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
6. Caleb Windsor (-)
Despite missing the last month of the season, the Demons young gun just manages to hold off Darcy Wilson for third spot in our rankings.
Both Windsor and Wilson were neck and neck for most of the year, flexing their speed and ball use on the outside of their respective midfield groups.
Windsor gets the nod for third spot after a stellar debut season that saw him play all 19 games before his year was abruptly ended by an ankle injury.
The Pick 7 selection kept the likes of Lachie Hunter and Jack Billings out of the Demons' side for most of the year on his way to averaging 14.47 disposals, 3.00 marks, 2.58 tackles and 2.32 inside 50s per game.
On a number of occasions this year Windsor stood up in key moments for Melbourne, whether that be winning the ball on the wing or going forward and booting a late goal.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Marks
He recorded eight goals for the year, one of which came in a 25-disposal outing against the Eagles in Round 17 that also saw the teenager collect seven marks, five tackles, four rebound 50s, four clearances and 10 contested possessions.
