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After every season, we ask MJ to rank the top 10 players from the most recent AFL draft class for the keeper and dynasty leagues. Some players have 20+ games of exposure to AFL, while some have barely got games. The hope is that list will help you make some informed decisions with your fantasy football list management.

#1 | Nick Daicos

Nobody should be surprised that Nick Daicos is the top selection from this draft crop. He was sublime this season, and a genuine case can be made that his debut season surpassed the greatness of even Sam Walsh. A seasonal average of 86 consisted of six tons, four over 110 and a career-high 147 against the Crows in round 18. His season was so dominant that not only did the eventual rising star winner start to cop multiple tags, but there was social media outrage when he didn’t even make the All-Australian squad of 44.

One day Daicos may move into the midfield full-time, but should that eventuate, it just means he’d move from being a 95-105 defender to a 105+ premium midfielder. You can’t lose!

The conversation shouldn’t be why Daicos is #1 on this list, but now a genuine conversation could be had for him to be drafted #1 overall in a brand new keeper league. If he’s not at one, he’s certainly a consideration.

#2 | Josh Ward

Much like Daicos at one, I don’t believe there should be much disagreement among the community with who I’ve placed second on this list. Josh Ward was always touted as a strong keeper prospect after putting up some stringer scores as a junior. However, over his final six weeks of the season, the pieces all started to fall into place for him. He posted two tons, including a monster 133 against the Eagles, to average an impressive 92.6 for a strong conclusion to the season.

Whenever a player has showcased at every junior level high fantasy pedigree and has delivered quality football and fantasy scoring in his debut year at the AFL level, it should build supreme confidence that coaches have got themselves a likely long term premium midfielder on their list.

#3 | Jason Horne-Francis

Before the season’s commencement, the popular perspective was that Jason Horne-Francis was the second best keeper prospect behind Nick Daicos. His slide into third, while hardly a slide, is more a credit to the trajectory of performance by Josh Ward rather than any negativity around Jason.

It wasn’t the season that JHF was hoping for. A combination of some niggling little injuries, form and just adjustments to the big time meant he didn’t live up to the ‘hype’ surrounding him. In his defence, Jason is more of an explosive contested midfielder. Here his speed and power come to the forefront. Even at the junior and SANFL, he was never a high volume possession winner, so to contrast him to Daicos or a Ward is unfair on him.

Despite some ups and downs, he had six games with 20+ possessions and five games scoring 70+. As both North and he improve, he should consistently evolve to be a 95+ scoring midfielder over the coming years. But in 2023, he should be MID/FWD eligible and might be enough to sneak on the field for you.

#4 | Josh Rachele

I believe the top three of this draft class are clear and supreme options. It then opens up incredibly. You could genuinely build a compelling case that

The comparisons of Josh Rachele that he’s a clone of Toby Greene aren’t that far of a stretch. The mercurial forward showcased his fantasy pedigree in round one, where he had fourteen possessions, kicked five goals and popped a ton on debut. He followed it up three weeks later with another triple-digit score with his current career high score of 101.

Since round four, he hasn’t posted a score over 60, but it’s evident that injuries have been a primary factor in returning to his early season performances. What Rachele offers keeper league coaches over his career is a degree of confidence. Josh is super dangerous inside forward 50, so no matter who joins the Crows (cough Rankine), I believe he maintains his forward status long-term. As a result, I’ve placed him up above other likely long-term midfielders that are harder to split.

#5 | Ben Hobbs

Much has been made about the Essendon Footy Club this season. One thing they did manage to get right is the recruitment of Ben Hobbs. Before getting drafted in the NAB league, he played six games and averaged 14 kicks, 11 handballs, three marks, five tackles, and 95 AFL Fantasy points. The comparisons to Taylor Adams and Joel Selwood consistently came through from all AFL recruiters.

It took him a month to crack into the Bombers side, but once he did, he established himself as a permanent fixture of the club. From his seventeen games, he showed in multiple games his developing fantasy pedigree. The highlight was in round eight, where he posted a 95. The slight uncertainty coaches might have is how he’ll fit in the short term into the Bombers midfield. A new coaching regime will only add further questions, but in the long term, he looks like he’s going to be a safe 90+ midfielder.

#6 | Connor Macdonald

Connor Macdonald is one of my favourites from this draft class. His strengths are his stoppage work, athleticism, and high end defensive pressure. As a junior, he spent his time as an inside midfielder, but at Hawthorn, they’ve spent his time more heavily developing him as a forward. As a result, he picked up MID/FWD status. Even with him receiving next to no inside midfielder minutes, we still saw multiple strong scoring glimpses. In round 18 against the Eagles, he scored 90 from just 13 disposals and two goals. While a fortnight later, he scored an 84 from 19 touches.

For Hawthorn’s rebuild to be a long term success, it’ll require Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara to phase out and allow Macdonald alongside Ward and Newcombe to thrive. To me, he looks like a pure fantasy prospect where he’s strong in and around the ground accumulator but still lacks some polish to attract any opposition midfield attention.

Chances are he’s a forward in 2023, but in the next two seasons, I forecast he’s got the potential to be one of the best midfielders in the game.

#7 | Jake Soligo

Just because you’re not an early draft pick doesn’t rule you out of being a high value keeper league prospect. Since returning to the Adelaide side mid-season, it’s evident that Jake Soligo is a genuinely good footballer. Playing predominantly on the wing, his class, toughness, speed, and elite decision-making are evident. And as the season went on, he built a stronger ‘inside’ midfield game.

The current fantasy knock on him is he’s yet to post a score north of 80, and while it’s a valid perspective, I think it could be a flawed concern. While the proof in scoring is important, sometimes we need to project in light of his role and opportunity. In his past thirteen games, he’s had nine that have ranged between 61-78. 

Internally the club believe they’ve found a clone to Rory Sloane, and if his career can mirror anything like that of his current captain, both the Crows and keeper league owners should be thrilled.

#8 | Marcus Windhager

I’ve got to admit; that I’m a big wrap for Marcius Windhager. He has some explosive midfield traits, possesses clean hands, and has a great turn of speed. At the AFL level, we largely saw him through the midfield, especially in tagging roles, but as a junior, he showcased that he can also roll forward and hit the scoreboard.

I’ve likened Marcus to his skipper Jack Steele, not just limited to the fact that they have similar physical attributes. But because of the hunger, they play both in the contest and provide phenomenal support to teammates without it. He might be a slightly longer burn than others on this list to become a highly relevant prospect, but to me, he’s shown plenty when tagging over the last five weeks of the season. A genuinely good prospect that’s sliding under the radar in some portions of the community.

#9 | Neil Erasmus

Another slider of this draft crop, but that’s more to do with a lack of opportunity. Neil Erasmus was one of the hottest keeper prospects this season, but he spent most of the season in the WAFL. He averaged 23 possessions, 4.6 marks and almost a goal a game from his twelve matches. All season and at junior level, it’s evident that he’s got a significant fantasy footy pedigree.

He got limited opportunities at the AFL level, including multiple subbed games, but his prolific ball winning abilities and strong overheard marking were on display. If this list were only based on projections of what they may become, I’d have Neil safely inside the top five. However, the reality, he still has to force himself into the Dockers best 22. The retirement of David Mundy might just be the gap he needs to force his way into the Fremantle team.

#10 | Tyler Sonsie

Last but no means least is Tyler Sonsie. Again, he leaps past guys like Finn Callaghan, who again have done nothing wrong, but the difference is that Tyler appears to have solidified himself into the Tigers side. His slick hands and elite stoppage work have helped him push past others at Tigerland. As the likes of Dustin Martin, Trent Cotchin and even Dion Prestia start to graduate from the midfield, we should see Tyler rise into some significant fantasy scores.

As a junior, he was likened to Trent, and it’s clear to see that comparison being lived out as each week passes. The biggest knock on him heading into the draft was around his consistency, but it seems that time in the AFL system is helping. From his six games this year, he had 17 touches or more and had at least one tackle and mark in each game. The raw ingredients are there to become a very good footballer. Depending on the rules and depth in your keeper league, there’s a chance he could be sitting on the player pool & could be picked up today.

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