In the third and final instalment of our positional prospect rankings ahead of the 2022 National Draft we put our eye on the star-studded cohort of midfielders.
The top echelon of talent in this year's class is littered with onballers, with the first 10 selections of the count potentially seeing nine midfielders picked.
A father-son jet and two Oakleigh Chargers prospects lead the way this year in what is a deep midfield pool.
SEE ALSO: TOP FIVE FORWARDS AHEAD OF THE 2022 AFL DRAFT
SEE ALSO: TOP FIVE DEFENDERS AHEAD OF THE 2022 AFL DRAFT
Position: Midfield/Forward
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Gippsland Power
Community Club: Moe
Date of Birth: 11/09/04
Height: 185cm
Weight: 86kg
Opening the order is Gippsland talent Bailey Humphrey, who is one of this year's biggest draft bolters.
Humphrey enjoyed a stellar back-end to his 2022 season to be considered as a top 10 selection at the National Draft.
While injuries hampered his year, Humprhey returned in style, collecting 31 disposals, 12 marks, 5 tackles and 4 goals in his side's Round 14 thrashing over the Northern Knights.
Humphrey averaged 19.8 disposals, 5.7 marks, 4.6 tackles, 4.5 inside 50s and almost 2 goals per game for the Power to press his case as one of the leading Vic Country options ahead of the draft.
Humphrey's potential is one of the most attractive aspects of his game, with the 185cm-tall prospect potentially placed on a trajectory that could see him surpass the rest of his class.
Position: Midfielder
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Geelong Falcons
Community Club: Queenscliff
Date of Birth: 23/07/04
Height: 181cm
Weight: 76kg
Perhaps just edging out the likes of WA gun Reuben Ginbey and Sandringham talent Cameron Mackenzie is Geelong Falcons captain Jhye Clark.
Clark is among the leading pack of inside midfielders within the draft class of 2022, proving to be a standout with his leadership and ball-winning ability.
He enjoyed a stellar season with the Falcons at the NAB League level, while being a prominent feature for Vic Country and earnt a spot in the Australia side that clashed with Collingwood earlier this year.
Clark averaged 25.4 disposals, 4.8 tackles, 5.8 inside 50s and 4.7 marks from his nine games with the Falcons, and was named among the best afield on three occasions at the National Championships level.
A reliable student of the game, Clark firms as a low risk selection at the draft.
Position: Midfielder
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: Surrey Park
Date of Birth: 18/10/04
Height: 186cm
Weight: 79kg
Oakleigh Chargers midfielder Elijah Tsatas endured an injury-interrupted season at the NAB League level this year, with a fractured foot sidelining him for the majority of the campaign after a hot start battling in the engine room.
A top-five draft hope, Tsatas has a prolific ball-winning ability both in and outside with his running a standout quality in his attributes as a rover, working at the feet of the rucks at the centre of the ground.
Standing at 187cm, the makeup of a modern-day midfielder will draw clubs in who are searching for a gap to fill in their contested work.
The clean-handed nature of Tsatas poses as a weapon adds to his brand of footy, with the Oakleigh midfielder able to hit stoppages at speed and link up with teammates inside 50.
Position: Midfielder
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Community Club: St Peter's
Date of Birth: 18/07/04
Height: 182cm
Weight: 80kg
Inside midfielder George Wardlaw could hold claim as 2022's best draft prospect, currently sitting toward the top end of this year's class.
Wardlaw's NAB League campaign got started in style, with the Chargers star collecting 24 disposals, 8 tackles and a goal in an 18-point win over the Sandringham Dragons, giving Oakleigh the perfect start for their season.
Unfortunately for Wardlaw, that outing would just be one of his three Chargers matches for the year before succumbing to a hamstring injury which continued to hamper his season.
Before seeing his draft campaign put on hold, the bullish onballer did significantly strengthen his prospects in the Australian AFL Academy's clash with Collingwood's VFL side early into the year, where he was awarded best-afield honours.
His strength, stoppage work and contested ball-winning ability are what separates Wardlaw from the rest of the pack, while his defensive work rate is as equally damaging as his attacking ferocity.
Position: Midfielder
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Sandringham Dragons
Community Club: Old Brighton Grammarians
Date of Birth: 06/05/04
Height: 181cm
Weight: 78kg
When it comes to Will Ashcroft there isn't much more that needs to be said.
The swift, silky and stardom-bound onballer entered 2022 as the draft's headlining name and remains a strong chance to land at Pick 1 next week.
Whether it be from a bid atop the board from the Giants or with the Roos at either Pick 2 or 3, Ashcroft is destined to land among the first few picks and join Brisbane as a father-son selection.
Ashcroft's 2022 season was decorated with awards, with the Dragons skipper earning the Larke Medal, an All-Australian selection and National Championships premiership with Vic Metro as their best and fairest winner, as well as the NAB League title, grand final best-on-ground nod, Sandringham best and fairest award and a spot in the NAB League Team of the Year.
The son-of-a-gun's numbers speak for themselves no matter what level you look at, with Ashcroft leading the NAB Lague and National Championships for disposals per game with 34.5 and 32.8 per game respectively.
Ashcroft would also feature in three games for Brisbane's VFL outfit this year between his junior commitments, averaging 29.3 disposals, 7.2 tackles and 5 clearances against senior talent.