ESSENDON

Pick 4: Joe Daniher is the Bombers' only genuine key forward option, so the club will have to use one of its two top-five picks to take a tall forward. Sam Weideman is a legitimate option, despite his injury absence throughout the year. Weideman is 196cm and an imposing, straight-kicking key forward. The Bombers need to beef up their tall stocks.

Around the mark: Darcy Parish, Charlie Curnow, Aaron Francis

The Top Prospects:

Jacob Weitering: Weitering has been hard to displace from this position all year. His start to the season against VFL opponents rocketed him to the top of the pool and he has remained there since, showing a cool head dealing with the tag as the likely No.1 draft pick. Across the year he continued to float across packs in defence, take big grabs and then set up the play with his damaging right-foot kicking. At last week's combine, Weitering ran a 15.1 beep test – which puts him in elite territory as a top-end tall prospect.

Josh Schache: In a strong field of talls in the early part of this year's draft, Schache stands up as one of the best. Schache did his best work in the first half of the season, but continued to kick goals and set others up for the Murray Bushrangers at TAC Cup level after the under-18 championships. Schache looks likely to be a top-two pick at November's draft and he would be a deserving selection: this year he has added more grunt to his game, and he can run most of his opponents off their feet.

Callum Mills: Mills' season ended with another injury, with a hamstring complaint ruling him out of playing on the MCG on Grand Final day for the Allies and from testing at the combine. It was a shame, as a good game on the biggest stage before the premiership decider would have been a nice little reminder of his talents as a competitive, hard-working, strong midfielder. Nonetheless, recruiters saw more than enough last year to know the Sydney Swans academy player sits at the very top of this year's draft pool, notwithstanding the fact he played just three games in 2015.

Harley Balic: Balic's wrist surgery in August saw him unable to complete any testing at the combine, instead spending his time meeting clubs. Plenty like him, because he's able to play in the three different zones of the ground. This year he was used as a half-back, half-forward and midfielder, showing creativity whenever he's in possession. Last year Balic was used for the Sandringham Dragons as a deep forward who worked well in tight spaces. This season he has worked up the ground and made the under-18 All Australian team despite managing the wrist problem throughout the year.

Darcy Parish: All of Parish's game-changing qualities were on show in the Geelong Falcons' qualifying final against North Ballarat, when he collected 27 disposals, had seven tackles, five clearances and eight inside-50s. Parish is tough, composed and is a quick-thinker: he hunts the ball, darts away and doesn't take long to make a decision. Parish tested at the combine but didn't stand out in any of the events. That shouldn't be a surprise or a worry. He's a natural footballer and one who steps up a level when the ball is there to get and offers plenty of dash.

Aaron Francis: Francis is a jumping, leaping intercept defender who can be damaging in all three areas of the ground. The South Australian was his state's best player during the mid-year championships, and showed his ability to read the ball in the air and also hit the scoreboard when stationed in attack. He will need to continue to build up his aerobic base but has some key essentials, plus an inner competitiveness, that makes him one of the top prospects.

Rhys Mathieson: Mathieson's best traits come in his ball hunting. He is another midfielder who is more footballer than athlete, evidenced by his poorer endurance results at the combine. But Mathieson is very good at what he does well: his hands are sharp, he's tough and combative, and he can also take a strong overhead mark. Over the course of his last three years – from under-16s level to this season – Mathieson has stepped up with every level of football he's played and performed well. He should be able to take it into the AFL system as well.

Sam Weideman: It's been a long couple of years for Weideman, whose injuries have kept him from getting a consistent run at things. Last year he battled an ankle problem that interrupted his start to this year and it resurfaced before the mid-year carnival, forcing him out for the rest of the season. He couldn't test at the combine, but did do a running session one night, which drew the attention of recruiters at Etihad Stadium. Weideman is perhaps the most imposing of the key forwards available. He is big and strong, takes marks, crashes packs and kicks at goal with an uncomplicated style.

Callum Ah Chee: Jumping up to the senior team for South Fremantle was a good thing for Ah Chee in the back-end of the season, where he showed his flair and skill. There aren't too many small forwards like Ah Chee in the first round of this year's draft, with strong speed, goal sense and reliable ball use. He has some work to do on his endurance but he understands that, and in time he looks a good wingman or half-forward at the top level. The recently turned 18-year-old is the younger brother of Port Adelaide's Brendon Ah Chee.

Charlie Curnow: One of the most interesting players of the draft pool, it would have been fascinating to see Curnow play a full year of under-18 footy. Just as he was starting to try his hand in the midfield, the burly forward broke down with a knee injury, which saw him miss a large chunk of the middle of the season. But his impact up forward in the final month of the year for the Falcons thrust him back among the best prospects. At the combine he showed his athleticism, running a 14.5 beep test and 10:24 minute three-kilometre time trial.

Wayne Milera: Milera's run of form at senior level has seen him jump up draft boards. The South Australian played some senior footy for Central District in the SANFL earlier this season but it was his performances late in the year which caught the attention. His 25-disposal and five-goal effort against Glenelg was special, particularly having been told by recruiters that week he needed to find more of the ball. He missed Central's first final after undergoing minor heart surgery, but returned with a brilliant display in the semi final. The classy half-forward kicked three goals and sent his team into the preliminary final.