The AFL Rookie Rankings are back for 2023, where we order the top six in-form debutants of the year each week as the season progresses.
Collingwood's Nick Daicos took out the 2022 Zero Hanger Rookie Rankings thanks to an unmatched debut season, claiming the crown ahead of Bomber Nic Martin and Saint Marcus Windhager.
So far this season, a first-round Roos draftee has staged a brilliant start to his rookie campaign, while a father-son Lion has made his maiden appearance in our rankings.
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. players such as Sam Darcy, Finn Callaghan and Jye Amiss are ineligible, having already played an AFL match prior to Round 1, 2023.
1. Harry Sheezel (-)
Harry Sheezel substantiated his staggeringly impressive Round 1 performance against West Coast with another glistening showing against Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
As was the case on the first weekend of the season, Sheezel again demonstrated his composure with Sherrin in hand, as well as his precision accuracy by foot. The 18-year-old registered 30 possessions, going at 73 percent disposal efficiency, after notching 34 possessions at the same clip a week ago. For a first-year player who is able to locate the football at such a voluminous rate, his effectiveness almost beggars belief.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Almost as commendable as Sheezel's play itself is the way coach Alastair Clarkson has employed the top-choice draftee. While it can be expected that further down the track of Sheezel's career he will venture into the middle portion of the ground more commonly, his current role across North Melbourne's half-backline has proved a 'Clarko' masterstroke throughout the early juncture of the season.
The Sandringham Dragons product is only scraping the surface of his rookie season, and his mantle at the top of our Rookie Rankings looks fairly concrete at present, even in spite of Ashcroft's growing presence.
Round 2 honourable mentions:
