In my opinion, plodders can usually play a defensive tall role, tagging midfield role and defensive small forward role. You can also include ruckmen in there, but I think there’s more to that position.
So unless they are absolute stars for can play multiple positions effectively, they are later picks more often than earlier picks.
The midfield is where the game is won and lost. So they hold the greatest value. Especially if they have multiple attributes (speed, kicking, strength, marking, etc). If they only have one of these, then they must be in the top 10% of the league in it to make up for the deficiencies elsewhere.
For me, wings are the next level of importance. Without good running power off the wing, you just will struggle to transition the ball or play an affective defensive transition game.
Then come the creative small forwards. They are few and far between and you are just as likely to get an ‘average’ one than the next Charlie Cameron.
Then come tall forwards. You definitely need forward targets. Yes, you can ‘get away’ with someone who contests (like Calshear Dear) but if you get a Curnow or Franklin, you’ll be set for a decade and you will be forcing the opposition backline into uncomfortable positions and decisions.
Then come medium forwards and medium defenders who can also switch into the midfield. These are usually ‘slow burners’ like Heeney and Rayner so there is some patience needed with them. Fyfe and Dangerfield played forward early, but they were always going to be midfielders and were shifted there within 3 years. The chances are, you just have a forward that works their way up to the stoppage and back rather than be a full time midfielder.
Then small defenders. I don’t think enough credit goes to this role because you definitely need them to combat the amount of small forwards in the game. There are virtually no lockdown defenders who can help with rebound transition. It’s either one or the other. There are also very few that transition into the midfield. Ed Richards is the closest to be able to make the transition and I’m not sure if the midfield is the best spot for him.
This doesn’t mean those positions are how I’d order a particular draft class. There are many other factors that go into making draft decisions such as needs (short and longterm), the individuals skills, whether your development can handle the player, whether they fit into your ‘club culture’, etc.