The AFL's 2025 rookie class continues to exceed expectations with a number of exceptional performances altering the state of Zero Hanger's Rookie Rankings after Round 6.
A young Docker has knocked a pre-season favourite off his perch to reclaim top spot, while two Tigers lock themselves into the top six. Not far behind them is a pair of Melbourne's rookies, Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay, on the cusp of breaking into the top six with strong performances in the Demons' win over Fremantle.
Our Rookie Rankings will extend to a top seven after Round 12, with a new rung to be added every half-dozen weeks.
Selection Criteria: Zero Hanger's Rookie Rankings ONLY consider 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 before the 2025 season will not be considered. I.e. Rising Star eligible players such as Nate Caddy, Dan Curtin and Connor O'Sullivan are ineligible, having already played an AFL match before Opening Round, 2025. Suspension does not make a player ineligible for our Rookie Rankings.
Round 5 Honourable Mentions:
Harvey Langford (Melbourne) - 17 disposals, two goals
Max Hall (St Kilda) - 13 disposals, four marks
Xavier Lindsay (Melbourne) - 16 disposals, four marks, two clearances
6. Luke Trainor (-2)
Luke Trainor was demoted to substitute for the Tigers this week with the return of Noah Balta, so despite spending just nine per cent of the game on the ground, he falls to sixth in the Rookie Rankings. However, his body of work through the first five rounds is too strong to remove him from the top six, as he was slowly building some strong form down back, with ten marks and 412 metres gained in Richmond's loss to Fremantle at Gather Round.
With the recent court sentencing of Balta including a curfew, it should be expected for Trainor to return against the Demons on Thursday night, creating an intriguing matchup for the young key defender as Melbourne recently revamped their forward line.
