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.

1. Jack Lukosius (SA)

Best position: Key forward

Height, weight: 194cm, 85kg

Recruited from: Woodville West Torrens

Projected draft range: 1-3

Plays like: Nick Riewoldt

August Ranking: 1

Rationale: The best draft prospect we have seen in the past 10 years. The next prototype key forward who covers the ground like Nick Riewoldt and hits impossible targets like no key forward we have seen. Hurts the opposition with each touch and is one of the rare few who can break open games with his kicking from behind the centre square, finding and hitting targets no one else would recognise as being open.

Strengths:

Endurance

Work rate

Creates separation on the lead

Leading patterns

Precise long kick

Field kicking out in front of targets to lead onto

Vision

Lowers eyes

Scoreboard impact

Dominant as a key forward and key defender

Production at SANFL League level

Success in the biggest games including four goals on SANFL League debut in a final

Football smarts

Impact per possession

Weaknesses:

Overhead marking not consistently one-grab

One-on-one marking

Contested ball-winning

Jack Lukosius could be this year's No. 1 draft pick. Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images

2. Bailey Smith (VIC)

Best position: Inside midfield

Height, weight: 185cm, 82kg

Recruited from: Sandringham

Projected draft range: 3-10

Plays like: Jaeger O'Meara

Rationale: Arguably the best and most complete midfielder in the draft. Smith places ahead of the more highly touted Sam Walsh with his contested ball-winning, kicking and acceleration of a higher standard. Currently sitting out with achilles bursitis which he has played through since the start of the season.

August Ranking: 2

Strengths:

Production

Work ethic

Contested ball-winning

Stoppage work

Outside accumulation

Kicking precision and placement

Vision

Endurance

Work rate

Acceleration away from the contest

Versatility to play midfield or defence

Reading of the ball in flight

Intercept marking

Weaknesses:

Impact forward of centre

Contested marking