Jack Sinclair (St Kilda)

Sinclair was overlooked at the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, but didn't let it stop him from pursuing an AFL career. He played as an over-ager for the Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup last season, performed well for Port Melbourne in the VFL on a couple of occasions, and proved to St Kilda that he was worth a spot on its list. The first player picked in last year's rookie draft, the small but hard-working midfielder has had a solid pre-season and was impressive against Hawthorn in Thursday night's NAB Challenge thrashing. He gathered 16 disposals (eight contested) and didn't look out of place. – Callum Twomey

James Sicily (Hawthorn)

We might not see a whole lot of Sicily at AFL level in 2015 given Hawthorn's star-studded forward line, but the exciting youngster will get his chance at some stage. Sicily started as one of the Hawks' substitutes against the Saints, but immediately made an impact when he came into the game in the second half by flying for a huge mark. He didn't come down with the ball, but did excite with his natural leap and flair. He's aggressive and tall, and getting stronger, and still has the pace off the mark that made him an eye-catching player at junior level. A senior debut looms. – Callum Twomey

Lauchlan Dalgleish (Essendon)

If Dalgleish had kicked his incredible running goal against Melbourne during the home-and-away season he might have been walking away with the goal of the year award. The 21-year-old showed Rohan Bail a clean pair of heels when he gathered from defensive 50, took four bounces and goaled from 45m in a scintillating passage of play. The young gun, who played all three of his career games in 2013, wasn't finished there, either. He pounced on Jack Viney's cross-goal kick in the dying stages and booted the match-winning goal. Looks a handy type. - Travis King

Dalgleish runs the length of the field and drills it! Highlight frenzy in the second quarter. #NABChallenge Replay: http://t.co/PhzAOzTRaa — AFL (@AFL) March 20, 2015

Aaron vandenBerg (Melbourne)

The mature-age rookie recruit from Ainslie has made an immediate impact since he arrived at Melbourne, so much so that he will come under consideration for a round one debut against Gold Coast, according to coach Paul Roos. VandenBerg (two goals, 14 disposals) lit up Etihad Stadium with his pace and looked a constant threat in attack against Essendon. Standing at 188cm, the 22-year-old compliments a forward line with the height of Chris Dawes, Jesse Hogan, Jack Watts and Sam Frost and the ground-level threat of Jeff Garlett. – Travis King

Demon rookie Aaron vandenBerg could be a chance for a debut in round one. Picture: AFL Media



Touk Miller (Gold Coast)

The 19-year-old Calder Cannons product has been super impressive throughout the pre-season and locked in his round-one berth with another eye-catching display against the Lions. Miller is a defensive terrier as a small forward and showed on Friday night he could add just as much with the attacking side of his game. His 13 disposals included a perfectly weighted pass to Alex Sexton for a goal, and a nice little in-and-away step on Daniel Merrett before kicking a go-ahead goal inside the final five minutes. But Miller's forte is his harassing defensive work, and a team-high six tackles showed again why he is so valuable. – Michael Whiting

James Aish (Brisbane Lions)

After finishing fourth behind winning teammate Lewy Taylor in last year's NAB Rising Star award, Aish has hit the ground running in 2015. The addition of Dayne Beams into the Lions' midfield seems to have slightly changed his role, but not slowed down his production. Last year the young South Australian was forced inside quite often because of the injury woes to the Lions midfield, but during the pre-season, he has got a bit more uncontested ball and been able to use his skills. Aish had 22 disposals against the Suns, 17 uncontested, to follow up the 24 touches against the Sydney Swans in the Lions' previous match. – Michael Whiting

Joel Tippett (North Melbourne)

After piling on six kilograms over the summer, Tippett looks a new player and he gives the Kangaroos backline a new look. Against Richmond, he rotated on the opposition's big forwards all day and took the points against a goalless Ty Vickery after long periods on the 200cm Tiger. Coach Brad Scott needed tall defensive reinforcements in 2015 and the 26-year-old looks like he will provide it after earning promotion off the rookie list. – Nathan Schmook

Kamdyn McIntosh (Richmond)

Entering his third season on the Tigers' list, McIntosh is looking to put a long run of injuries behind him. The 21-year-old has been among the Richmond's top handful of trainers over the pre-season and he showed his supreme running ability against North Melbourne. Repeatedly involved in link-up play, he worked hard to provide an option for teammates in space and showed his poise with a nice goal on the run from 48m. Could have done enough to earn round one selection. – Nathan Schmook

Brad Ebert (Port Adelaide)

The vice-captain is one of Port Adelaide's best players, but he'd be the first to admit his form tapered off last year. He's one of the club's hardest workers on game day and his performance against Adelaide suggested he's ready to return to his best. Ebert only played 70 per cent of the game but still managed to amass 24 possessions, take seven marks, kick a goal and set another up and drive the ball inside 50 seven times. He also managed to collect 116 Fantasy points – not bad from less than three quarters. – Harry Thring

Cam Ellis-Yolmen (Adelaide)

Another superb performance from the big-bodied midfielder has him right in the running for a round one spot – particularly given the uncertainty over Scott Thompson and Brad Crouch. Ellis-Yolmen's stoppage work was brilliant against Port Adelaide and he finished the game with 26 possessions, five tackles and six clearances. If he's able to consistently bring the level of play he's shown against both the Power and Geelong, Ellis-Yolmen's combination of size and speed would be hugely influential for the club in 2015. – Harry Thring

Cam Ellis-Yolmen impressed his coach, and many others, after his game against Port. Picture: AFL Media



Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)

Hard to go past the Bont here. The second-year player exploded out of the blocks for a 15-disposal first quarter, and while he was quietened by Levi Greenwood in the second, he ended with 29 and three goals. It was the sort of performance that prompted Luke Beveridge to concede other teams would be challenged when trying to stop him, with his ability to play both as a powerful goal-kicking forward and through the midfield, and saw more than one commentator ponder how quickly a player could a win a Brownlow Medal. He also laid nine tackles, which showed his willingness to bring a consistent level of intensity when he doesn't have the ball. – Jennifer Phelan

The Bont plays a part in setting up his own goal #NABChallenge http://t.co/ilDKSMI2SH — AFL (@AFL) March 21, 2015

Taylor Adams (Collingwood)

It wasn't a great night for the Magpies, but Adams was a positive. He was the Pies' leading ball winner, just ahead of Steele Sidebottom, and gave them some grunt through the midfield and at the stoppages. While his disposal could improve, he was willing to dig in and win the ball when the Bulldogs upped their intensity and was consistent in doing so across the game. He could also be used in a different type of role in the coming weeks if Greenwood's ankle injury forces Nathan Buckley to find a new player to fill Brent Macaffer's tagging role. – Jennifer Phelan

Josh Kelly (Greater Western Sydney)

He had an excellent debut season and Kelly looks ready to go even better in 2015. The former No.2 draft pick warmed up nicely for the premiership season opener with 24 disposals against the Swans, including 11 contested, and four clearances. Competition for midfield spots has tightened up significantly with the addition of Ryan Griffen, but Kelly's performance was all class and locks him in for the round one match against the Saints. - Michael Whiting

Isaac Heeney (Sydney Swans)

No surprises here. The Swans' academy product again shone at senior level. He had just 12 disposals, but it's the quality that counts, and in a close game, Heeney had a number of memorable touches. He kicked the game's first goal with a thumping set shot from outside 50m, then backed up with a second during the third term when he outmarked Matt Buntine on the lead. Then, with the scores level and just 20 seconds remaining, the 18-year-old coolly floated back and took a contested mark on the wing. He bombed the ball long, Craig Bird roved the crumbs to kick the winning goal. Heeney has now given himself every chance to play round one. - Michael Whiting

On the buzzer! Craig Bird snaps a goal on the siren to give the @sydneyswans a six-point win! #NABChallenge http://t.co/1BLRgB4hUd — AFL (@AFL) March 22, 2015

Patrick Cripps (Carlton)

Cripps stands 193cm, and his size and ability to win both contested and uncontested ball were on display against the Cats. The 20-year-old, who was drafted with pick No. 13 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, managed three senior games last season; a broken leg hampering his chances of breaking into Carlton's line-up on a more consistent basis. Based on Sunday's return of 32 disposals and five clearances, the midfielder will be a key part of Carlton's engine room in 2015. ­– Ben Guthrie

Mitch Duncan (Geelong)

Duncan, 23, is already an established member of Geelong's best 22, and the Cats are hoping he can become one of the competition's elite midfielders in 2015. His first half against the Blues suggested he is well on the way. He faded slightly to finish with 24 disposals, five inside 50s and two goals, but not before reminding why his pace is crucial to the Cats' outside running. His nose for goal doesn't hurt, either, making him a dangerous proposition for opposition teams. – Ben Guthrie

Dom Sheed (West Coast)

The Eagles' first-round pick from the 2013 NAB AFL Draft played 10 matches in his debut season last year, five of them as the starting substitute. The midfielder has added size over the summer but has also increased his endurance, and he produced a good display against Fremantle. He gathered 23 touches in the midfield and used the ball well throughout the day. - Alex Malcolm

Hayden Crozier (Fremantle)

The classy left footer is in his fourth year on the list and looks to have cemented a spot in the Dockers' first-choice 22. Crozier played 11 matches last year including both finals but has improved again during this NAB Challenge. Playing a high half-forward role he has added some defensive pressure to his ball-winning ability and smart goal sense. He gathered 10 possessions against the Eagles and kicked a goal before coming off early in the final term with a right ankle problem. - Alex Malcolm