Our Rookie Rankings for 2024 has extended to a top six, with a second-year Bulldog and a Saints youngster breaking in for the first time this season following the change.
Every six weeks our rankings will expand with an additional wrung, with the first change of the year seeing two new faces named as GWS forward Harvey Thomas makes way.
The top end of our rankings has seen a new Sun move up two places, while the gap between first and second only grew further over the weekend.
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.
Honourable Mentions
Jed Walter (Gold Coast)
Darcy Wilson (St Kilda)
Joshua Draper (Fremantle)
The young Saints midfielder comes into our Rookie Rankings after just five quarters of action, with the defensive-minded rookie impressing in his first full outing during Round 6.
Garcia, who was a super sub for the Saints against GWS last week, enjoyed a strong four-quarter performance on Thursday night despite the disappointing result against the Western Bulldogs.
The teenager recorded 14 disposals, nine tackles, 10 contested possessions and a goal in the loss to strengthen his prospects at selection for another week.
Midfield
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Garcia's strong pressure and contested work rate will likely be relied upon again this weekend when the Saints travel to South Australia to face Port Adelaide on Friday night.
Another first-timer for this year's Rookie Rankings, with Western Bulldogs wing/forward Harvey Gallagher continuing to build a strong debut campaign after featuring in all six matches so far this year.
Gallagher debuted in Round 1 and has since held his spot in Luke Beveridge's side, booting five goals while averaging 12.5 disposals and 3.8 score involvements per game.
The 20-year-old, who didn't get a debut in his first year at the Kennel, had one of his best performances in the blue, white and red in Round 6 as he continues to hone a role on a flank for the Bulldogs.
Midfield
Disposals
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Following their strong win over the Saints, the Dogs now turn their attention to a Round 7 bout with Fremantle in Perth on Saturday night.
A bye week for the Demons sees Windsor slide from the top three following a consistent opening six matches to start his maiden campaign.
Windsor has slipped from the top due to the former of fellow top draft selections Harley Reid and Colby McKercher, with the Demons wingman now having a chance to move back up the order when Melbourne returns this Wednesday night against Richmond.
Midfielder
Disposals
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Marks
Windsor has thrived in space this year, which will again be the case on Anzac Day eve when the Demons take to the MCG.
After a limited Round 5, McKercher couldn't quite bounce back on Sunday when the Kangaroos fell to Hawthorn in a battle between the two last winless sides.
The Tasmanian drifted between defence and on the wing for North Melbourne and would end the afternoon with 17 disposals, however his ball use came at just 41% efficiency.
There were again some good glimpses from McKerchger though, with one blistering run through the middle of Marvel Stadium to set up a shot on goal a clear highlight.
Defender
Marks
Disposals
Rebound50s
Still chasing their first win, the Roos and McKercher will head to Hobart to face the Crows, with the Pick 2 selection set to play in front of a home crowd.
The Suns' mature-aged recruit was again a strong performer in a defeat for the Queensland club, with Clohesy recording 16 touches and a goal thanks to a strong first half.
The Werribee product was again on the end of a long-range goal on the run, which he set up from half-back with some speed and line-breaking before finishing off the job.
The three-game run for Clohesy has seen the reigning Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal winner emerge as arguably the best first-year player not named Harley Reid.
Defender
Marks
Disposals
Goals
Clohesy and Reid will face off this Sunday when Gold Coast return home to People First Stadium for Round 7.
If his Rising Star nomination performance the week prior wasn't enough, then Reid's Western Derby dominance was another reminder of exactly why the Tongala teenager was taken Pick 1 last November.
In his first game between the Eagles and Dockers, Reid might've felt hard done by not to take out the Glendinning-Allan Medal as the best-afield in Saturday's upset win.
Reid booted three goals from his 19 possessions, 13 of which were contested to go with seven clearances.
Midfield
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
His aerial prowess was also on show, with Reid flying for two stunning marks to further flex his nous as a midfield-forward threat.