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
1. Nic Martin
The second debutant to put on an elite goal-scoring display in his first professional game, Martin put the Dons on his back with an impressive five-goal haul against the Cats.
Essendon were disappointing against an experienced Geelong outfit, but Martin managed to stand out as one of the players of the match, leading the game in goals scored while still putting up solid statistics across the board.
Defender
Marks
Disposals
Goals
As well as kicking five goals at 100% scoring accuracy, the first-gamer gathered an incredible 27 possessions with an elite 89% disposal efficiency, while also managing 10 marks.
