Our Rookie Rankings after Round 17 has undergone extensive change, with six of the top seven spots moving due to the weekend's events.
A Roos youngster has moved up two places in his return from injury, while a Demon's day out has him slotting into second spot.
The seventh rung in our rankings has again found a new name, with a young Bulldog breaking through for the first time this year.
There were some big performances from a plethora of rookies currently not in our top seven, with all of Shaun Mannagh, Nate Caddy, Koltyn Tholstrup and Darcy Jones earning nods after a strong weekend from a large group of eligible rookies.
Selection Criteria:ย For ourย Rookie Rankings, we are ONLY selecting players who have made their debut this season.
Other players who may still be eligible for a Rising Star nomination but have already made their debut before the 2024 season will not be considered. I.e. Rising Star eligible players such as George Wardlaw, Angus Sheldrick and Sam Darcyย are ineligible, having already played anย AFL match before Round 1, 2024.ย
Honourable Mentions:
Shaun Mannagh (Geelong)
Nate Caddy (Essendon)
Koltyn Tholstrup (Melbourne)
Darcy Jones (GWS)
4. Colby McKercher (+2)
A statement performance in his return from injury, with McKercher recording a whopping 37 disposals in Saturday's win over the Suns.
Offering plenty of run and speed from the back half - including a goal assist that came after four bounces on the wing - McKercher looked like the player that dominated his draft campaign in 2023.
The teenager featured among North Melbourne's best and has risen two places in our Rookie Rankings as a result, with a podium position now in reach.
Defender
Marks
Disposals
Rebound50s
North Melbourne has the difficult test of facing Sydney at the SCG this weekend as they look to follow up their second win of 2024.
