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
1Levi Ashcroft (-)
Down goes Lachie Neale, down goes Jarrod Berry, up stands Levi Ashcroft.
The Lions have suffered injury heartache at the worst possible time, but Ashcroft's ability to influence the contest in the heat of the midfield has proven to be a major benefit for Brisbane, with him dominating at stoppages against Fremantle in the Lions' important win.
Ashcroft finished the 57-point win with 19 disposals and six clearances, five of which were from stoppages. He also recorded 387 metres gained, one of his highest figures for the season in that metric.
The Lions face a tall task against the in-form Hawks this weekend, but if anyone is going to help them overcome their damaging inside midfielders in the likes of Jai Newcombe and James Worpel, it will be Ashcroft, and it shouldn't be surprising if he does it with some goal-scoring flair as well.
