AFL 2023: How all the first gamers performed in the opening round
There were some star first-gamers in round 1 that have nailed down a spot in their respective sides, but there were also some who struggled. We predict who will and won’t play round 2.
The kids are alright.
Over the course of the opening round of the 2023 season, we saw 15 players don their side’s colours in an AFL match for the first time.
Harry Sheezel was the pick of the bunch, with his 34-disposal performance lifting Clarko’s Roos to a tight win over the Eagles.
It was West Coast who had the most debutants of the round with three, as 10 different clubs blooded at least one first gamer in round 1.
ADELAIDE
MAX MICHALANNEY
Minutes: 79 per cent time on ground.
Played: Defence.
Champion Data round 1 ranking points: 62 (team rank 12th)
Key stats: Michalanney had 12 disposals, six intercept possessions (team rank 3rd) and three intercept marks (team rank 1st) against GWS.
What they said: “Really pleased with Max. We were under pressure and I think he shows that he has got a well-rounded game for a such a young key defender, really. He comes in and can play tall and small. I thought he was solid today, I thought he played really well for us and we were definitely under pressure throughout that second half and I thought he was one that really stood up,” - Crows coach Matthew Nicks.
Round 2 prediction: Didn‘t look out of place and should get a good run at it
BRISBANE LIONS
WILL ASHCROFT
Minutes: 81 per cent time on ground
Played: Midfield (67 per cent), forward (28 per cent), wing (five per cent)
Champion Data round 1 ranking points: 55 (team rank 11th)
Key stats: Ashcroft was ranked second at the Lions for his seven groundball gets; third for his four clearances and fourth for his eight contested possessions. He also had 13 disposals in the loss to Port Adelaide.
Round 2 prediction: Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has called for a swift response from his midfield stars after they “got cleaned up” against the Power, but the prized draftee is unlikely to be a casualty.
CARLTON
OLLIE HOLLANDS
Minutes: 81 per cent game time
Played: Wing
Champion Data round 1 ranking points: 57 (team rank 16th)
Key stats: Hollands was ranked third at the Blues (39.6) for pressure points in the draw against Richmond. He had 11 disposals and eight uncontested possessions.
Round 2 prediction: There’s a spot there for him but could face pressure from fellow winger Lochie O’Brien. Think he’ll hold his place in the starting 22
LACHIE COWAN
Minutes: 53 per cent game time
Played: Defence
Champion Data round 1 ranking points: 40 (team rank 19th)
Key stats: Cowan was ranked fifth at the Blues for his six intercept possessions against the Tigers and fourth for his two intercept marks. He also had eight disposals.
What they said: “I was really impressed with them (Hollands and Cowan). When you throw two debutants and you’re aware as a coach what you’re throwing them into - you’re throwing them into 88,000 at the MCG round one, the hype surrounding it, but we really love their demeanour and we love how measured they both are. We see how are they going and how they stack up against people that they’re competing against and we really like what we saw. There were some nice moments of composure and big contest moments that they just stood tall,” - Carlton coach Michael Voss.
Round 2 prediction: Only played a half of footy and could be a sub option for the Blues.
ESSENDON
ALWYN DAVEY JNR
Minutes: 78 per cent time on ground
Played: Forward
Champion Data round 1 ranking points: 58 (team rank 20th)
Key stats: Davey Jnr was ranked second at the Bombers for forward half pressure points (25.6) against Hawthorn and was ranked fifth in the team for inside 50s (five). He also had one goal, nine disposals and five marks in his debut.
What they said: “There’s quite rightly a lot of talk about (Brisbane’s) Will Ashcroft and (North Melbourne’s) Harry Sheezel, but I think if you talk about those guys at Vic Metro, they loved playing with Alwyn Davey,” - Essendon coach Brad Scott said.
“It’s hard not to get excited about Jayden (Davey), we’ll take a long-term approach with him as well (in his ACL recovery), but both Jayden and Alwyn have brought great energy and excitement to our club.”
Round 2 prediction: Was a spark in the Bombers forward line and they need the pressure so expect to see more of him.
GOLD COAST
BODHI UWLAND
Minutes: 79 per cent game time
Played: Defence
Champion Data round 1 ranking points: 59 (team rank 12th)
Key stats: Uwland was ranked second among the Suns for his nine intercept possessions against the Swans and fourth in the team for his 380m gained. He also had 20 disposals and nine uncontested possessions.
Round 2 prediction: The Suns have Brandon Ellis and Lachie Weller in the wings but he was very impressive in his first outing. Should hold his spot on that performance alone.
HAWTHORN
CAM MACKENZIE
Minutes: 80 per cent game time
Played: Forward (44 per cent), midfield (40 per cent), wing (16 per cent)
Champion Data round 1 ranking points: 93 (team rank 5th)
Key stats: Mackenzie was ranked second at the Hawks for his seven score involvements and third in the team for his nine contested possessions. He also had 18 disposals in his AFL debut against Essendon.
What they said: “I thought ‘Frenchie’ (Mackenzie) had a first game where he stood up and did a few pretty special things,” - Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said.
“Cam has certainly got a bit of composure about him, he does some really nice things with the ball. He is still learning the game and has got some off the ball stuff that he has to work on, but I think if you’re playing your first game and you have that level of composure and level of understanding …you get that from a first gamer it bodes well for the future for the young man.”
Round 2 prediction: Absolute lock after being a shining light in the Hawks loss.
MELBOURNE
JUDD MCVEE
Minutes: 73 per cent game time
Played: Defence (95 per cent), forward (five per cent)
Champion Data round 1 ranking points: 50 (team rank 19th)
Key stats: McVee was ranked fourth at the Demons for handball receives (eight) and also had 14 disposals and 11 uncontested possessions in his AFL debut against the Western Bulldogs.
Round 2 prediction: The selection crunch will be on for the Dees with a suite of players set to come back. He might be an unlucky omission.
BAILEY LAURIE
Minutes: 47 per cent time on ground
Played: Forward (89 per cent), midfield (nine per cent), wing (two per cent).
Champion Data round 1 ranking points: 21 (team rank 22nd)
Key stats: Laurie had four disposals and two score involvements in his debut.
What they said: “Judd McVee’s performance tonight in his first game, he is just a quality player that is getting better and better and Bailey Laurie, both guys had impact in the game in a variety of different ways and that puts pressure (on selection), but it’s a healthy pressure to have,” - Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin.
Round 2 prediction: While the first-gamers impressed coach Goodwin, there could be a selection squeeze on with Bayley Fritsch (foot), Christian Salem (thyroid), Jack Viney (knee) and Steven May (calf) all in line to return against Brisbane.
NORTH MELBOURNE
HARRY SHEEZEL
Minutes: 86 per cent game time
Played: Defence
Champion Data round 1 ranking: 114 (team rank 2nd)
Key stats: In a standout debut, Sheezel was ranked first among the Kangaroos for disposals (34), uncontested possessions (21) and marks (nine). He was also ranked second in the team for metres gained (631m).
What they said: “He is a pretty special talent for us. We are not really sure where he is going to settle long term for us,” - Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson said.
“We have really lacked some polish in our back-half ….and even at different stages (against West Coast) despite his good play, we still couldn’t get the ball out of our back half as well as we would have liked. But he did give us a bit of that class.”
Round 2 prediction: Safe as houses.
ST KILDA
MATTAES PHILLIPOU
Minutes: 74 per cent game time
Played: Forward (94 per cent), wing (six per cent)
Champion Data round 1 ranking points: 78 (team rank 9th)
Key stats: Phillipou had the top ranking for kicking efficiency at the Saints against the Dockers (100 per cent). He was ranked second in the team for score involvements (six) and also had one goal, 16 disposals and eight contested possessions.
Round 2 prediction: Absolute lock. He’s got talent and the Saints aren’t flushed with depth at the moment.
ANTHONY CAMINITI
Minutes: 84 per cent game time
Played: Forward
Champion Data round 1 ranking points: 34 (team rank 21st)
Key stats: Caminiti was ranked third at the Saints in his debut against the Dockers for forward 50 ground ball gets (two). He also had nine disposals and seven contested possessions.
Round 2 prediction: With St Kilda coach Ross Lyon commending his makeshift forward line and the Saints unlikely to get any injured players back for round two, Caminiti is expected to be back for a crack at the Western Bulldogs.
WEST COAST EAGLES
CAMPBELL CHESSER
Minutes: 69 per cent game time
Played: Wing (89 per cent), forward (eight per cent), defence (three per cent)
Champion Data round 1 ranking points: 20 (team rank 21st)
Key stats: Chesser had five disposals, three marks and two tackles in his debut.
Round 2 prediction: The watch is on Elliot Yeo who might squeeze him out when he’s available.
REUBEN GINBEY
Minutes: 72 per cent time on ground
Played: Midfield (89 per cent), defence (seven per cent), forward (four per cent)
Champion Data round 1 ranking points: 85 (team rank eighth)
Key stats: Ginbey was ranked first among the Eagles for pressure points (84.3) and tackles (12). He also had 15 disposals and seven contested possessions, a team ranking of third.
What they said: “We have some young players through the midfield, Chesser and Reuben, and I thought as the game went on …. they all did something and it’s ‘OK, there’s something there. I think Reuben had about 12 or 13 tackles. There is something there to work with,” - West Coast coach Adam Simpson.
Round 2 prediction: Absolute lock. Showed he’s more than capable at AFL level.
NOAH LONG
Minutes: 67 per cent game time
Played: Forward
Champion Data round 1 ranking points: 63 (team rank 15th)
Key stats: Long was ranked second among the Eagles for forward 50 groundball gets (three) and sixth for forward half pressure points (23.8). He also had one goal and 10 disposals.
Round 2 prediction: There’s a spot for him in the small forward role and he showed what he can do.
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