For the final time this year, our Rookie Rankings have been extended, with a total of eight players now selected following the conclusion of Round 18.
The shift has seen a GWS forward return and move into seventh overall, while a Roos young gun has continued his rise after a strong fortnight back on the field.
Geelong rookie Lawson Humphries is one of four players to earn an honourable mention, with a breakout performance against Collingwood adding to an impressive opening month for the Cats defender.
Humphries could make a late run for a spot in our Rookie Rankings in the final six weeks of the season, while other contenders in Darcy Jones, Billy Dowling, Bruce Reville and Josh Draper are also in the conversation.
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.Â
Honourable Mentions:
Lawson Humphries (Geelong)
Zac Taylor (Adelaide)
Billy Dowling (Adelaide)
Steely Green (Richmond)
2. Caleb Windsor (-)
The Demons wingman has found the best form of his rookie season over the past two weeks, with Saturday night seeing Windsor collect a further 18 disposals, 432 metres gained and a goal in the win over Essendon.
Adding to a career-best performance in Round 17, Windsor has begun to close the gap between No.1 in our Rookie Rankings and the chasing pack, with McKercher also making a push for top spot.
Midfield
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Windsor and Melbourne head west this weekend to take on Fremantle, where they'll seek revenge following the Dockers' domination over Simon Goodwin's side in Round 12.
Mitch – if you’re gonna be a serious AFL journo – you should watch games instead of just writing these after looking at a few stats. Colby McKercher would be very disappointed with his game against Sydney. 25 disposals and you say he continued to find the ball easily. That sounds great.
But Let’s not forget Colby took the kick ins – so there goes half of his kicks. 9 kick ins that are freebies. 350 metres gained. Most of them from kick ins. Free possessions.
Most his other kicks were junk kicks backwards or sideways. 7 uncontested marks from standing on his own deep in the backline. That’s 16 of his 18 kicks accounted for. I’m a Tasmanian and love the lad but let’s not pump his tyres up from having a Quick Look at a stats sheet after a day when he struggled.
3 contested possessions and 6 turnovers from 25 possessions which includes 9 kick ins. That tells more of a story Mitchy boy .