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: 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
8. Harley Reid (-)
The Eagles' teen sensation takes out the No.1 spot in our Rookie Rankings for 2024, following past winners Nick Daicos (2022) and Harry Sheezel (2023) in doing so.
Reid took pole position in Round 5 after a brilliant few weeks to end his opening month in the league, and he hasn't looked back since - staving off the form of Colby McKercher, Caleb Windsor and Darcy Wilson for the top spot.
The Tongala teenager put up performances we haven't seen from a first-year player for some time, perhaps none better than his debut Derby performance in the Round 6 upset win over rivals Fremantle.
His bursting goal on the run against Melbourne in Round 10 was among the many highlights for Reid this year, with the high-flying midfield also earning a Mark of the Year nomination here and there.
He had ten games with at least ten contested possessions - and never dropped under six for the stat all year - while also putting up big tackle and clearance figures to stamp his authority on the contest.
He also stuffed the stat sheet in his other game against the Dockers, recording 29 disposals, 15 contested possessions, ten clearances and six inside 50s in a fiery Derby affair.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
While he may be ineligible for the Rising Star Award, Reid takes out the first spot in our Rookie Rankings for the 2024 season.
