Our final Rookie Rankings for the 2024 AFL season, with the top eight for the year unveiled after 25 weeks and plenty of changes.
This year's rankings underwent constant alterations throughout the home and away seasons, while the top few contenders often held their own toward the summit.
Taking into consideration each player's impact, consistency, longevity and roles after making their debuts this year, our top eight rookies for the year have been decided.
And before we delve into our final rankings, we must credit the bevy of young players who fell just short...
2024 Honourable Mentions:
Calsher Dear
Logan Evans
Harvey Thomas
Joel Freijah
Joshua Draper
Darcy Jones
Selection Criteria:ย For ourย 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 Darcyย are ineligible, having already played anย AFL match before Round 1, 2024.ย
5. Darcy Wilson (-)
Wilson's first year was up and down, but thankfully, it was mostly the former. The aerobically gifted winger played all 23 games for the Saints in his first year - the only rookie on our list to do so.
He averaged 15.35 disposals, 4.26 marks, 2.09 tackles and 2.43 inside 50s per game in his first season while also contributing 15 goals for the year.
The Murray Bushrangers product has looked comfortable in the top flight, slotting into midfield and forward roles under Ross Lyon. Lyon has allowed the first-round draft selection to use his running skills in space.
Wilson had several standout performances across the season, perhaps none better than his Round 8 outing against North Melbourne, in which he netted three goals from 21 disposals, eight marks, and 11 contested possessions.
While Wilson had a drop in form in the second half of the season, he bounced back late with a 25-disposal and two-goal outing against Geelong to be among his side's best in an upset win.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Marks
He had his fifth 20-disposal game to end his year in the win over Carlton on Sunday but fell narrowly short of a podium finish in our Rookie Rankings.
