Cameron Rayner during the AFL Academy v Northern Blues match in April. Credit:AFL Media 2 LUKE DAVIES-UNIACKE (Fremantle)

187cm, 85kg, Dandenong Stingrays Strong midfielder capable of breaking away from the clinches. Looks a ready-made player. Analysis: Has been the favourite for a while to be the Dockers' first pick given his reputation as probably the most complete midfielder in the draft. But there was strong late talk Adam Cerra was in the mix too which would throw a spanner in the works. One theory put forward was Freo would take Cerra to stop North from pouncing at four.

Luke Davis-Uniacke. Credit:AFL Media 3 PADDY DOW (Carlton)

185cm, 78kg, Bendigo Pioneers A well-balanced midfielder who is an outstanding runner and a knack for kicking goals. Analysis: Carlton badly need to bolster their midfield and Dow is quality. He's still pretty slight but it's easy to imagine him playing a lot of senior football in 2018. There had been some talk Rayner could slip, giving the Blues something to think about but that looks to have been snuffed out.

4 ADAM CERRA ​(North Melbourne)

186cm, 80kg, Eastern Ranges Terrific user of the ball, good both as an inside or outside midfielder. Analysis: They've been linked to a lot of players at this selection, and have shown plenty of interest in Darcy Fogarty, while Brayshaw wouldn't be surprise either, but North need class in the midfield. Of course they'd need Cerra to slip past Fremantle's No. 2 pick, which has been in doubt. 5 ANDY BRAYSHAW

(Fremantle)

184cm, 82kg, Sandringham Dragons Extremely fit and well-rounded midfielder from a famous football family. Arguably the safest bet of the draft. Analysis: Brayshaw is hard-working and the kind of player who could be a future captain. But if the Dockers go with Cerra at two and North take Fogarty at four that would leave Freo with a choice of Davies-Uniacke or Brayshaw. Andrew Brayshaw poses for a photograph in Sydney. Credit:AAP 6 DARCY FOGARTY

(Collingwood)

192cm, 95kg, Glenelg A very good mark capable of playing as a tall forward but also moves into the midfield. Had an injury-interrupted year. Analysis: This is a fascinating selection as Collingwood are pretty skinny for talls at either end. So Aaron Naughton wouldn't be a stunner, Ed Richards has been linked to this pick in recent days, and if North take Fogarty then Cerra would have to warrant serious consideration, while Jaidyn Stephenson still looked a live prospect at this pick on Thursday. Fogarty should provide some dynamism though, especially with Darcy Moore's planned move to defence. Darcy Fogarty at the Sydney Tower Eye Skywalk. Credit:AAP 7 NICK COFFIELD

​(St Kilda)

191cm, 82kg, Northern Knights Skilful and evasive player capable of playing several positions, including half-back and as a forward. Will need to improve endurance to become a genuine AFL midfielder. Analysis: The Saints would love one of Brayshaw, Cerra or Davies-Uniacke to slip and if they were available you'd expect them to pounce here. But Coffield has class and could well end up pushing into the midfield. 8 HUNTER CLARK (St Kilda)

186cm, 80kg, Dandenong Stingrays



Once considered a defender, his stocks have risen on the back of a terrific year in which he showed his ability to play in the midfield. Well-rounded player.

Analysis: Clark is now a bona fide midfielder and looks a relatively safe option for St Kilda. Naughton and Aiden Bonar have also been linked to St Kilda.

9 AARON NAUGHTON (Western Bulldogs)

194cm, 84kg, Peel Thunder



The standout key defender in the draft pool, he is a good intercept mark with a nice pair of hands. His kicking has been a bit of a question mark. Analysis: The Dogs seem to have some reasonable key defensive depth with Zaine Cordy, Marcus Adams, Fletcher Roberts and Jackson Trengove but are understood to be very keen about Naughton. It's hard to see him not ending up here although they've been linked to Coffield and Richards too. 10 ED RICHARDS

(Carlton)

185cm, 78kg, Oakleigh Chargers



The grandson of Collingwood great Ron Richards, he has been a bolter in 2017 with good speed and intercept marking ability. Analysis: Richards would nicely complement Dow's hardness and could make an impact straight away given the Blues will be lighter for rebounding defenders following the season-ending injury to Sam Docherty. Lochie O'Brien wouldn't be a surprise with this selection either. 11 AIDEN BONAR (GWS)

189cm, 87kg, Dandenong Stingrays



Able to play all over the ground, he has speed and is a good ball user. Tested brilliantly at the draft combine, having bounced back from two knee reconstructions. Analysis: Jack Higgins wouldn't be a shock at this position either given the Giants have been on the lookout for a small forward but they can probably find one a bit later - with Gryan Miers looking a chance in the late 20s. They had been linked to Stephenson but won't be taking him.

12 JACK HIGGINS (Adelaide)

178cm, 77kg, Oakleigh Chargers



Crafty small forward who can push into the midfield. Knows how to find the ball, is a good mark, and is a noted goalkicker. Analysis: The Crows are on record saying they would take South Australian Fogarty if he slipped this far but that looks highly improbable. It's also thought they'd take Clark or Bonar if one of them made it to this point. 13 JAIDYN STEPHENSON (West Coast)

189cm, 75kg, Eastern Ranges



Freakish talent who is adept both as a midfielder and a forward. Has speed, skill and is a very good mark. Expected to slide due to a heart issue picked up in medical screening.

Analysis: Until recently he'd been viewed as a top five pick but has been a slider due to the heart concern. The Eagles have been strongly linked with O'Brien too while local hope Oscar Allen wouldn't shock. AFL draft prospect Jaidyn Stephenson. Credit:Eddie Jim 14 OSCAR ALLEN (Sydney)

191cm, 83kg, West Perth



Slightly undersized key forward with a very good pair of hands. He shone at the national championships mid-year. Analysis: The Swans have been linked to a few players at this pick. There was talk for a while they'd go with Nathan Murphy, while in recent days they have been linked with Lachlan Fogarty and Jack Higgins. It wouldn't be a shock if any of those ended up at Sydney.

15 LACHLAN FOGARTY (Brisbane Lions)

179cm, 75kg, Western Jets Agile inside midfielder known for his tackling and evasiveness. Good friend of Cameron Rayner. Analysis: It significantly undersells Fogarty to say he's heading up there to keep Rayner company but their bond should help with the dreaded go-home factor. Still he has hardness to help bolster a Lions midfield that needs depth. 16 LOCHIE O'BRIEN

​(Western Bulldogs)

184cm, 77kg, Bendigo Pioneers



Outside midfielder who comes from a running background and is a ball carrier with a very good left foot. Analysis: The Dogs also been strongly linked with Nathan Murphy at this pick, while none of Lachlan Fogarty, Jack Higgins or Ed Richards would surprise. It's believed Charlie Ballard has also been in their sights but it might be a bit early. 17 JARROD BRANDER (Richmond)

195cm, 92kg, Bendigo Pioneers Stocks have fallen a bit but the former GWS academy player can play forward or back, is athletic and uses the ball well.

Analysis: There was a view during the week Stephenson could fall this far and it still wouldn't be a huge surprise if that happened. Brander fits Richmond's need for height, even though they won the flag with a small forward line.

18 CHARLIE CONSTABLE (Brisbane Lions)

191cm, 86kg, Sandringham Dragons



There are queries over his endurance but the tall midfielder is excellent in close and can play forward or back. Analysis: The Tigers had shown some interest in Constable but it cooled. The Lions also been linked to Northern Territorian Zac Bailey in this range. 19 NATHAN MURPHY

(Gold Coast)

188cm, 80kg, Sandringham Dragons



Spurned a promising cricket career to pursue football. Plays tall, albeit undersized with a good pair of hands. Looks a genuine swingman. Analysis: Tall South Australian midfielder Charlie Ballard has been in their sights too. WA defender Sam Taylor has also been linked at this pick. They've lost Adam Saad and could do with more pace, so Jack Petruccelle looks an outside chance as well. 20 CHARLIE BALLARD (Richmond)

195cm, 81kg, Sturt



Tall midfielder with dash, he was a bit of a bolter this year after impressing for South Australia at the under-18 championships. Analysis: What Richmond do here depends on what they've done at 17. Sam Taylor has been linked to this selection too.

21 RYLEY STODDART (West Coast)

183cm, 73kg, Eastern Ranges



Composed left-footed defender who uses the ball well. Analysis: West Coast have a glut of picks in the second round and are keen on local hope Tim Kelly but he'd be more likely in the 30s. James Worpel is another they are understood to have been looking at. 22 SAM TAYLOR (Geelong)

196cm, 85kg, Swan Districts

A nice mark whose body looks ready for senior football after a taste in the WAFL. His kicking has been queried. Analysis: Taylor looks like the player Geelong could do with following the retirements of Tom Lonergan and Andrew Mackie, and would coincidentally join another West Australian Taylor - Harry. Matt Ling has been linked to this pick too. 23 CHARLIE SPARGO (North Melbourne)

172cm, 70kg, Murray Bushrangers



Like Brander, the Giants had rights to creative small forward/midfielder Spargo before losing them as part of a tightening of academy rules. Analysis: There was a whisper going around that they could look at bidding on Brisbane Lions academy player Connor Ballenden at this selection while Matt Ling has also been linked to this pick. Spargo's Paul played 81 games for the Kangaroos, shy of the 100 needed for father-son eligibility.

24 TIM KELLY (Geelong)

183cm, 83kg, South Fremantle A bit of a late bloomer, the 23-year-old midfielder/forward had a brilliant year in the WAFL, finishing runner-up to teammate Haiden Schloithe in the Sandover Medal. Analysis: The idea with the Cats taking Kelly here is to get in ahead of West Coast at 32 but others like Ling and Brent Daniels also look like being considerations in this range. 25 SAM HAYES