Things are getting serious now for draft prospects. The season, aside from Saturday's NAB AFL All Stars clash at the MCG, is done. After a long year, they have shown everything they have on the field.
That makes it a good time for an update of AFL Media's Phantom Form Guide, our ranking of the best 25 prospects in the 2017 pool.
A reminder that this is a ranking and not a mock draft, and doesn't take into account where the players might get selected or when father-son or academy bids may come.
The Form Guide will be updated monthly in the lead-up to November's NAB AFL Draft in Sydney.
POS: Half-forward/midfielder, Ht 187cm, Wt 88kg, DOB 21/10/1999
From Western Jets/Vic Metro
August ranking: 1
Rayner's season ended in August when he played his final game for the Western Jets against Gippsland Power. The explosive and exciting prospect didn't have one of his best outings of the year (he collected 18 disposals), but he always impacts a game in some way. The 17-year-old played out the final few weeks of
POS: Midfielder, Ht 187cm, Wt 85kg, DOB 8/6/1999
From Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
August ranking: 2
Davies-Uniacke's elimination final performance for the Dandenong Stingrays was one of the best games by a draft prospect this season. The powerful and strong midfielder gathered 33 disposals (21 contested), six clearances, five inside-50s and kicked a goal and willed his side across the line after it trailed by 50 points at half-time. It was the type of performance you want from a No.1 pick contender, and after a season that has been up and down at times for Davies-Uniacke, it underlined his potential. Will be playing a fair bit of AFL footy next year.
POS: Midfielder, Ht 186cm, Wt 85kg, DOB 7/10/1999
From Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
August ranking: 3
Shoulder surgery ended Cerra's season earlier than he would have liked, but not before he was able to show himself to be one of the leading midfielders available at this year's draft. Cerra is a nice and composed kick of the ball, he can get out of trouble with ease and he makes players around him better by putting them into space and opening up the game. He's also very tough and lays tackles, hits hard and gets up and does it again. His class would be a nice addition to any club.
POS: Midfielder, Ht 184cm, Wt 78kg, DOB 16/10/1999
From Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country
August ranking: 4
There aren't many players in this year's draft who have the same combination of qualities as Dow: he's quick, tough, good around
POS: Half-forward, Ht 189cm, Wt 76kg, DOB 15/1/1999
From Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
August ranking: 6
Stephenson's season started a little
POS: Key defender/key forward, Ht 194cm, Wt 89kg, DOB 11/2/1999
From Bendigo Pioneers/Allies
August ranking: 5
It's still hard to know which end of the ground Brander plays his best
POS: Half-forward/midfielder, Ht 192cm, Wt 92kg, DOB 25/9/1999
From Glenelg/South Australia
August ranking: 7
Fogarty will remain one of the most difficult players to assess come draft time because his season wasn't what he would have hoped it could be, particularly given his bright start for the NAB AFL Academy in April. Despite that, the South Australian remains his state's best draft prospect and has a nice blend of skills: he's big, strong, powerful, tough, a good mark and kick, and has a natural footy sense to him that will endear him to supporters. Unfortunately, a nagging knee injury that he carried through the national carnival finally required surgery, and his season ended in July.
Darcy Fogarty looks to be the top South Australian talent headed to the draft. Picture: AFL Photos
POS: Small forward/midfielder, Ht 178cm, Wt 76kg, DOB 19/3/1999
From Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
August ranking: 8
Higgins' outstanding season was capped when he became the first Oakleigh Chargers player to win the TAC Cup's Morrish Medal as the best player for the season. It highlighted the small forward/midfielder's consistency and capacity to always impact a game. His ability to play as a 'small full forward' was obvious in the Chargers' win over Bendigo late in the season when Higgins kicked seven goals, and he finished the year with 32 majors from 14 games at that level. He's clean and neat by foot and
POS: Midfielder/half-back, Ht 190cm, Wt 83kg, DOB 23/10/1999
From Northern Knights/Vic Metro
August ranking: 11
There will be a lot of interest in Coffield because of his range of traits. The Northern Knights captain can play all over the
POS: Ruckman/key forward, Ht 203cm, Wt 93kg, DOB 9/6/1999
From Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
August ranking: 9
Tim English set the bar last year as one of the best ruckmen to come through the draft and be able to move at ground level, and Hayes might have taken it further after another strong season. In the Eastern Ranges' elimination final loss to Dandenong, Hayes picked up 21 disposals to go with his 24 hit-outs to prove he can be a handy player around the field. A back-to-back under-18 All Australian who is clearly the best big ruck in this year's crop.
POS: Midfielder, Ht 183cm, Wt 80kg, DOB 8/11/1999
From Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
August ranking: 13
Brayshaw hit the end of the season with a wave of momentum, including kicking two goals from 20 disposals in the first week of the TAC Cup finals and backing it up with 25 disposals and a goal in the Dragons' preliminary final win. The smart, tough and hard-working midfielder
Andrew Brayshaw has risen in draft calculations the longer the year has gone. Picture: AFL Photos
POS: Midfielder, Ht 183cm, Wt 73kg, DOB 15/1/1999
From Northern Knights/Vic Metro
August ranking: 10
As a likely father-son pick for the Tigers, Naish looks set to arrive at Punt Road nicely complementing what Richmond already has in its midfield stocks. Naish is a lighter-bodied outside midfielder who runs well with the ball, is prepared to tuck it under his arm and take some risks, and he loves to push forward and kick a goal. He booted 13 majors in eight TAC Cup games this year, highlighting his capacity to make an impact there. Provides a spark in games on a regular basis.
POS: Half-back/midfielder, Ht 186cm, Wt 79kg, DOB 26/3/1999
From Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country
August ranking: 14
Two years ago, most recruiters would have said that as a 16-year-old Clark was the leading candidate for the No.1 pick come his draft year. He probably isn't in that mix now,
POS: Key defender, Ht 194cm, Wt 84kg, DOB 30/11/1999
From Peel Thunder/Western Australia
August ranking: 12
The key defender has sprung into the top region of the draft board thanks in a large part to his form at senior WAFL level for Peel Thunder. He played alongside AFL players and didn't look out of place, and hasn't really for the best part of the year with his intercept marking, strength overhead and defensive mindset. Naughton played seven games at senior level and averaged seven marks an outing.
POS: Midfielder, Ht 190cm, Wt 83kg, DOB 23/10/1999
From Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
August ranking: 16
There were doubts over Constable's fitness heading into last week's TAC Cup Grand Final after he injured his groin the week before, but the midfielder came through with flying colours in finding 23 disposals and booting two goals. Constable isn't the type of midfielder who will catch the eye too
Charlie Constable fires out a handball for the Sandringham Dragons. Picture: AFL Photos
POS: Midfielder, Ht 184cm, Wt 75kg, DOB 18/9/1999
From Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country
August ranking: 15
O'Brien finished his season well with a 26-disposal effort for the Bendigo Pioneers, in what was one of the better games of his second half of the year, which was interrupted by a nagging knee injury. O'Brien was never really able to get much momentum or continuity to his season in 2017, but he remains one of the better running half-backs/
POS: Medium defender, Ht 184cm, Wt 77kg, DOB 3/7/1999
From Oakleigh Chargers
August ranking: None
Richards is one of this year's bolters. He didn't play for Vic Metro at the under-18 carnival after a knee injury earlier in the year disrupted his start to the season. But he quickly made people notice at
POS: Key forward, Ht 191cm, Wt 83kg, DOB 19/3/1999
From West Perth/Western Australia
August ranking: 17
Allen's excellent efforts at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships saw him take home the Larke Medal as the best player in division one after a consistent carnival for Western Australia. Allen is a hard-working leading forward whose best trait is his ability to lead up the ground and get away from his opponent to be part of the chain. He probably isn't tall enough to be a big and strong marking AFL forward, but he has been one of the
POS: Key defender, Ht 194cm, Wt 92kg, DOB 23/10/1999
From Calder Cannons/Vic Metro
August ranking: 19
The athletic tall from the Calder Cannons has shown patches of his best at different stages
Noah Balta in action for the Calder Cannons. Picture: AFL Photos
POS: Key forward, Ht 199cm, Wt 95kg, DOB 29/3/1999
From Brisbane Lions academy/Allies
August ranking: 18
The big Brisbane Lions academy prospect struggled for
POS: Medium defender, Ht 182cm, Wt 74kg, DOB 21/4/1999
From Geelong Falcons/Vic Country
August ranking: None
The pacy Geelong Falcon was a key member of its TAC Cup premiership
Matthew Ling puts on the after-burners for the Geelong Falcons. Picture: AFL Photos
POS: Forward, Ht 188cm, Wt 83kg, DOB 15/12/99
From Brighton Grammar/Sandringham Dragons
August ranking: 23
Murphy went down with an ankle injury in the first week of the finals for the Sandringham
POS: Midfielder, Ht 179cm, Wt 75kg, DOB 1/4/1999
From Western Jets/Vic Metro
August ranking: 22
There is plenty to like about Fogarty, a prospect who just gets it done most weeks with a minimum of fuss. As an inside ball winner, Fogarty can collect big numbers of touches and is neat and tidy with his ball use. The thing that makes him equally effective as a midfielder is his ability to attack and hit the scoreboard, and he was a regular goalkicker at all levels he played this year. Fogarty is the type of player who could be picked a little later because he is on the smaller side, but he has the tools to be a valuable AFL player.
POS: Half-back/half-forward, Ht 184cm, Wt 73kg, DOB 12/4/1999
From Northern Knights/Vic Metro
August ranking: 21
POS: Midfielder, Ht 175cm, Wt 66kg, DOB 4/8/99
From Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro
August ranking: 24
It's been a long and busy year for Moore, who has played nearly 35 games for the season. But what makes the small midfielder a good player is his consistency, and he wouldn't have played too many bad ones in that total. Moore is a running machine who competes hard, is good overhead for his size, and pushes forward to kick goals on a regular basis. He picked up 24 disposals in the Ranges' finals defeat.