TOP AFL DRAFT HOPEFULS

SAM WALSH (Geelong Falcons) Midfielder, 184cm, 74kg

Walsh is the consensus to go to Carlton with the No.1 pick. A gifted, hard-working midfielder described as a once-in-a-generation talent a club can build a team around. Named captain of this year’s under-18 All-Australian team.

JACK LUKOSIUS (Woodville-West Torrens) Key forward, 194cm, 85kg

An outstanding athlete with speed and endurance who has been favourably compared with Nick Riewoldt. Clean overhead and an elite kick, Lukosius is capable of pushing up on to a wing and has also been used down back.

IZAK RANKINE (West Adelaide) Half-forward/midfielder, 180cm, 76kg

Regarded by some as the most exciting prospect, Rankine has a bag of tricks that will make him a fan favourite. Oozes class, has pace and has a nose for goal.

MAX KING (Sandringham Dragons) Key forward/defender, 202cm, 86kg

Was in the conversation to go No.1 before he had a knee reconstruction in April. But the big-marking forward’s recovery is going well and his combination of strength and agility will ensure he does not slide too far down the order.

CONNOR ROZEE (North Adelaide) Half-forward/midfielder, 180cm, 76kg

Versatile with footy smarts, pace and strong overhead skills, he pushed himself into the top-10 mix with a big back half of the year.

BEN KING (Sandringham Dragons) Key forward/defender, 202cm, 85kg

Like his twin Max, Ben King is an imposing forward whose power overhead is complemented with his agility at ground level.

BAILEY SMITH (Sandringham Dragons) Midfielder, 185cm, 82kg

The hard-running midfielder has elite endurance and pace to go with his noted ballwinning ability.

NICK BLAKEY (Sydney Swans Academy) Tall forward/midfielder, 195cm, 80kg

The son of John Blakey was eligible to go to North Melbourne or Brisbane Lions under the father-son rule but elected to stick with Sydney — where John is coaching director.