most of his midfield minutes for Northern. The 190cm forward secured 23 disposals, 12 contested possessions and five clearances. His contested ball-winning and work at ground level was impressive through the midfield and will be something clubs will be hoping Brazier can do more of. With his contested marking capabilities, securing three against both Gippsland and Bendigo, Brazier looms as an intriguing prospect.

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Son of Collingwood's Jason Wild (70 games), Mitch Wild was one of Northern's best players. The 181cm, 80kg, midfielder was clean at ground level, always on the move when receiving and demonstrated clean skills. Wild collected 17 disposals, with nine of his 10 kicks were effective.

Mitch Wild of the Knights pressures Noah Wheeler of the Pioneers. Mike Owen/Getty Images

Overage key defender Jordan Butts was again prolific. For Murray in their loss to Dandenong, Butts accumulated 26 disposals, eight marks and one goal.

Cousin of ex-Saint, Justin Koschitzke, Murray captain Jacob Koschitzke was named one of Murray's bests. The 196cm, 94kg, key position player gathered 14 disposals and seven marks (four contested).

Continuing his strong run of form, Hudson Garoni was again dominant for Murray. The powerful marking forward impressed with 13 disposals, eight marks (two contested) and seven goals. Garoni has kicked 22 goals from his last four matches and holds a seven-goal lead over second placed Sam Flanders in the TAC Cup goalkicking.

Working hard for Dandenong and pushing up the field, Bailey Williams was impactful with 19 disposals, 14 hitouts, one goal and two score assists.

Bailey Williams of the Stingrays George Salpigtidis/Getty Images

Dandenong's powerful marking forward Corey Ellison secured 14 disposals, four marks (two contested) and six goals in a best on ground display. Ellison has kicked two or more goals in each of his five matches and has been named among Dandenong's bests in his past three.

Eastern underage forward Jamieson Rossiter was named Eastern's best in their first win of the season, coming at the hands of Bendigo. The 190cm, 77kg, forward amassed 14 disposals, seven marks (four contested) and six goals in a breakout performance.

Western Bulldogs NGA prospect Lachie Dawson performed strongly for Greater Western Victoria (GWV) in their loss to Gippsland. The ball-winning midfielder secured 31 disposals, 14 contested possessions, seven tackles and six clearances.

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GWV's dangerous forward Charlie Wilson on Saturday was named in the club's bests for the sixth time in seven games. Collecting 15 disposals, five marks (one contested), three goals and two score assists. This is the second successive week Wilson has kicked three goals.

Named in Gippsland's best players for the fifth time from six matches, Xavier Duursma was a driving force for Gippsland. Duursma produced 21 disposals, 11 contested possessions, five marks (three contested), 12 tackles and two goals.

The Power's Xavier Duursma tangles with a Bushrangers opponent. Jack Thomas/AFL Media/Getty Images

Furthering his case for 2019's top choice, underage forward Sam Flanders was Gippsland's best. The talented forward managed 18 disposals, 12 contested possessions, six marks (three contested), five tackles, four goals and two score assists.

Western Bulldogs NGA prospect Buku Khamis was named Western's best. The 189cm, 81kg, defender amassed 22 disposals and 12 marks. Khamis's kicking was reliable, with 12 of his 16 kicks effective and his intercept marking was also impressive.

Buku Khamis of the Western Jets. Robert Prezioso/AFL Media/Getty Images

Geelong father-son prospect Baxter Mensch was again valuable through the Falcons' midfield with 32 disposals, 18 contested possessions, six tackles, eight clearances and four inside 50s.

SANFL

League

For West Adelaide in their win against Port Adelaide, likely top-10 choice Izak Rankine gathered 19 disposals and two goals.

Under-18s

Managing game highs of 30 disposals and 10 marks for Central Districts in their win against Sturt, 184cm, 77kg, midfielder Aaron Nietschke was one of the club's best players. This was the sixth of seven matches Nietschke was named in the club's bests for the prolific accumulator.

Powerful forward Malachai Ahmatt-Lovett was another standout for Central Districts. The 180cm, 89kg, forward produced 19 disposals, seven marks, five tackles and three goals for Central Districts. Ahmatt-Lovett has kicked 18 goals from seven matches.

Playing a pivotal part in North Adelaide's win against South Adelaide, Bailey Coleman-Oakes, a 174cm, 77kg, midfielder amassed 43 disposals, nine marks, six tackles and five inside 50s.

Securing a team high 24 disposals, nine marks and four goals for the Eagles in their convincing win against Norwood, Jarrod Miller is a player on the rise. Miller has featured in the bests in six of seven matches for the Eagles. The 185cm, 84kg, forward has also kicked 14 goals in his past five matches.

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WAFL

Colts

In Subiaco's four-point loss to Peel, Jack Mayo was a shining light. The 192cm, 81kg, key forward has had a consistent start to the season averaging three goals per game and has yet to drop below two goals. In Subiaco's loss, Mayo gathered 12 disposals, seven marks, 11 hitouts and four goals.

For West Perth in their three-point loss to East Fremantle, Nathan Murray's performance was notable. He amassed 34 disposals, five inside 50s and one goal. Murray is averaging 30 disposals and 1.1 goals per game.