Don back on top as teammate joins top six: AFL Rookie Rankings

We've reached the midway mark of the 2022 AFL season, with the top bracket of young stars having seemingly secured themselves among the best debutants of the year in our Rookie Rankings.

At the cessation of Round 11, we see another change in our top six, with a young Bomber replacing Saint Marcus Windhager in our rankings, while two other St Kilda draftees earn honourable mentions for their outings on the weekend.

We've also seen another change at the top of our rankings, while a young Tiger is pressing his case for another leap up pur standings after tussling with Swans forward Lance Franklin.

Criteria: For our Rookie Rankings, we are 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 prior to the 2022 season will not be considered.

I.e. players like Jai Newcombe, Jake Bowey, Corey Durdin and Sam De Koning are ineligible. 

VIEW: ROUND 10 RANKINGS

Round 11 Honourable Mentions

Mitchito Owens (St Kilda)
14 disposals, 10 tackles, two goals

The young Saints midfielder had arguably the best performance of any rookie over the weekend, stepping up against the Roos to earn the plaudits of many.

Cooper Stephens (Geelong)
15 disposals, six clearances, seven contested possessions

The young Cats onballer continues to show his worth in Geelong's 22, collecting a round-high six clearances among rookies for the weekend,

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (St Kilda) 
17 disposals, nine marks, five intercepts

The flashy Saint added to an impressive first season in the red, white and black on the weekend, continuing to be part of avenues to goal out wide for Brett Ratten.

Brady Hough (West Coast)
23 disposals, 11 marks, five intercepts

The first-year Eagle had his best performance of the year in a defensive role against the Bulldogs on Sunday night, ending the evening as one of West Coast's best accumulators.

Ben Hobbs (NEW)

After a handful of honourable mentions across the course of this season, the Bombvers' top draftee makes his maiden appearance in our Rookie Rankings.

Hobbs is averaging 17.5 possessions per game across the past month, with his season-high 22 touches against Port Adelaide ranking third among eligible players for the weekend.

The Horsham product also recorded 11 contested possessions, six inside 50s and five score involvements in the 16-point loss to Port Adelaide on Sunday.

Played a wide role for Ben Rutten's side in rotating in midfield, while also moving forward and linking up in several avenues to goal.

Will face competition for his spot in our Rookie Rankings this week as the Bombers are fixtured their bye.

Sam Hayes (-)

Coming up against Bombers duo Sam Draper and Andrew Phillips, Hayes recorded an equal game-high tally of 21 hit-outs in the win over Essendon.

The 22-year-old held his own in the middle as nine of his 21 hit-outs landed to the advantage of his teammates, while Hayes also went at 100% disposal efficiency from his six touches in 66 per cent time on ground.

The Power were out hussled in midfield however, having won just four centre clearances to Essendon's 14, losing the overall clearance count by two.

Like Hobbs, Hayes and the Power are scheduled their bye this week, with the Alberton club to return next week against Richmond.

Jason Horne-Francis (-)

Round 11 saw the Jason Horne-Francis trend continues, with the bullish onballer putting up respectable numbers in a difficult evening for the Kangaroos.

Another 15 disposals, four clearances and five tackles saw the No.1 selection continue to compete in the top flight as his side were overran by St Kilda's senior midfield ensemble.

Horne-Francis continues to rank strongly for key metrics among fellow rookies, coming in at first overall for clearances, tackles and contested possessions this year.

North Melbourne will have their sights set on an opportune chance to secure their second win of the season, travelling to TIO Stadium to face the Suns on Saturday.

Josh Gibcus (-)

The emerging Tiger was given one of the toughest jobs in football on Friday night, with Damien Hardwick electing Gibuc to go head-to-head with Swans veteran Lance Franklin.

The GWV Rebels product was more than admirable in his efforts, having tamed Franklin for a majority of the match before the 1000-goal superstar inevitably took over in the final two terms.

Gibcus was soon shifted to new opponents and continued to play a critical lock-down role, before moving into attack and even slotting his first major in the dying stages.

The decision to start Gibcus on Franklin shows the faith Hardwick and his teammates have in the teenager, with his efforts arguably some of his best for the season.

The Tigers are among the clubs to earn a week's break with a bye in Round 12, returning to face Port Adelaide the week after.

Nick Daicos (-1)

Coming up against his side's arch-rivals, and funnily enough the side he supported growing up, Daicos was once again a key cog in a stunning Magpies win.

Collingwood shocked the contending Blues in front of an 80,000-strong crowd ar the MCG, with Daicos holding his role at half-back for Craig McRae.

The father-son gun recorded a season-low 16 disposals (yep, season-low) against the Blues, along with five score involvements and five intercepts.

While still a strong performance, Daicos falls from pole position due to the form of another, but will have a chance to rebound into first place against Hawthorn on Sunday.

Nic Martin (+1)

The Bombers' bargain buy has sht back into the No.1 spot after responsng to a quiet Dreamtime outing from last weekend.

Albeit in a loss, Martin was back to being one of Essendon's best, collecting 25 touches, 12 marks, 576 metres gained, seven inside 50s and 10 score involvements in one of his best performances of the year.

At the midway point of the season, Martin is ranked among the top four rookies for disposals, inside 50s, goals, score involvements and centre clearances.

Martin will earn a week's break in Round 12 as Essendon are scheduled a bye, with the Bombers returning the round after to face Carlton.