Four players swap spots as West Coast tackling machine rises: AFL Rookie Rankings – Round 9

Four of the top seven in our Rookie Rankings have swapped spots after Round 9's events, with the top three remaining the same for another week.

An Eagles tackling machine has jumped two spots, while two Blues have both fallen in our rankings after Carlton's loss to the Bulldogs.

An unprecedented five players earned honourable mentions for the weekend, with Sun Bailey Humphrey, Demon Jacob van Rooyen and Hawk Seamus Mitchell all pressing for top seven spots after strong performances.

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 2023 season will not be considered.

I.e. Rising Star eligible players such as Sam Darcy, Finn Callaghan and Jye Amiss are ineligible, having already played an AFL match prior to Round 1, 2023. 

Round 8 Honourable Mentions
Bailey Humphrey (Gold Coast)
Seamus Mitchell (Hawthorn)
Josh Weddle (Hawthorn)
Jacob van Rooyen (Melbourne)
Arthur Jones (Western Bulldogs)

Alex Cincotta (-2)

After emerging in our Rookie Rankings for the first time after Round 8, the mature-aged Blues recruit falls back two spots to seventh overall due to a quieter outing against the Bulldogs.

After starting his rookie campaign with disposal counts of 24, 17 and 20 across his opening three appearances, Cincotta managed nine touches in Saturday night's loss against the Bulldogs as he struggled to have an impact on the game.

With runs on the board from his blistering start to 2023, Cincotta is unlikely to fall out of Michael Voss' side for Round 10, while another tough weekend could see the Carlton backman slide out of our top seven.

The Blues, now looking to snap a two-game winless run, will face ladder leaders and rivals Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

Mattaes Phillipou (+1)

After dropping one spot last weekend Phillipou shoots back into sixth spot after holding his against the Crows on his way to recording 18 possessions (five contested), three marks and eight score involvements in Sunday's loss.

The young forward was able to shake off an early injury concern to remain on the field for Ross Lyon's side and see out the match, with Phillipou now featuring in all nine games to start the year for the Saints.

St Kilda and Phillipou will venture to Sydney's west next weekend for their Round 10 clash with the Giants as they look to return to the winner's column.

Oliver Hollands (-1)

Perhaps through no fault of his own, the Carlton winger falls back one place at the conclusion of Round 9.

Hollands was again a serviceable asset for the Blues over the weekend, rotating on the win alongside Blake Acres and Matt Cotrrell to form a valuable three-piece threat on the outside.

With the other two wingers finding plenty of the ball, senior coach Michael Voss pulled the trigger on Hollands in his tactical sub change, with the Wodonga product subbed out at the final break with 13 disposals to his name.

The aerobically gifted midfielder will likely remain in Voss' plans for Round 10, where the Blues will come up against the in-form Magpies.

Reuben Ginbey (+2)

We already knew Ginbey was a tackling machine this season, but the teenager took his contested defensive efforts to new heights in Friday's defeat to the Suns.

The Dunsborough junior recorded 16 tackles to see his season tally reach 70 tackles from nine games - the second most in the competition.

That sum is only bested by Gold Coast bull Matt Rowell, who had 17 tackles of his own against West Coast over the weekend.

The Eagles will be a live chance to secure their second win of the year in Round 10 when they face Hawthorn in Tasmania.

Max Michalanney (-)

Michalanney was as poised as ever on Sunday as the Crows managed to tame St Kilda's attacking third and notch up a 52-point win at home.

The young defender collected nine disposals and six marks as he went head-to-head with in-form Saints forward Jack Higgins, who ended the day with three goals from 18 touches.

Michalanney has continued to take on the opponent's best small forward threat under Matthew Nicks - a role that is seeing the teenager thrive in his debut season.

The Crows will head to Ballarat this weekend to face the Western Bulldogs, hoping to notch up their second win at Mars Stadium in as many years.

Will Ashcroft (-)

It was another performance where Ashcroft effortlessly handled the task of elite level football, coming up against Essendon's talented midfield tandem and only strengthening his case for top spot in our Rookie Rankings.

The Lions' prized father-son young gun ended the night with 28 disposals, seven marks, four clearances and four tackles in the seven-goal win over the Bombers to rank among Brisbane's top performers.

Ashcroft's Round 9 efforts see the midfielder's season averages rise to 22.7 disposals, 3.7 clearances and 3.4 marks for the season.

The Lions will face state rivals Gold Coast at the Gabba on Saturday night, with Ashcroft a chance to take out the Marcus Ashcroft Medal - named after his father for the player seen best afield in the QClash.

Harry Sheezel (-)

While the Roos battle through a winless run that has now extended to seven games, Sheezel's form has hardly wavered as he continues to hold his place atop our rankings for the ninth week in a row.

The young Roo collected 22 disposals and seven contested possessions in Tasmania over the weekend, continuing to offer plenty of run out of defence as North Melbourne looked to counter Port Adelaide's continued threat on goal.

While Sheezel's run has been stellar to start the season, the Sandringham Dragons graduate is seeing his gap on the rest of this year's class of rookies shrink ever so slightly.

Round 10 will see the Roos return to Marvel Stadium to host Sydney on Saturday afternoon.