It’s awards season for the AFL as we continue to celebrate the best of the best for 2023.
For the new guys on the block, the main prize is the Rising Star, which was won by Harry Sheezel at the AFL Awards on Wednesday night.
But there should be more recognition for those who have had a standout first year of senior footy.
This is the debutants team of the year. The team where we pick the best 22 AFL debutants that have made the biggest splash in their first year of senior football.
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Our experts at foxfooty.com.au have selected their side based on performance in positions across the 2023 season and made their Judgement calls on the starting 22.
Criteria: You don’t have to be in your first year on an AFL list, but you have to have made your senior debut this year (2023) and played at least three games.
BACKLINE
B: Max Michalanney (Adelaide), Tylar Young (Richmond), Judd McVee (Melbourne)
The Crows‘ first ever father-son selection at the national draft played all but one game in his first year. By the end of the season, Michalanney almost became the senior figure in the backline as defensive pieces around him kept on succumbing to injury. The 19-year-old ranks in the top 10 among the rising stars this season in key categories such as 10th for effective disposals, fourth for rebound 50s, seventh for contested marks and first for one percenters. He’s proven he can play on a range of different opponents showing his versatility throughout the year.
The mature-aged recruit Young played nearly 20 games in his first season, holding down a key post in the Tigers backline. Often tasked with matching some of the competition‘s biggest and most destructive forwards and rarely looked overawed by the task. Already recontracted by the Tigers for two more seasons, he looms as one of the key posts down back alongside Noah Balta and Josh Gibcus as the new era at Punt Rd sets in.
Tigers deliver in champions’ final game | 01:43
The young Demon didn‘t take long to cement himself as a key cog in Melbourne’s back six with an assured 14 possessions display on debut against the Bulldogs in round 1. McVee ranks first among rising stars this season for intercept possessions and rebound 50s for the season and third for total one-percenters and rebound 50s.
HB: Harry Sheezel (North Melbourne), James Borlase (Adelaide), Alex Cincotta (Carlton)
The young Roo has broken the record for most disposals ever recorded by a first-year player and was the standout winner of the Rising Star award in a stacked field. Sheezel leads all rising stars this season in several key stat categories including effective disposals, metres gained and rebound 50s. He ranks second among rising stars for total contested possession and 15th across the entire competition for disposals. The 18-year-old was the brightest shining light all year for North Melbourne and is poised to be a key plank in a long build back to the top.
Good guy Sheezel wins rising star | 01:52
A contentious pick in this particular side, The Category B rookie had been made to wait a long time for a senior debut and finally got his chance at senior football as the Crows key defenders numbers kept dwindling. But, Borlase has made the most of his opportunity over the last month of the season and has proven to be a one – percenter king, ranking first among all first-year players this season with 7.3 per game. The 21-year-old also ranks fifth among first year players for intercepts possessions, averaging 6.3 spoils per game.
The last man on Carlton‘s list this season, Cincotta has become a key piece of the Blues’ mid-season revival and shapes as an important piece of the Carlton’s push in September. The 26-year-old dasher has impressed with his disposal, link-up and dare from the back half that has seen him play 16 games in his first season in the AFL after years of adversity to get there. He faces some stiff competition in a selection crunch to keep his spot for the finals but having played the last 10 games, he might have just done enough to feature in the Blues first Finals series in a decade.
CENTRELINE
C: Josh Weddle (Hawthorn), George Wardlaw (North Melbourne), Ollie Hollands (Carlton)
JW: The Hawks traded up to snare Weddle on draft night and the youngster wasted little time in repaying the investment the club made in him over his impressive 16 games in his debut season. Never afraid to take the game on, Weddle ranks second among rising stars for bounces and fourth for effective disposals per game. His rise has helped fast track the Hawks rebuild under Sam Mitchell and looms as a key post on a wing for many years to come.
Joey accidentally spoils Greene’s AA nod | 00:41
It‘s only been a short glimpse in an injury interrupted first season for the young on-baller, but Wardlaw certainly made an impression. Already announcing himself as a clearance specialist, ranking first among first year players for clearances per game, the young Roo showed he has an appetite for the tough stuff, ranking second among first year players for tackles this season. A shining light for the Kangaroos who should be one of the early favourites for next year’s Rising Star award.
The boyhood Bluebagger has made the wing position his own in his first year at AFL level. Hollands‘ running power and courage has become a feature of the 19-year-olds game in across his rookie season, averaging 16.9 km’s run per game and ranking sixth among first year players for meters gained per season. Rewarded with a two-year contract extension before the season began and was awarded a rising star nomination following an impressive display against St Kilda in Round 21.
FORWARDS
HF: Bailey Humphrey (Gold Coast), Mattaes Phillipou (St Kilda), Elijah Hewett (West Coast)
Bailey Humphrey didn‘t take long to fill the void of excitement machine left by Izak Rankine in his first year at the Suns. The Gippsland Power product has pledged his future to the Gold Coast till the end of 2028 and is set to excite with his burst, power and creativity in the front half. Humphrey ranks third among rising stars for inside 50s per game and fourth for contested possessions, showing traits that have drawn comparisons with Norm Smith Medallist Christian Petracca in signs that should excite Suns fans and new coach Damien Hardwick.
The prized Saint has played every game in his first season and has showed regular glimpses of his flair and x-factor. Phillipou has scored 13 goals in an often-undermanned St Kilda forward line this season and has impressed coach Ross Lyon at every turn. He‘s demonstrated his toughness, ranking fourth among rising stars for contested possessions for the season and produced many moments to have St Kilda fans salivating over his potential for the future.
One of the young shining lights in a torrid year for the Eagles, Hewett managed to play 14 games in his first year at AFL level after an early injury setback. He ranks sixth among rising stars for clearances per game and eighth among rising stars for contested possessions per game this season.
F: Campbell Chesser (West Coast), Anthony Caminiti (St Kilda), Jaspa Fletcher (Brisbane Lions)
After having his first year cruelled by injury, Chesser started to deliver on his promise in his second year at the Eagles. Making his debut in round 1 and playing 14 games throughout the troubled Eagles season. While he averaged just 11.6 disposals across the year as a half forward, Chesser ran out the season well with a career – high 19 disposals against the Blues in round 19, proving to be one of few shining lights for the Eagles.
The last man on the Saints list became an instant cult figure at Moorabbin with his contested marking and ability to sniff out a goal saw Caminiti have an instant impact on arrival in the AFL. Playing 17 games in his first season and rewarded with a three-year contract mid-year, The 19-year-old kicked 19 goals this season and ranked third among rising stars for tackles inside 50 and fourth for total marks inside 50 among rising stars. He shapes as a key piece for Ross Lyon and the young Saints for years to come.
The second of the Lions prized father-son selections wasted not time making an impression at senior level. Getting his chance at home in round 14, Fletcher‘s stunning goal on the run was a serious first impression. Not afraid to take the game on, Fletcher ranks fifth among rising stars for total bounces per game in 2023. He held his spot for the remainder of the Home And Away season and looms as an important rotation in the front half for the Lions in their push for the premiership.
Kingy examines ‘the finals audit’ | 03:42
FOLLOWERS
Foll: Jacob van Rooyen (Melbourne), Will Ashcroft (Brisbane), Reuben Ginbey (West Coast)
By virtue of no other ruckmen being eligible for selection, Jacob van Rooyen has been shifted to starting ruck in this team. For good reason too! While showing his wares as focal point up forward and a key cog that the Demons will build their forward line around for years to come, the 20- year- old ranks first among rising stars for total hit outs (58) this season, providing relief when the ball is in his area. His 28 goals only trails Kysaiah Pickett and Bayley Fritsch for most goals for the Dees this season, highlighting his productivity.
Gawn blames himself for Grundy axing | 01:30
The hearts of the AFL world collectively sank when Will Ashcroft was helped from the field with a season- ending knee injury ending his hopes of ultimately winning the rising star and featuring in a meaningful finals campaign for the Lions. But what the son of a gun was able to produce this season before succumbing to injury was uber impressive with performances beyond his years.
The prized Eagles youngster established himself as a tackling machine in his first year at AFL level, recording 101, tackles from his 17 games. Ginbey also established himself as a key presence around the ball and a plank in the West Coast engine room for years to come, averaging 13.7 disposals per game playing as an inside midfielder and ranking fifth among rising stars for clearances per game before his season was cut short by a hamstring injury.
INTERCHANGE
IC: James O’Donnell (Western Bulldogs), Noah Long (West Coast), Seamus Mitchell (Hawthorn), Cam Mackenzie (Hawthorn),
The son of a cricketing legend didn‘t take long to get comfortable at AFL level. After completing a code switch, signing as a category B rookie in April, O’Donnell made his AFL debut the next month in the win over Carlton. He impressed the Bulldogs enough to hold his position for the last seven games of the year and sign a fresh two-year contract extension.
Another shining light for the Eagles in a torrid year, Long impressed with 19 games in his first year in what has been a big recruiting win for the Eagles. The 19-year-old ranks 3rd among rising stars in total goal assists and sixth among rising stars for total tackles inside 50. Long hit the scoreboard with seven goals throughout the year and looks set to be a key piece for the Eagles moving forward.
Eagles urged to draft Harley Reid | 00:49
A magnificent story of persistence, Mitchell came back from injury and being delisted to shining at AFL level after breaking through for his senior debut. Often used as an option off the bench for Sam Mitchell, the young Hawk averaged 16.6 disposals across his 14 games this season, ranking seventh among rising stars for effective disposals per game. The youngster showed his class and his fearlessness to take the game on this season ranking third among rising stars for bounces per game and ninth among rising stars for metres gained.
The prized young Hawk was eased into life as and AFL player in his first season, often used as the tactical substitute across his 14 game first season. Mackenzie demonstrated his ability to find the ball and distribute with aplomb, ranking fourth among rising stars for goal assists per game and ninth among rising stars for inside 50s per game. He looms as a key piece for the Hawks as they continue to rise.
