With another round in the books and more rookies making their mark on the AFL, we've decided toย widen our top spots to six from this week onwards.
A Cats forward had an instant impact in his debut, while a top Giants draftee continued to impress in his second AFL match as they press their case for a spot in our six spots.
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 2022 season will not be considered.
VIEW:ย ROUND 5 RANKINGS
Round 6 Honourable Mentions
Ollie Dempsey (Geelong)
16 disposals, eight score involvements, one goal
In his AFL debut the Cats rookie delivered on what was asked, often popping up on scoring chains and even kicking a goal of his own to impress onlookers.
Finn Callaghan (GWS Giants)
18 possessions, 83.3% disposal efficiency, six intercepts
The Giants' top pick was cool, calm and collected despite the ongoing pressure mounted by St Kilda at Manuka, often playing a defensive role out on the wing.
Sam Hayes (Port Adelaide)
11 disposals, 47 hit-outs, seven contested possessions
Carrying the first-string ruck duties in just his second career game, Hayes held his own against the Eagles to amass 47 hit-outs and play a key role in the club's first win of the season.
6. Josh Gibcus (New)
After falling out of our rankings a fortnight ago, Gibcus has placed himself back among the top rookies after his strong outing against Melbourne on Sunday night.
The teenager stood tall in the absence of veteran Dylan Grimes, facing tough competition in his return from a week off after being managed for Round 5.
Despite the 22-point loss, the Tigers defender amassed 12 marks and 18 possessions for 326 metres gained, often negating Demons pair Luke Jackson and Ben Brown in the contest.
Defender
Marks
Disposals
Rebound50s
Gibcus will face the star-studded Eagles forward line on Friday night as he looks to anchor his place in our rankings.
