Our Rookie Rankings for 2023 have undergone further change with just one round remaining, with a young Roo only strengthening his place at the summit.
The one change saw a Demons defender rewarded with a strong recent run of form and rise up a rank, swapping spots with a young Sun.
Meanwhile, a Hawks debutant was among the weekend's best performers among rookies, earning an honourable mention while emerging as a potential Rising Star contender for 2024.
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. Rising Star eligible players such as Sam Darcy, Finn Callaghan and Jye Amiss are ineligible, having already played an AFL match prior to Round 1, 2023.
Honourable Mention:
Henry Hustwaite (Hawthorn)
James O'Donnell (Western Bulldogs)
Josh Fahey (GWS)
Jacob van Rooyen (Melbourne)
Is every chance to move into seventh spot in our Rookie Rankings after managing to piece together another formidable outing in the royal blue and gold over the weekend.
Hewett collected 19 disposals (12 contested) and five clearances in the upset win over the Bulldogs to only strengthen his case as one of this year's top rookies.
The Eagles will be hoping to record an unlikely second successive win this weekend when they clash with Adelaide in Round 24.
Has Hewett breathing down his neck for seventh spot with one round to go, with Ginbey's absence opening up greater opportunities for his fellow Eagles rookie.
West Coast fans will be excited by Ginbey's return come the start of next season, with the Dunsborough product flexing his defensive prowess in a short time.
With more young stars on the way as West Coast eye the draft, Ginbey and co. are set to lead the Eagles into a new era.
Has continued to piece together a strong finish to his debut season, continuing to provide dash from defence under Sam Mitchell.
Weddle collected 16 possessions and 10 marks against Melbourne to all but lock in his spot among the top six after moving up the order last week.
Should he end his maiden season with a strong performance against Fremantle, Weddle could be in line to poll some votes for the Rising Star Award.
For the second week in a row, the young Sun has fallen one spot in our Rookie Rankings as he attempts to recapture the form that saw him burst onto the scene at the midway mark of the year.
Humphrey managed to collect eight touches and laid three tackles in the loss to Carlton, having been positioned mostly in the attacking third.
A Round 24 showing against North Melbourne presents as a prime chance for Humphrey to return to form and potentially move back into the top four of our rankings.
The Demons defender has moved further up our rankings in what is the only change following Round 23, with McVee's efforts against the Hawks seeing him leap Bailey Humphrey into fourth spot and potentially go one rung further before the end of the season.
McVee was a constant in Melbourne's backline in their win at the MCG, flexing his ability at both ground level and in the air while offering plenty of run from the defensive 50.
He would collect eight marks for 14 possessions, with three of his grabs being intercepts for a total of six intercept possessions.
McVee and the Demons will look to potentially book a top two finish this weekend when they play Sydney in Round 24.
By no means guaranteed to remain in third spot at the conclusion of Round 24, but it will be hard to see Michalanney fall off the podium come the season's end.
The Crows backman and father-son pickup has been one of the most consistent performers from the 2023 draft class and quickly cemented his role in Matthew Nicks' rearguard.
The lockdown defender was again a key contributor in their controversial loss to Sydney on Saturday night, recording 15 disposals at 93% efficiency while managing close to 300 metres gained.
Adelaide's finals pursuit is over, but the Crows will be looking to end their home and away season on a high note against West Coast in Round 24.
Can't do much to help his Rising Star chances, relying on the runs he put on the board before his season-ending injury.
Ashcroft will remain in second spot in our rankings but does have multiple rivalling contenders for the Rising Star honour, with Saint Mitch Owens and Docker Jye Amiss also seen as a chance to claim the award while being ineligible for our rankings.
Ashcroft's maiden campaign saw the Lions' father-son gun average 22.1 disposals, 3.5 tackles and 3.6 clearances per game as a reliable role player in Brisbane's midfield group.
Claimed the record for most possessions for a first-year player over the weekend after recording 37 disposals in the loss to Richmond.
Sheezel was again among North Melbourne's top performers and the Roos teenager only strengthened his chances of claiming the Rising Star Award with his equal-career-high haul.
The top three draft pick managed nine contested possessions and move the ball at 86% efficiency for a return of 544 metres gained.
Sheezel will have one last opportunity to add to his running for the Rising Star Award this weekend against the Suns, while he's sewn up top spot in our Rookie Rankings.
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