As we head towards the end of an AFL season, every year, keeper league coaches out of contention start to look towards the coming season. To help with list management, MJ ranks his top 10 keeper league prospects from the 2020 AFL draft class.

ONE | Tom Powell

Heading into this season, he was my #1 ranked player from this draft class, and he leaves it holding onto the same possession. He does everything we want from a future premium midfielder. He wins plenty of contested ball, does the defensive stuff and knows how to find space and get the uncontested pill too. Additionally, he’s not so damaging with the football by foot that you must tag him. Between rounds 4-7, we saw glimpses of his potential. During this month, he scored 91, 73, 102 & 104. Not a bad effort to deliver two tons in your first seven games, not many current premiums can boast that pedigree. There is also a chance that he’ll have MID/FWD DPP in 2022. But, even if he doesn’t, he’s a future fantasy gun and someone I’d love to own!

TWO | Errol Gulden

One of the key metrics I track with projecting potential fantasy stars is how many games it takes to register a ton. For Errol, it didn’t take long as he did this in his first game. While it took another 12 games before he delivered another, his start as a player has been outstanding. 2 tons, a 98, a 93 + an 88. Not a bad top 5 scores from your first 13 games. What I also like is his positional security. He looks far too damaging and crafty to depart the Sydney forward line. If you can’t get your hands on Powell, then Gulden is the next best target.

THREE | Braeden Campbell

Maybe a little high for some, but Campbell boasts all the weapons you want from a fantasy player. Damaging skills, high footy IQ and, in my opinion, is the heir apparent Jake Lloyd in a few seasons. Rewind the tape to round 2 against the Crows. He racked up 25 touches across half-back, took 6 marks, had 2 tackles and delivered a 96. If you could get a decade of scores like that on your keeper side, you’d be stoked!

FOUR | Finlay Macrae

Several things are safe predictions in fantasy football. Rucks scoring well against Gold Coast, Mason Cox performing against Richmond and a player with the surname Macrae being a ball magnet. Across his junior days, Finaly showed a high possession count that mirrored the brilliance of his brother. While he’s had minimal opportunities to play through the midfield at AFL level, he’s shown the same traits to be a fantasy jet in the moments he’s had. Go back at his first half against his last quarter against West Coast and his first half last week against Port. This is a ball magnet who just needs to build his tank over the next few seasons before he can explode and be a future star comparable to his brother.

FIVE | Caleb Poulter

When you watch them play, certain players can see their fantasy footy pedigree on display. And with Caleb Poulter, it was obvious from game one. ‘CP’ just knows where to find the footy and is your perfect wingman. Not only does he get into space to become an outlet. But he also looks composed in traffic. In his fourth AFL game, he tonned up and a fortnightly later followed it up with a second. I see him as a future Andrew Gaff style performer. So grab him if you can! The kid can go.

SIX | Will Phillips

Depending on the calibre of coaches in your keeper leagues, there is a chance that Will Phillips was the first midfielder taken on draft night that he was the #1 draftee taken in your keeper league this year. Regardless of where you get drafted, players can develop at different rates. Not everyone is going to have debut seasons like Sam Walsh. I believe Phillips has the clear potential to be a long term 90+ midfielder for coaches, but I’m not convinced he’ll ever become a ‘franchise’ style fantasy player. Why? Look at the other midfielders north have. Jed Anderson, Jy Simpkin, Luke Davies Uniacke, Trent Dumont, Tarryn Thomas, Jaidyn Stephenson, and Tom Powell. That’s a lot of midfielders that are at their best as ball winners. You can only have so many of that type with a pure midfield role. And this isn’t even factoring in Ben Cunnington, who is only 30. He’s yet to crack a score over 70, but he’s also yet to get a good run at holding down serious midfield minutes. He might be a slower burn than owners might like, but I still rate him as a prospect.

SEVEN | Nik Cox

The Bombers nailed this selection at the draft last year with Cox, the leader for the rising star with many bookmakers. For his height, he does so many things exceptionally well. Nik covers the ground with a good turn of speed. He has clean hands below his knees and then has the elite foot skills and intercept marking to make him a handful for anyone. It took him 12 games before he registered his first fantasy ton, but given he’s played various positions for Essendon this year, his scores fluctuation doesn’t surprise me. I won’t be shocked if he becomes the next Marcus Bontempelli. And just like Bont, he could break out as early as his second season.

EIGHT | Luke Pedlar

Of all players in this list, I think Luke could be the one that is either still in the player pool, or if owned, is the one that’d cost you the least to trade for. The Crows do take their time with developing midfielders. Look at how they are using Berry and, to a lesser extent Pedlar. Giving them high midfield minutes at SANFL level, but building their craft at the elite level more as a forward who then slots into the middle. Pedlar is exactly the type of midfielder the Crows have been crying out for and is perfect for fantasy. He’s a contested bull, but he has a turn of speed over the first 5 seconds that makes him pull away from opposition quickly at a stoppage. He’s also a goal kicker. With guys like Crouch, Sloane & Laird in that midfield to speed up that development, I think we could see a future fantasy jet in the making.

NINE | Archie Perkins

He’s a hard one to place, but the upside with Perkins is certainly there. If he stays as a primary forward, he’ll probably drop out of relevance for keeper leagues. Not because he’s not talented, but rather he’s such a high impact & low volume ball winner. Think of your favourite crafty half forward over the past decade. Not many become consistent 80+ averaging players. Equally, I don’t think Essendon want to lose him from that forward line, and so his midfield minutes may be minimised, especially if the Bombers go after Josh Dunkley again. With low midfield minutes, his scoring will have a ceiling. 5 of his 16 games have been over 60, it’s not great, but it’s also not horrible. There’s room for him on your keeper list for sure, given the possibilities.

TEN | Elijah Hollands

For many seeing a kid who’s yet to debut inside the top 10 is too much of a reach. And in most scenarios, I’d be right there with you. If you ask any draft watchers of this crop, they’d all tell you that Elijah has the potential to be the clear best player from this group. And had an ACL injury not ruin his season, he might’ve been selected #1. Instead, Hollands is a classy ball user, boasts footy smarts and is damaging inside forward 50 and through the midfielder. He reminds me a lot of Christian Petracca for what it’s worth.

A Final Thought

Every year a few players are unlucky to miss this list, none more so than Lachie Bramble. However, given he wasn’t drafted (rather was an SPP addition), he doesn’t make the 10 on a technicality. However, his speed and class have been so important to the Hawks over the last month. His three round average of 84 is just the beginnings of his potential. He should also pick up defensive eligibility for 2022 based on his current role. The other is Lachie Jones. Injuries have created a frustrating start/stop season for him. But he’s an important part of the Power backline when he’s fit. Getting players in the defensive or forward lines that hold that position across their careers is challenging in keepers. But he looks like a player that will hold it. So he misses my top 10, but still worth having.  
Do you agree or disagree? Who’d be in your top 10? Comment below and let me know.