THE NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, which wrapped up on Wednesday, went some way to developing an order without anyone really commanding top spot. It will be fascinating to see if things solidify over the last couple of months of the year or if more surprises are in store.

This is AFL.com.au's first Phantom Form Guide for 2016, where we rank the best 20 players for 2016. Remember this is not a mock draft, and does not take into account where clubs are placed on the ladder or where the players might get picked. It is purely a ranking of the best players this year in our eyes.  

The Phantom Form Guide will be updated monthly in the lead-up to the draft in Sydney on November 25. 

POS: Midfielder, Ht 189cm, Wt 82kg, DOB 23/8/98
From Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country

You can't look past performance, and Brodie has already built up a record of playing well when it matters. The tall midfielder is competitive and driven, and in important games over the past two years has put in some brilliant efforts. He starred for the NAB AFL Academy against VFL teams earlier this year, and in round two of the carnival was close to best afield despite a nagging knee injury. He has played sore at times recently, but continues to dig the ball out of contests and be there in the thick of things when a game is up for grabs. Brodie wants to be the best player in the draft and is doing a good job of getting there.

POS: Small forward, Ht 179cm, Wt 74kg, DOB 10/2/98
From Gippsland Power/Vic Country

Ainsworth has had a frustrating season, with wrist and knee injuries, and then four weeks out with suspension, interrupting his year. But Ainsworth has the class, kicking ability and football smarts that make him stand out whenever he is on the field. The small forward showed all of his spring and life in the third quarter of Vic Country's loss to Vic Metro, when he booted four goals for the term. The next week he gathered a team-high 20 disposals and moved through the midfield, which he's keen to do more. Ainsworth is not tall, but his overhead marking gives him an extra dimension, and he has star factor that few possess.

POS: Midfield/half-forward, Ht 181cm, Wt 76kg, DOB 19/2/98
From Claremont/Western Australia

A hamstring problem kept Petrevski-Seton from featuring in the early part of the national carnival, but his first game back, against the Allies in round three, showed why he is rated so highly. His pace and class make him stick out in this draft pool, and he is as good a kick on his non-preferred left foot as his natural right side. Petrevski-Seton loves to tackle and create pressure, he's unselfish and brings others into the game, and is neat and trusty with each disposal he gets. After being an All Australian last year, he'll be hoping to play some senior WAFL footy in the second half of the season with Claremont and finish the year strongly.

WA's Sam Petrevski-Seton in action on Thursday against Vic Metro. Picture: AFL Media

POS: Midfielder, Ht 185cm, Wt 75kg, DOB 3/3/1998
From North Ballarat Rebels/Vic Country

Nobody has shot up the draft board this year quite like McCluggage. An interrupted pre-season with a back injury saw him start the year a little underdone, but it hasn't mattered an inch. The smooth and poised midfielder has strung together consistent (and brilliant) games in the TAC Cup, and brought that into the championships, where he was named the Country MVP. McCluggage never appears rushed or in trouble, he puts teammates into space, and regularly kicks goals. The exciting thing about McCluggage is that he still has so much development left in him. 

POS: Midfielder, Ht 187cm, Wt 78kg, DOB 26/1/98
From Gold Coast academy/QLD

Bowes faced a challenging start to the Allies' division one carnival having starred for Queensland in the division two championships. But after two quiet games, he bounced back with a better showing against Vic Metro in round four. The Gold Coast academy prospect reads the game better than most around him, has clean foot skills, and is good overhead. He isn't especially quick but that doesn't stop him getting into space, and he's the right size for a modern midfielder. Some recruiters call him the 'Rolls Royce' of this year's group. Bowes adds a layer of polish to everything he does, and for that he is expected to be an early draft choice for the Suns.

Gold Coast academy product Jack Bowes has been nicknamed this year's 'Rolls Royce' 

POS: Midfielder/half-forward, Ht 186cm, Wt 81kg, DOB 19/11/98
From Western Jets/Vic Metro

Sometimes you only need to see snippets to picture what a player could be in the future. Venables provided that in the final 10 minutes of Vic Metro's first game of the carnival, when he calmly set up the second-last goal of the game with a clever handball and then booted the match-winner in a clutch set shot minutes later. The powerful, tough and speedy midfielder has a 'try and stop me' attitude with ball in hand and, in the main, most find it hard to do just that. Venables hasn't pieced together big numbers of touches at TAC Cup level, but his forward work and explosiveness brings excitement. Venables wants the ball in his hands at the big moments.  

POS: Midfielder, Ht 190cm, Wt 80kg, DOB 5/2/98
From Sandringham Dragons/NSW-ACT/GWS Academy

Clubs like early picks who they know can be used in a range of positions at the next level, a factor that makes Setterfield an appealing prospect. Setterfield's size and athleticism means he can be used all over the ground, be it as a rebounding half-back, a wingman, inside and outside midfielder, and even across half-forward. He is strong over the contest, a nice kick, and can glide across the ground. He's a smooth footballer who doesn't get flustered. GWS will get first call on Setterfield under the rules for its academy players. 

POS: Midfielder, Ht 179cm, Wt 75kg, DOB 2/6/98
From Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro

McGrath continues to impress. The former 400-metre national hurdles champion has leapt up the draft with a succession of quality showings for the Sandringham Dragons and Vic Metro. McGrath generally plays as a rebounding, attacking and courageous half-back, but has also shown his class in the midfield, where his pace, agility and footy brain come to the fore. He's solid in a lot of areas and exceptional in many too, which combines for an exciting package. The Vic Metro co-captain couldn't have done much more throughout an excellent carnival and averaged 24 disposals across the four games.

POS: Defender/midfielder, Ht 194cm, Wt 80kg, DOB 4/9/98From Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro

With an uninterrupted finish to the year Scrimshaw could easily rise from this spot into a top-five position. Injuries have meant he hasn't played as much as he, and recruiters, would have liked over the past two years. But his best is up there with anyone in the pool. The lightly built half-back has a creative side that helps him set up the game from defence. He's given the ball with a licence to get things going. Eventually he sees himself playing a midfield role, and at 194cm, with his smarts and vision and awareness, he would be a difficult player to contain. Scrimshaw can also be used as a tall defender or on the wing.

POS: Midfield/half-back, Ht 191cm, Wt 80kg, DOB 5/2/98
From North Ballarat Rebels/Vic Country

An All Australian last year, Berry had some injury niggles leading up to the championships this year after hurting the AC joint in his shoulder. He also missed the last game with a sore knee. Berry is best when he's running straight down the wing, taking a bounce and sending the ball forward. He's tough and hard at the contest, and his height gives him an advantage over other players because he can mark in the air. In time he hopes to push into a midfield role, where his body size and toughness would fit in nicely. Berry was the captain of Vic Country at the carnival, and the NAB AFL Academy earlier this year, as well as being the full-time skipper for the North Ballarat Rebels. 

POS: Half-forward/midfielder, Ht 181cm, Wt 71kg, DOB 5/3/98
From Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country

Simpkin's year was cut short in April when he broke his leg playing at school level for Scotch College. He required surgery to repair the fractures, and has needed to go under the knife a couple more times in the past week after suffering an infection in the area. That has ruled out any chance he had of returning later this year, which was an original goal for the lively half-forward/midfielder. Simpkin might slip down the draft order a bit because of his long absence, but he has undoubted talent, which he showed last year as a small forward for Vic Country. Simpkin is a bubbly, enthusiastic prospect who impacts games.

POS: Tall forward, Ht 198cm, Wt 87kg, DOB 8/10/98
From Deniliquin/NSW-ACT

It's been a swift rise for Marshall, who this time last year was bowling off-spin on a tour of England with a representative team picked from around Australia. The key forward quit cricket to take up footy and has blossomed since, starring in a couple of games for the Murray Bushrangers at the start of the year. For a 198cm marking forward, Marshall is agile at ground level and quick on the lead, and has some natural goal sense. He was quiet throughout the Allies' under-18 championships until the last game in their win over Vic Country, when he kicked three goals and showed some of his tricks.

Former cricketer Todd Marshall is the best tall forward in the draft. Picture: AFL Media

POS: Midfielder/half-forward, Ht 184cm, Wt 75kg, DOB 19/12/98
From Collingullie-GP/GWS Academy/NSW-ACT

If there was a test at this year's combine for footy IQ, Perryman would go close to winning it. He's the footballer's footballer in this year's pool: not especially quick or athletic, but super smart, a great kick on both feet and able to play all over the ground. Perryman is something of a 'Mr Fix-It'. If his team needs some class near goal he can provide that, if it requires a set-up player across half-back he can fulfill that role, and as a midfielder he racks up possessions. Perryman is one of the most rounded players in the crop, and Greater Western Sydney will have first call on him as a member of its academy. 

POS: Ruckman/tall forward, Ht 203cm, Wt 86kg, DOB 10/8/97
From South Fremantle

The former rower was of draft age last year but due to some paperwork confusion, he was ineligible to be picked as he didn't play a colts game at WAFL under-18 level. It is a turn of events some clubs are ruing now, with the 204cm West Australian one of the most promising big men in the draft. English sees himself as a ruckman but he has also shown an ability to drift forward, take a mark and kick a goal, and his work at ground level was evident against the Allies in round three of the carnival when he had 12 disposals and 13 hit-outs. He'll need to build up his body but he has plenty of raw talent.

POS: Midfielder, Ht 186cm, Wt 82kg, DOB 28/1/98
From Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro

Don't be surprised if Taranto keeps nudging up this list. The Sandringham Dragon didn't spend a huge amount of time in the midfield during Vic Metro's carnival, but did show his ability near goal with three majors in his team's win over Vic Country in round two. When he's playing in the midfield, Taranto can win his own ball as well as receive, he's a crafty user and runs all day (he a level 15 beep test to his credit). Taranto will have plenty of clubs interested given his ability to play with energy and some pizzazz. 

POS: Half-back, Ht 184cm, Wt 79kg, DOB 10/9/98
From Geelong Falcons/Vic Country

Witherden's composure stood out last year as a bottom-ager for the Geelong Falcons, when he took on the half-back role and directed play. His start to this season was promising, too, before breaking his leg in a school game for Geelong College in May. He required surgery and will likely miss the rest of the season, although his recovery is going well. Witherden is a polished kick, he understands the game, and brings an attacking dimension to the back half. He plays with confidence and enjoys having the ball in his hands and the game in his control.  

POS: Defender, Ht 192cm, Wt 79kg, DOB 25/2/98
From West Perth/Western Australia

Rotham played as a bottom-ager last year for WA in defence and took the eye as a player to watch in his draft season of 2016. When up and going, Rotham is an eye-catching prospect: he bounds out of the backline with real speed, and loves to put the ball under his arm and charge away. Rotham plays as a tall defender as an under-18 but when he moves up a level might well be used as a running half-back or wingman thanks to his athletic and adventurous approach. 

POS: Midfielder/half-forward, Ht 186cm, Wt 83kg, DOB 8/1/98
From East Perth/Western Australia

Powerful, tough and explosive. You don't need to look too hard to find Powell-Pepper on a football field. He's generally the one crashing through packs, running hell-bent at a contest, or laying a bump on an opponent on the way to collecting the ball. Powell-Pepper has become a more rounded prospect this season, moving from half-back into a midfield and forward role that has brought his attacking flair to the fore. He started his championships with a match-turning 15-disposal and three-goal game against Vic Country that showed he doesn't need a huge amount of touches to have a big say.

Sam Powell-Pepper is a ferocious competitor and as tough as they come. Picture: AFL Media

POS: Midfielder, Ht 183cm, Wt 75kg, DOB 3/5/98
From Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro

Gallucci has great zip, which allows him to power through stoppages, grab the ball and cleanly take it away. His pace and sideways movement make him hard to catch, and his dash is rare in this year's crop. The midfielder co-captained Vic Metro at the championships, and is a professional, disciplined prospect who does everything to get his performance up. He will need to continue to sharpen his kicking, which can be wayward at times, particularly on the run. He has a background at elite levels in underage volleyball.

POS: Tall forward, Ht 192cm, Wt 90kg, DOB 1/9/98From Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country

Battle is a tall forward with a terrific set shot for goal and impressive work ethic. His endurance base is better than most midfielders, and he uses it to get away from opponents on the lead, and to continue to push up the ground. He has shown across the year that he can find the scoreboard consistently, and kicked two bags of four goals in the championships for Vic Country. At his height he presents as a third tall at the next level.

Vic Country's Josh Battle won the NAB AFL Academy's 3km time trial in January. Picture: AFL Media