Daicos dethroned, Crow drops: AFL Rookie Rankings

For the first time since Round 2, we've seen a change atop our Rookie Rankings, with Collingwood young gun Nick Daicos dethroned from his mantle.

Young Crow Josh Rachele has also taken a dip, with plenty of movement occurring among our top six rookies after eight rounds.

A young Blues onballer and Port Adelaide ruckman continue to impress as they knock on the door for a spot in the coming weeks.

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 2022 season will not be considered.

VIEW: ROUND 7 RANKINGS

Round 8 Honourable Mentions

Sam Hayes (Port Adelaide)
10 disposals, 100% disposal efficiency, 37 hit-outs

The Port Adelaide ruckman is perhaps a week away from breaking into our rankings, having put up another immense effort as the Power continues in their winning ways.

Ben Hobbs (Essendon)
19 disposals, seven marks, four tackles, six score involvements, one goal

In his fourth game with the Bombers, Hobbs had his best performance yet, playing a key role between midfield and attack as Essendon triumphed over arch-rivals Hawthorn on Saturday night.

Jack Carroll (Carlton)
18 disposals, eight contested possessions, six score involvements, three clearances

Two games and two honourable mentions for the young Blues onballer, who is quickly staking his claim for a spot in our Rookie Rankings for the coming weeks.

Jye Amiss (Fremantle)
Two goals, nine disposals, five marks, six score involvements

A memorable debut for the young Dockers forward, who joined the first-kick first-goal club on Friday night. Was impressive as a leading target in attack for Fremantle and is likely to hold his spot despite an anticipated wave of inclusions.

Josh Rachele (-3)

The Crows' livewire has seen a drop in form from his blistering opening month in the league, with Sunday's outing against the Blues seeing the small forward once again limited in attack.

Rachele booted 1.2 in the 48-point loss at Marvel Stadium and was costly with ball-in-hand, amassing just the four effective disposals for the day.

The sole goal was Rachele's first since Round 5, with the teenager kept quiet in the last three weeks.

With the likes of Carroll and Hayes pressing their case, Rachele will be hoping for a stronger outing against Brisbane this weekend.

Nathan O'Driscoll (+1)

Another week, another O'Driscoll goal from the left forward pocket. This time the tight-angeled major came in the form of a set-shot that was executed by perfection from the Docker's wingman.

The emerging midfielder also recorded 16 possessions, six score involvements and five intercepts in a thorough role out wide against North Melbourne on Friday night.

The Dockers and O'Driscoll will face a surging Suns outfit on Sunday, with Gold Coast's midfield sure to be a test for the in-form Dockers.

Josh Gibcus (+1)

The young Tigers defender once again stood tall down back, looking to negate Magpies forward Oliver Henry as Collingwood pushed inside 50.

Damien Hardwick's faith in Gibcus was, once again, on show, with the teenager recording the third most time on ground among Richmond players.

The Greater Western Victoria product collected 12 disposals and four intercepts on Saturday, adding to an impressive past three weeks in the yellow and black.

Gibus' next test comes in the form of the Hawks at the MCG, with Richmond looking to extend their winning run.

Jason Horne-Francis (+1)

While trying not to repeat ourselves, it was another weekend that saw the South Australian feature among the Kangaroos' best-performing midfielders in a damning loss.

Round 8 saw Horne-Francis lead his side for clearances once more, with the teenager second only to Jy Simpkin for the metric across the season.

Horne-Francis would also collect nine contested possessions from his 16 disposals as the Dockers overran the Roos' midfield ensemble.

This week won't get any easier for North Melbourne, hosting the in-form Port Adelaide at Blundstone Arena.

Nick Daicos (-1)

For the first time since the opening round of the season, the Magpies' father-son gun has not been named at No.1 in our Rookie Rankings.

While Daicos' form hasn't faltered, it has been the performances of a Bombers recruit that has seen the teenager slip to second.

25 disposals, 10 score involvements and 530 metres gained certainly wasn't Daicos' worst outing, with the Collingwood midfielder once again flourishing at half-back.

It won't take much to see Daicos back atop our rankings, with a clash with the Western Bulldogs this week his opportunity to reclaim the crown.

Nic Martin (+1)

The Essendon midfielder has had a scintillating past few weeks, with his latest performance a key part in the Bombers' come-from-behind win over Hawthorn over the weekend.

Fresh off signing a new contract extension after just six games in the red and black, Martin enjoyed one of his best games for the year, recording 22 disposals, two goals, 10 score involvements and nine marks against the Hawks.

The Western Australian was a standout in the second half of the win, collecting 15 disposals as the Bombers steered themselves back in front.

Martin will need to continue his impressive run of form this weekend against the Swans, with Daicos not far off the mantle.