No.1 rookie revealed as final order is locked in: AFL Rookie Rankings – Round 24

The final order of our Rookie Rankings for 2023 is set, with the No.1 rookie of the year named after a season that involved a plethora of impressive fresh faces.

Collingwood's Nick Daicos took out the inaugural Zero Hanger Rookie Rankings title in 2022 after a season-long battle with Bomber Nic Martin, with this year's race following a similar trend between a young Roo and a Lions midfielder.

The rankings were finalised at the conclusion of Round 24, with eight rookies ranked in the final list and many more involved over the course of the season.

Among the unlucky few who wouldn't secure a spot in our top eight by season's end were Carlton pair Ollie Hollands and Alex Cincotaa, Melbourne forward Jacob van Rooyen, Hawks defender Seamus Mitchell, gun Roo George Wardlaw and Saint Mattaes Phillipou.

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. 

Elijah Hewett (-)

The 14th pick from last year's National Draft, Hewett was a late bloomer in our Rookie Rankings - having only played four games before Round 15.

But after returning from a concussion in June against Sydney, it was all positive for the local midfielder through to the final round of the season.

Hewett would record six matches of 15 or more possessions in that home stretch, culminating with a 21-disposal and one-goal outing in a win over North Melbourne.

The young Eagle put his explosiveness from midfield on full display and would step up to the occasion in an arduous year for his club.

Reuben Ginbey (-)

Coming one spot ahead of teammate Elijah Hewett to finish seventh in our Rookie Rankings, Ginbey quickly put runs on the board to stamp his authority as a player for the future.

The Eagles' tackling machine would present as a defensive juggernaut in Adam Simpson's midfield ensemble, flexing his tacking and pressure traits in his Round 1 debut against the Kangaroos.

Ginbey would be among the AFL's leading tacklers across the opening half of the season, tallying 12 in his first game and a season-high 16 in Round 9.

The Dunsborough junior would play in West Coast's first 17 games of the season before succumbing to a season-ending hamstring injury, which saw him slide in our rankings from fifth.

With Ginbey and Hewett getting plenty of football under their belts while showing off their exciting abilities, there are some positives from the Eagles' wooden spoon campaign.

Josh Weddle (-)

The Hawks flanker wouldn't feature in our Rookie Rankings until Round 12, having only made his debut in Round 7 and only needing a month to make his case for a spot.

Weddle would enjoy a breakout performance in his fourth game in the brown and gold, collecting 28 disposals against the West Coast Eagles in Round 10 to earn his Rising Star nomination.

After falling back out of our rankings, Weddle would return in Round 20 at the expense of teammate and fellow defender Seamus Mitchell, with Weddle a spark in the club's impressive form late into the home and away season.

After trading to get back into the first-round of the draft last year and secure the services of Weddle, the Hawks will be mightily happy with what they've already seen in the Oakleigh Chargers product.

Bailey Humphrey (-)

The exciting young Sun was a chance to move into the top four of our Rookie Rankings before his season was cut a week short due to finger injury.

Humphrey's rookie campaign was somewhat of a rollercoaster ride for the Moe junior, who was either the sub or was subbed off in the three games that followed his debut against St Kilda in Round 4.

But in Round 8, Humphrey managed a haul of 15 disposals against Melbourne - a tally that would be bested in each of his next four games in what was a breakout period for the young midfield-forward, and the Suns.

Humphrey would earn a Rising Star nomination in Round 9 and would suddenly stand as a key piece in the club's red-hot form midway through the year, with Gold Coast turning the NT into a fortress in claiming wins over the Bulldogs and Crows.

Humphrey would play a significant role in the successive wins, which followed a 26-disposal outing in his maiden QClash appearance.

Humphrey would end the year with 19 games to his name as the Suns' next shining new sensation.

Judd McVee (-)

A bolter in our Rookie Rankings, with McVee the only player in the final Rookie Rankings order not to be drafted last year.

While the other seven were all taken in the first-round of last year's draft, McVee was a Rookie Draft selection in 2021 and was required to wait until his side's season opener against the Bulldogs to earn a debut this year.

The young Demons flanker flourished on the big occasions, often going head-to-head with premier small forwards to build his case at selection each and every week.

McVee wouldn't miss a single game and would keep the likes of Michael Hibberd and Jake Bowey out of the senior side at times this year.

McVee is also the only player in this list who will feature in the finals action over the coming weeks, with the Melbourne youngster able to build on a strong year.

Max Michalanney (-)

The Crows will be thrilled with what they were able to get out of Michalanney in just his first season in the system, with the father-son selection often going head-to-head with the AFL's best small forwards on a weekly basis.

While many presented as tough tasks for the teenager, Michalanney was still able to claim a few one-on-one wins and put the clamps on the competition's leading goalsneaks.

His poise and disposal were highlights in his maiden season, with Michalanney also showing off his ability at ground level and in the air to quickly emerge as a player to help lead the Crows back to the summit.

Michalanney often floated between third and fifth in our Rookie Rankings throughout 2023, but lands on the podium thanks to a consistent season.

Will Ashcroft (-)

A first-year to remember for the Lions' father-son gun, who managed to immediately find a role in midfield for a premiership-contending club.

Despite a season-ending ACL injury in Round 19, Ashcroft is well in contention for this year's Rising Star Award thanks to his smooth-moving traits in the middle of the field.

The young professional ended his debut campaign with an average of 22.1 disposals (8.2 contested), 3.5 tackles and 3.6 clearances per game to go with eight goals.

The Brisbane ball winner was in pole position to take out our Rookie Rankings title before his knee injury, but the Rising Star Award is a chance to fall his way.

Lions fans will be looking forward to the day Ashcroft is back in a Brisbane jumper and causing headaches for the opposition.

Harry Sheezel (-)

A fantastic first season for the third overall pick, averaging 27 disposals, 5.4 marks, 5.2 rebound 50s and 4.5 score involvements from his 23 games this year - not missing a single match.

Lie his old teammate Ashcroft, Sheezel is right in the mix for the Rising Star Award and will be in line for a stunning second season if this is the foundation of his career.

Transforming into a new role as a half-back after being drafted as the best small forward in his class, Sheezel presents as a weapon for North Melbourne to lean on for the years to come after flexing his elite ball use, run game and football smarts.

Sheezel held the lead in our Rookie Rankings for a long period after bursting into the lead thanks to a dominant Round 1 performance against West Coast, with Ashcroft taking the lead midway through the year before falling back a spot after his season-ending injury.

Alongside midfielder George Wardlaw and the rest of the Kangaroos' emerging ranks, it's an exciting time at Arden Street for Sheezel.