The 2008 season was the 112th completed season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest-level Australian rules football competition in Australia. There were 84 players who first participated in an AFL premiership match during the 2008 season. The regular season commenced on 20 March and concluded with the AFL Grand Final on 27 September, where the premiership was won by Hawthorn. This year celebrated the 150th anniversary of the establishment of Australian football as a sport in 1858.

The premiership season is inclusive of home-and-away and finals series matches only, and does not include pre-season matches or representative games (such as State of Origin or International rules football). Of those making their AFL debut, there were 17 rookie-listed players who were elevated to their clubs' senior list during the season. Rookie players receive a reduced salary in comparison to senior-listed players, and are not necessarily automatically eligible for selection in games, unless they are elevated.

In addition to those players making their debuts, there were 25 players who played their first game with a new AFL club after previously having played with another club in the league. Notably, former West Coast captain Chris Judd played his first game for Carlton in the first round of the season, after being traded in the preceding off-season. Cyril Rioli played every game for Hawthorn in the 2008 season, playing a total of 25 games (including the Grand Final)—the most of any debut player that year. Jack Anthony scored the most goals out of first-year players in 2008, attaining 25 goals in his 12 matches.

Summary

+ Summary of debuts in 2008ClubAFL debutsChange of club 6 2 7 1 6 2 5 1 8 0 4 2 3 0 5 1 7 0 6 2 6 0 1 3 4 5 6 2 8 1 2 3 Total 84 25

Debuts + Table headers and key Age Player's age as of debut Round Round when player's first premiership match occurred Games The number of games played in 2008 Goals The number of goals scored in 2008 † Denotes player who was elevated from club's rookie list

+ Table of AFL debuts, with appearance detailsNameClubAgeGamesGoals1 5 4 11 1 6 1 23 4 21 8 10 0 19 4 19 17 19 12 25 24 † 9 6 2 0 6 0 2 8 3 15 5 9 1 17 10 20 10 7 4 21 3 3 9 2 20 13 † 18 24 12 25 4 5 2 3 2 7 1 5 † 2 1 5 2 3 1 6 † 12 4 † 3 0 13 4 4 0 2 0 7 † 1 1 1 0 2 0 † 5 2 3 0 8 1 8 15 9 † 11 4 † 3 0 † 9 3 9 8 0 † 14 1 3 0 8 0 10 9 2 14 0 11 3 0 4 0 6 2 12 2 0 8 0 13 4 0 † 13 3 1 0 6 1 14 8 0 3 1 15 3 2 16 7 1 † 2 1 17 5 2 18 † 2 1 1 0 6 9 3 0 † 2 3 19 2 0 6 5 6 3 † 4 2 20 3 3 2 0 2 0 21 2 0 2 1 † 2 0 22 1 0 1 0 1 0

Change of clubs + Table headers and key Round Round when player's first premiership match occurred Games The number of games played in 2008 Goals The number of goals scored in 2008 Previousclub(s) Player's previous AFL clubs, with the yearspan of their appearances † Denotes player who was elevated from club's rookie listPlayers are only included if they previously played a match with another AFL club.

+ Table of players, with appearance detailsNameClubGamesGoalsPrevious club(s)1 15 7 (1997–2006) 12 9 (2002–2007) 9 1 (1997–2006) 6 2 (2001–2007) 23 2 (2004–2007) 14 8 (1999–2007) 18 17 (1998–2007) 21 15 (2002–2007) 22 5 (1996–2007) 24 4 (2002–2007) 22 6 (2001–2007) 22 2 (2002–2007) 19 28 (2003–2007) 16 2 (2004–2007) 24 43 (1996–1999) (2000–2007) 13 6 (2005–2007) 2 15 1 (2003–2006) 3 17 35 (2005–2007) 4 19 3 (2005–2007) 6 7 7 (2006–2007) 7 11 10 (2003–2007) 8 9 12 (2004–2007) 11 2 0 (2005–2006) 16 7 6 (2006–2007) 20 † 2 1 (2005–2006)

See also 2008 AFL season

References

Bibliography