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 ten

Similar to: Dustin Martin

May Ranking: 1

Rationale: Contested ball winning beast who is hitting the scoreboard in bunches. It's a winning combination.

Strengths: Contested ball

Scoreboard impact

Contested marking

Strong hands overhead

Marking threat on the lead

Powerful and damaging kick

Vision

Decision making

Damaging both as a forward and midfielder

Clearances

Evasiveness

Strength

Powerful fend off

Stands up through tackles

Clean at ground level

Production

Big game performances

Weaknesses: Endurance

Luke Davies-Uniacke Jack Thomas/AFL Media/Getty Images

2. Luke Davies-Uniacke (VIC)

Best position: Inside midfield/general forward

Height, weight: 187cm, 85kg

Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays

Projected draft range: top ten

Similar to: Michael Barlow

May Ranking: 2

Rationale: Finding a lot of the football and performing in big games and against more experienced opponents. Davies-Uniacke is firming as this year's best midfielder.

Strengths: Stoppage work

Contested ball

Reading of ruck taps

Gets to best spots at stoppages

Clearances

Scoreboard impact

Clean at ground level

Quick hands in close

Rate of improvement

Overhead marking

Versatility

Strength

Stands up through tackles

Work rate

Weaknesses: Lacking hurt factor

Athleticism

3. Darcy Fogarty (SA)

Best position: Inside midfield/general forward

Height, weight: 192cm, 88kg

Recruited from: Glenelg

Projected draft range: top five

Similar to: Jake Stringer

May Ranking: 4

Rationale: Playing SANFL League football where he is competing well enough without dominating. SANFL League football will help him in preparation for the upcoming Under-18 Championships and a spike in form is likely to accompany it.

Strengths: Strength

Contested ball winning

Clearances

Contested marking

Body-on-body strength

Overhead marking

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

Evasion

Weaknesses: Endurance

4. Jarrod Brander (VIC)

Best position: Key forward/key defence

Height, weight: 195cm, 83kg

Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers

Projected draft range: top five

Similar to: Joe Daniher

May Ranking: 3

Rationale: Limited exposure so far for this year's mostly highly rated key position player. The upcoming Under-18 Championships will make clearer where he stands in this year's draft.

Strengths: Clean at ground level

Agility

Pace

Marking threat on the lead

Strong hands overhead

Contested marking

Stands up through tackles

Strong 2016 performances

Weaknesses: Conversion in front of goal

Sam Hayes Jack Thomas/AFL Media/Getty Images

5. 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

May Ranking: 5

Rationale: Performing strongly through the ruck and also showing strong signs up forward.

Strengths: Vice-like hands overhead

Contested marking

Body-on-body strength

Marking on the lead

Taps to advantage

Smarts

Scoreboard impact

Equally capable as ruckman or forward

Production

Finds the ball around the ground

Performances on the board

Advanced game

Mobile

Weaknesses: Pressure defensively

6. Connor Ballenden (QLD - Brisbane Academy)

Best position: Ruck/key forward

Height, weight: 199cm, 95kg

Recruited from: University of Queensland

Projected draft range: first round

Similar to: Kurt Tippett

May Ranking: 6

Rationale: Performing strongly and looking like a first round prospect.

Strengths: Size and strength

Contested marking

Strong

Reading of the flight

Scoreboard impact

Mobile

Capable as either a ruckman or key forward

Weaknesses: Pressure defensively

7. Noah Balta (VIC)

Best position: Key forward/key defender

Height, weight: 194cm, 92kg

Recruited from: Calder Cannons

Projected draft range: first to second round

Similar to: Darcy Moore

May Ranking: 7

Rationale: Balta up forward, down back and through the ruck has shown glimpses of special talent.

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

Unselfish

Tackling

Versatility to play either end well

Scoreboard impact

Weaknesses: Unclear best position

Inconsistent performances

8. Callum Coleman-Jones (SA)

Best position: Key forward/ruck

Height, weight: 199cm, 98kg

Recruited from: Sturt

Projected draft range: first to second round

Similar to: Thomas Boyd

May Ranking: 8

Rationale: Big body who can take a mark and has the performances on the board both up forward and through the ruck.

Strengths: Contested marking

Strong hands overhead

Intercept marking

Reading of the flight

Size

Strength

Physicality

Scoreboard impact

Tap work

Prolific both as a key forward and ruckman suggesting ideal relieving ruckman

Weaknesses: Pace

Agility

Endurance

Not always clean at ground level

Lochie O’Brien Graham Denholm/AFL Media/Getty Images

9. Lochie O'Brien (VIC)

Best position: Outside midfield

Height, weight: 184cm, 75kg

Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers

Projected draft range: first round

Similar to: Pearce Hanley

May Ranking: 9

Rationale: Does damage on the outside but also wins enough of the ball.

Strengths: Acceleration

Line breaking

Evasiveness

Agility

Precise and damaging kick

Vision

Decision

Making

Overhead marking

Production

Versatility to play midfield or on flanks at either end

Weaknesses: Stoppage work

10. 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

May Ranking: 12

Rationale: Taking intercept marks and winning his position most weeks.

Strengths: Intercept marking

Strong hands overhead

Reading the flight

Contested marking

Wins one-on-one contests

Keeps his feet in the contest

Agility

Acceleration

Weaknesses: High, loopy style kick

11. Jack Petruccelle (VIC)

Best position: Inside midfield

Height, weight: 184cm, 73kg

Recruited from: Northern Knights

Projected draft range: first to second round

Similar to: Lin Jong

May Ranking: Not ranked

Rationale: Combination of contested ball winning, pace and scoreboard impact make Petruccelle one of this year's more interesting midfield prospects.

Strengths: Contested ball winning

Acceleration

Scoreboard impact

Chase down tackling

Aerial marking

Protects the drop zone and has the strength to win one-on-one marking contests

Weaknesses: Kicking consistency

12. Adam Cerra (VIC)

Best position: Inside midfielder

Height, weight: 186cm, 85kg

Recruited from: Eastern Ranges

Projected draft range: first round

Similar to: Jobe Watson

May Ranking: 14

Rationale: No TAC Cup games played in May, but in comparing his past performances to the underwhelming performances of others, Cerra with the completeness of his game and production should be rated here.

Strengths: Contested ball winning

Stoppage work

Clearances

Stands up through tackles

Strong build

Production

Strong mark overhead

Clean ball user

Decision making

Vision

Production

Weaknesses: No clear second position

Athleticism

Nicholas Coffield Daniel Pockett/AFL Media/Getty Images

13. 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: David Mundy

May Ranking: Not ranked

Rationale: One of the few players this year with genuine class and composure with ball in hand. At his height and mix of attributes has the scope to develop into a midfielder.

Strengths: Sidestepping and composure in traffic

Sound decision maker in traffic

Agility

Reliable kick

Clean at ground level

Intercept marking

Production

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

14. Toby Wooller (VIC)

Best position: Key forward/inside midfield

Height, weight: 193cm, 90kg

Recruited from: Oakleigh

Projected draft range: first to second round

Similar to: Charlie Curnow

May Ranking: 11

Rationale: Strong performer as a key forward and through the midfield.

Strengths: Clean at ground level

Agility

Acceleration

Reading of ruck taps

Wins contested ball in close

Scoreboard impact

Equally comfortable forward or through the midfield

Reading of ball in flight

Weaknesses: Presence up forward

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15. 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

May Ranking: Not ranked

Rationale: Higgins started the season as a midfield accumulator, having little impact. Over the past three matches Higgins has shifted forward, kicking 11 goals and having a much greater influence.

Strengths: One touch at ground level

Natural crumbing forward

Tackling pressure

Goal sense

Hits forward 50m targets

Leap

Agility

Plays well as forward and midfielder

Production

Weaknesses: Impact per possession low as midfielder

16. Jaidyn Stephenson (VIC)

Best position: General forward

Height, weight: 189cm, 76kg

Recruited from: Eastern Ranges

Projected draft range: first round

Similar to: Jamie Cripps

May Ranking: 10

Rationale: Possesses several positive attributes which suggests an AFL future, but also has a lot of holes in his game making it difficult to place Stephenson higher.

Strengths: High leaper

Aerial marking threat

Clean at ground level

Tackling pressure

Acceleration

Agility

Reading of ruck taps

Composed with ball in hand

Takes on the game with his run

Decision making

Vision

Possible midfield capability

Weaknesses: Hands overhead inconsistent

Strength

James Worpel of Vic Country (R) handballs during the Under 18's AFL match between Vic Country and Vic Metro. Graham Denholm/AFL Media/Getty Images

17. 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

May Ranking: 15

Rationale: Possesses size and power at the coal face. Poor kicking sees him placed here.

Strengths: Stoppage specialist

Powerful tackler

Contested ball winning

Clearances

Strong build

Stands up in tackles

Powerful fend offs

Courageous

Weaknesses: Unreliable kick

18. Cassidy Parish (VIC)

Best position: Inside midfield

Height, weight: 190cm, 84kg

Recruited from: Geelong Falcons

Projected draft range: first to third round

Similar to: Matt Priddis.

May Ranking: 16

Rationale: As dominant as any midfielder at the coal face. Would be higher if he was a more reliable kick or if he had some other tricks.

Strengths: Contested ball winning

Stoppage work

Clearances

Gets to the right spots at stoppages

Production

Weaknesses: Overhead marking Reading of the flight Kicking consistency Lacks a second position

19. Callan Wellings (VIC)

Best position: Inside midfield

Height, weight: 181cm, 71kg

Recruited from: Greater Western Victoria Rebels

Projected draft range: Second round onwards

Similar to: Bernie Vince

May Ranking: Not ranked

Rationale: Has featured in the beasts for Greater Western Victoria Rebels in all eight games he has played, demonstrating consistency as a ball winner while also using the ball efficiently.

Strengths: Contested ball winning

Stoppage work

Clearances

Gets to the right spots at stoppages

Production

Tackling

Movement in traffic

Agile

Versatility

Skills

Clean at ground level

Scoreboard impact

Weaknesses: Top-age

On the small side

20. Patrick Naish (VIC - Richmond - Father Son)

Best position: Outside midfield

Height, weight: 180cm, 69kg

Recruited from: Northern Knights

Projected draft range: first to third round

Similar to: Connor Menadue

May Ranking: 19

Rationale: Playing high impact per possession football.

Strengths: Agility

Evasiveness

Awareness and composure in traffic

Class

Acceleration

Run and carry

Impact per disposal

Scoreboard impact

Weaknesses: Contested ball winning

Size