Zero Hanger's Rookie Rankings for the 2025 AFL season are underway, with the top five spots locked in after Round 1.
2025's Rookie Rankings will be our fourth edition, with Collingwood ace Nick Daicos (2022), North Melbourne gun Harry Sheezel (2023) and West Coast sensation Harley Reid (2024) all previous winners.
This year's rankings will start with power rankings of the top five debutants of the new year, with every six rounds to see another spot added to our rankings.
The opening two weeks of the AFL season, which tallied just 11 matches, included a total of 25 debutants, with several having standout performances to start their careers and new campaigns.
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, Daniel 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 1 Honourable Mentions:
Riley Bice (Sydney) - 12 disposals, 304 metres gained, 31% game time
Lucas Camporeale (Carlton) - 20 disposals, five tackles
Harry Boyd (St Kilda) - 12 disposals, four clearances, 27 hitouts
Luke Trainor (Richmond) - 15 disposals, five marks, 372 metres gained
4. Xavier Lindsay
One of five AFL debutants for the Demons in Sunday's thriller against GWS, the Leongatha product was a standout among the fresh faces on the field as he looked at ease in his first senior appearance.
Playing a flank role that has seen Lindsay thrive in his development as a junior, the intelligent left-footer had no issue getting his hands to the ball and disposing of possession efficiently under testing weather conditions, going at 81% disposal efficiency.
Lindsay ended his debut with 22 disposals, six tackles, two clearances and over 300 metres gained to put himself just outside the podium in our Rookie Rankings.
The Demons, who suffered a dramatic three-point loss to GWS to start their new campaign, will face fellow winless unit North Melbourne on Sunday for Round 2, potentially seeing Lindsay go head-to-head with Vic Country teammate Finn O'Sullivan.
