Rookie Rankings

Dog and Giant jump as chasing pack lifts: AFL Rookie Rankings – Round 19

Three of our top eight have swapped spots following the weekend.

Published by
Mitch Keating

Our Rookie Rankings have seen three players in our top eight swap places, while the chasing pack outside of our leading young guns has never been more congested.

A Lions forward responded to his axing in the VFL over the weekend and will hope for a Round 20 return, with the likes of Port Adelaide's Logan Evans, Crow Billy Dowling, Giant Darcy Jones and Geelong's Lawson Humphries all pressing their case in recent weeks.

Evans and Dowling each earned Round 19 honourable mentions alongside Nick Watson, Seth Campbell and Shaun Mannagh, with the latter another name to consider in the final five rounds.

Selection Criteria: For our 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 Darcy are ineligible, having already played an AFL match before Round 1, 2024. 

Honourable Mentions:
Shaun Mannagh (Geelong)
Nick Watson (Hawthorn)
Logan Evans (Port Adelaide)
Billy Dowling (Adelaide)
Seth Campbell (Richmond)

Logan Morris (-2)

Falls further after his quiet patch was followed by an axing at selection, with Morris making way for debutant Henry Smith.

It seems Morris may not spend too long outside of Chris Fagan's side, with the teenager putting together a four-goal and 22-disposal effort in the VFL against Sydney in a narrow win.

Should Fagan look to keep the same side that defeated the Swans at AFL level however, the door could be ajar for the likes of Humphries, Evans, Dowling and others to break into our Rookie Rankings.

Ryley Sanders (+1)

The young Bulldog was subbed out of Saturday's win over the Cats but managed to find the ball on 17 occasions under trying circumstances at Kardinia Park before being replaced by Jack Macrae.

Sanders couldn't quite use the ball as accurately as desired, and he wasn't alone in doing so, going at 41% efficiency on the night.

The Pick 6 selection managed to offer some effort on the defensive end however, laying six tackles in his 66% time on the ground.

The Dogs have the tough trip of facing Sydney at the SCG this weekend as they look to continue their strong run of form.

Harvey Thomas (+1)

Thomas and teammate Darcy Jones have been important in the Giants' three-game undefeated streak, offering run and pressure in the front half to alleviate Toby Bedford's time in midfield.

Jones is pressing his case for a spot in our Rookie Rankings, while Thomas has risen to sixth after returning last week.

The GWS small forward had 11 possessions (five contested) and a goal in the win over the Suns on Saturday to bring his goal tally to nine in his debut season.

The Giants could make it four wins in as many games on Saturday when they face Melbourne at the MCG.

Sam Clohesy (-)

Clohesy had another 16 possessions on Saturday in the loss to GWS, and while he was limited at times during the contest he was able to use the Sherrin effectively when having the ball in hand.

The Suins wingman had close to 300 metres gained for the day in what was a tough afternoon for Damien Hardwick's side, who couldn't capitalise on several chances to keep themselves in the contest.

Gold Coast return home in Round 20, where they could see their undefeated home run come to an end when they face rivals Brisbane at Carrara.

Darcy Wilson (-)

A bounce back to the level of form we had come to expect from Wilson midway through the season, with the young Saint having 14 disposals, five tackles and a goal in the win over the Eagles.

The hard-running midfielder had a difficult month before Saturday's performance, with his efforts against the Eagles hopefully the start of a strong run home until the end of the season.

The Saints remain at Marvel Stadium this weekend to host Essendon, with Ross Lyon's side looking to spoil another finals contender's evening.

Colby McKercher (-)

The young Roo was again back to his hard running and clean ball work in the back half, needing to hold off the Blues' pressure to kickstart attacks from the defensive 50 for North Melbourne on Sunday.

McKercher became somewhat of an issue for Carlton, who utilised Alex Cincotta's lockdown abilities to try and clamp the Tasmanian in the second half.

By the end of the 19-point loss, McKercher had 22 possessions, five tackles, four marks, 344 metres gained and moved the ball at 86% efficiency.

The Kangaroos head to McKercher's home state on Saturday to host Geelong at Blundstone Arena.

Caleb Windsor (-)

A difficult afternoon for the Demons out west, with the travelling side struggling to get a look in the middle to be fighting an uphill battle early in the contest.

Windsor still managed to have some influence despite the disparity in the centre, with the Demons wingman getting on the scoreboard early with a major before ending the afternoon with 15 disposals and close to 250 metres gained.

Melbourne returns to Victoria this week to host GWS at the MCG, with a win needed to remain right in the hunt for a finals spot before the final month of the season.

Harley Reid (-)

Much like Windsor, it would've been an afternoon to forget for Reid and his teammates, but the young Eagle could perhaps keep his head high despite the result.

The Pick 1 selection managed to amass 19 disposals, four clearances and six contested possessions while moving the ball at 84% efficiency in the heavy loss to the Saints.

The West Coast midfielder will turn his attention to this week's Derby against the Dockers, with Reid hoping to replicate the performance he had in the corresponding fixture between the two sides earlier this season.

Published by
Mitch Keating