As the dust settles from this year's AFL national draft the question is which club has pulled off the best value selection?

While much of the focus on Saturday was naturally on the top selections there were several players that were picked up much lower in the order than expected that could well turn out better players than those chosen in the first round.

Amongst those considered real bargains were Shaun McKernan, younger brother of former North Melbourne and Carlton star Corey, was who taken at pick 28 by Adelaide, Jackson Trengrove who was taken at pick 22 by Port Adelaide and Ashley Smith who was taken at pick 36 by the Eagles.

But while most of this year's draftees have only proven they are gun players at junior level, one draftee has not only shown he can play well amongst the men but in fact dominate.

Hayden Ballantyne, who was claimed by Fremantle at pick 21 from WAFL club Peel Thunder, at 21 is older than the average draftee but at 174cm is also one of the smallest players drafted on Saturday.

But Ballantyne could well emerge as the AFL's next outstanding small forward if he can re-produce his WAFL form in the AFL.

The small forward not only won this year's Sandover Medal - an outstanding feat in itself while playing as a specialist forward - but kicked 75 goals for the season to finish second on the WAFL goalkicking tally.

Described as a cross between former West Coast goalsneak Phillip Matera and former Fremantle and now Collingwood star Paul Medhurst, Ballantyne is not only quick but is also a great mark for his size.

Certainly the Dockers could not be more excited about snaring a player who looms as the obvious replacement for the retired Jeff Farmer.

"We are pretty excited for him to step up next year - he has had a fantastic year in WAFL footy and he is a hard-working forward who can kick goals," Dockers recruiter Brad Lloyd said.

"We need a goalkicking forward and we think he fits us perfectly.

Fremantle recruiting manager Phil Smart said the club had been closely monitoring Ballantyne for a while and was confident he would not only defy his lack of height to be a success in the AFL but could also even develop into a midfielder as well as a star goalsneak.

"We watched him coming up through his under 17's and 18's years but I reckon last year and the season just completed he has really put his head down and worked hard," Smart said of the late developer.

"He has sorted out a few things in his game that he probably didn't have coming through (as a junior)."

"And the other thing a lot of people don't know is he really has got some elite endurance - he has got a beep test of 15.2 already without ever training hard to do that - and at some stage of his career there is no reason he can't play up the field as well."

So while Ballantyne might be one of the oldest and shortest draftees taken on Saturday he is definitely one to look out from the class of 2008 and given his dominance already at senior level don't be surprised if he is one draftee capable of making an immediate impact in the AFL next season.