The season is over, the Telstra AFL Draft Combine has been completed and the clubs have their draft hands locked in – for now.

Which all makes it time for another Phantom Form Guide, the fourth of 2024 as we rank the best 30 players in what is widely considered one of the most even draft crops in recent seasons.

Since our September update, some players have blitzed at testing, while others have also produced big finals performances to further boost their stocks.

Remember, this is not a mock draft – it does not take into account where bids will come for father-son or Academy players and is not predicting where the players will fall. The last Phantom Form Guide will be delivered in November closer to next month's draft.

Ashcroft completed his under-18 career with another premiership – his third in a row for the Sandringham Dragons. In the Grand Final, the midfielder finished as he had played just about every other game, with a prolific return of 29 disposals and three goals.

It was his third flag of his season, joining wins at school level with Brighton Grammar and Vic Metro in the under-18 championships, and saw him again lift when the big games arrived. He averaged 33 disposals and two goals a game in Sandringham's four-match finals run.

Shoulder surgery after the season meant Ashcroft wasn't at the Draft Combine but he is bound for Brisbane as an early pick under father-son rules – where he'll be hoping to emulate brother (and Norm Smith medallist) Will's quick ascent in the AFL.

Recruiters got a good reminder of O'Sullivan's athleticism at the Combine, with the midfielder placing eighth overall for agility (8.136 seconds) and second in the running vertical jump (93cm). Neither would have surprised – his lateral movement is key to his quick-footed approach in the midfield, and his overhead marking can rely on his leap.

He also did the 20m sprint in 2.99 seconds and the 2km time trial in 6:28 minutes, marking a strong few days. O'Sullivan's season was hit by different injury issues, but he remains a top-flight midfielder in this year's group and a player with high impact.

He started the season as a No.1 pick contender and remains it at the end.

Langford's standout result at the Combine was his 2km time trial, when the Dandenong Stingrays midfielder completed the run in 6:24 minutes, placing him inside the top-10. It is a trait reflected in his game, with Langford gut running right to the end of contests.

He had a terrific draft campaign, with the marking on-baller dominant at all levels. The left-footer's carnival for Vic Country saw him named a joint winner of the Larke Medal while his Stingrays performances were clinical, averaging more than a goal a game and 26 disposals.

Langford's appeal comes in his size, presence, versatility and impact – he will be playing significant AFL footy next year.

Unfortunately a high-grade hamstring injury late in Greater Western Victoria's season ruled Lalor out of the Rebels Grand Final and from testing at the Draft Combine. He was disappointed to miss as he felt he had something to prove with his 2km time trial.

Scouts were already well aware of his talents as a powerful, explosive, fending-off midfielder who can just as easily be stationed inside-50 and impact games. That's probably where he will start his AFL career.

He likes the physical elements of the game – watch his highlights reel for his tackles and searching for body-on-body moments – and he can also jump and take strong grabs.

The extraction gun. Smith's ability to get his hands on the ball is almost unrivalled in this year's draft – whatever team he is in and whatever level he plays, Smith manages to tally up possessions. That was clear when he played three games for Richmond's VFL side late in the season, averaging 27 disposals across that period.

The 18-year-old had some big games for Oakleigh, too, including a 50-disposal effort against the Western Jets and 40 the next week against Calder.

His innate footy brain, awareness and appetite for the ball make him a serious player inside this year's top echelon. His standout Combine result was his 6:27 minute 2km time trial.

An ankle injury suffered midway through the Coates Talent League Grand Final meant Reid didn't test at the Draft Combine. There were fears he had also suffered a knee injury in the awkward tackle, but he was all clear on that front, apart from aggravating a muscle problem he had been managing in previous weeks.

Reid had continued to show his midfield and half-forward talents through Sandringham's finals series, including a three-goal and 32-disposal game against the Jets in the wildcard round and three goals from 25 disposals against Calder in the qualifying final.

Reid finished his season averaging 25 disposals a game and he makes them hurt – finding creative options, opening up space for teammates and directing the play with his ball use.

A back issue kept Draper from competing at the Draft Combine but he still impressed clubs in interviews – his no-nonsense, focused and professional approach showing he is ready to step up to the next level. Truly, clubs have known that for some time.

After a bottom-age season where he won just about everything, including being an All-Australian, Draper had a shin stress fracture that ruled him out for most of the first half of 2024.

His best run of form came late whilst playing for South Adelaide's league team. He has genuine zip, speed and burst from stoppages and knows how to get the ball in his hands.

A good set of testing results at the Combine completed Smillie's draft campaign. The tall midfielder finished in the top-10 for the standing vertical jump but also did well in the running, finishing the 2km time trial in 6:38 minutes and recording a 3.09 second 20m sprint.

Smillie's point of difference – his height and size for a midfielder – has been watched closely by recruiters in the second half of his season. His kicking is good, he takes risks with the ball and has shown he can be a forward threat too.

Tauru had a busy Draft Combine. He had interviews with 17 clubs – everyone wanted a chat with the surging youngster – and he also impressed with his testing, winning the running vertical jump test (94cm), running 3.00 seconds in the 20-metre sprint and 6:36 minutes in the 2km time trial.

It came after a strong end to his season with the Gippsland Power, including an exciting qualifying final performance against Dandenong when he swung forward and kicked 2.2 from 16 disposals.

A back stress fracture, discovered post-Combine, means he will have a few weeks off before likely being eased into the start of his first pre-season.

Even when Armstrong isn't dominant, he manages to kick goals. The key forward showed that late in the Dragons' campaign, kicking four goals in each of the wildcard round final, the qualifying final and the Grand Final. The straight-kicking left-footer closed the year with 27.10 from 10 games and is still far from the finished product.

The 195cm prospect has strong athleticism and finished seventh in the agility test at the Combine and is the best pure key forward in the draft crop.

Read the full October Phantom Form Guide at afl.com.au