Our Rookie Rankings after Round 11 have seen a Lions young gun reclaim top spot, with a Dockers forward moving up and a Demons flanker returning to the top six.
Honourable mentions this week have gone to Essendon debutant Angus Clarke, Fremantle small forward Isaiah Dudley and West Coast's Sandy Brock.
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 11 Honourable Mentions
Angus Clarke (Essendon) - 16 disposals, 3 goals and 8 marks
Isaiah Dudley (Fremantle) - 12 disposals, 2 goals and 339 metres gained
Sandy Brock (West Coast) - 11 disposals, 5 marks and 8 intercept possessions
The Demons flanker returns to our Rookie Rankings, having fallen out after getting injured in Round 3 and missing some action.
He's steadily built a case to return the top six, and after Sunday's performance against the Swans, he deserves a spot in our Rookie Rankings.
Lindsay came away from the 53-point win with 22 disposals, four marks and 281 metres gained as he continues to be a reliable asset in defence and on the wing.
Melbourne head to Alice Springs in Round 12 to host the Saints, with Lindsay a chance to push further up our rankings.
Trainor took on a new role on Friday night against the Bombers, with the Tigers opting to swing him forward due to their lack of tall attacking options.
He found little success as the Tigers struggled to move the ball with accuracy in the front half, with Trainor managing just two marks for a return of four disposals.
The Sandringham Dragons product was a strong attacking option at times in his junior career, but will likely return to the backline when Richmond regain Tom Lynch.
That could occur this weekend when Richmond head to New South Wales to take on Luke Trainor.
The Demons midfielder really only falls a spot due to the latest form of a Dockers forward, with Langford amassing another 21 disposals, nine contested possessions and over 400 metres gained at the MCG on Sunday.
Langford has continued to put pressure on Melbourne's top line of midfielders due to his work rate in the middle of the ground when given the chance.
In Jack Viney's absence, the tall onballer has stood strong amid a strong run of results for the Demons midway through the year.
Melbourne head to Traeger Park on Sunday to host the Saints in a bid to continuing their winning streak.
Another four-goal haul for Reid, who managed the same haul in his debut against Geelong.
Fortunately this time, the Dockers claimed the win, with Reid playing a big role in helping roll the Power at Optus Stadium under tough conditions.
Reid collected 18 disposals and eight contested possessions to go with his quartet of majors in what was another reminder of his Rising Star bid.
The Dockers have a tough assignment in Round 12 when they face the Suns on their home deck, a game that could see the Western Australian side colelct big scalp before their mid-season bye.
An unfortunate hamstring injury abruptly ended Lalor's first Dreamtime appearance, with the soft-tissue concern expected to see the No.1 pick miss more football.
Prior to being put on ice, Lalor was positioned deep forward for Adem Yze's side and struggled to have a large impact on the game due to the Tigers' poor efficiency in the front half.
He did pop up for a goal at a crucial time in the game from one of his two touches for the night, with his only other kick also ending in a major.
Fingers crossed Lalor avoids a lengthy sidelined stint, but the Tiger could take a cautious approach given his age and history of setbacks.
The Lions wingman returns to the top of our Rookie Rankings due to both Lalor's injury and his own form.
Ashcroft collected another 22 disposals and a goal to continue his consistent start to his career, now averaging 21.2 touches per game.
He was again a key cog in Saturday's victory, with his step-around goal late in the first half a true highlight.
Ashcroft and the Lions return to Thursday night footy this week, hosting Essendon in what looms as another likely win for Chris Fagan's men.
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