Round 23 presented a wealth of classy performances from this season's batch of rookies, several of whom made notable impacts in big wins for their respective clubs.
A Saints midfielder has joined the top eight after another solid performance, his form too good to overlook, while an Eagle has made his move inside the top three.
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.
Honourable mentions:
Cooper Trembath (North Melbourne) - Nine disposals, three goals
Taj Hotton (Richmond) - 16 disposals, 10 contested possessions, five clearances
3Tom McCarthy (+1)
It's impossible not to have McCarthy inside the top three now, despite the Eagles copping another thrashing, this time at the hands of the Western Bulldogs.
McCarthy was among the Eagles' best again as just a ninth-gamer, recording 25 disposals, four clearances and made the direct assist on half of West Coast's goals.
What McCarthy is achieving in his first season as a mid-season draft pick is truly phenomenal, with his level of ball-winning ability rarely seen this early in a career. Defensively, he's been impressive too, ranking sixth on the list for defensive pressure acts per game.
