Round 1 of the new season introduced the league to a bunch of fresh faces as many rookies made their long-awaited debut.
From draftees to mature-aged recruits, these new players were thrown right into the thick of things from the get-go. The first round of the 2022 season was more than eventful, and had plenty to offer in terms of action and drama, meaning the debutants needed to step up if they wanted to stand out amongst the league's best. And that they did. But which rookies stood out the most?
For ourย power ranking, we are taking a look at players who have only just made their debut this season. Other players who may still be eligible for a Rising Star nomination but have already made their debut previously will not be considered.
Round 1 Honourable Mentions:
Connor MacDonald (Hawthorn) - 16 disposals, 6 contested possessions, three marks
Jackson Mead - (Port Adelaide) - 10 disposals, two marks, three tackles
Kaine Baldwin - (Essendon) - seven disposals, three marks
Angus Sheldrick - (Sydney - eight disposals, one mark
2. Josh Rachele
In what was an incredibly tight game between the Crows and the Dockers, debutant Josh Rachele stole the show with his incredible goal-scoring display. The 18-year-old forward kicked a bag of five in his first game, featuring a combination of set shots, snaps from the boundary and smart roving skills, displaying all the necessary qualities of an elite small forward.
Rachele also looked quite good on the ball, gathering 14 disposals, five marks and three tackles in the narrow one-point loss.
Forward
Goals
Marks
Tackles
