THE rise of Michael Luxford has continued, with the Cats on Wednesday deciding to elevate the former basketballer from their rookie list to their senior list.

He has replaced small forward Lincoln McCarthy, who has been ruled out for the season with a foot problem, on the club’s senior list.

"We've been really impressed with Michael Luxford's improvement," Chris Scott said on Tuesday on Tweet The Coach.

"Bit similar to Mark Blicavs, in a way, although we're setting a pretty high standard there.

"His physical attributes are helping him, but his understanding of the game and his work-rate and his ability to take on knowledge has been the thing that we've been most impressed with.

"So he's competing with a number of guys for that mid-sized, quick forward position ... right at the moment he is pushing his case."

Read Angus Kramer's feature on Michael Luxford

Luxford was recruited as a Category B rookie (he had never played an official footy game at any level before) prior to the 2014 season.

He played 17 games in the VFL last year, spending most of his time in the forward line.

But after slimming down during the lead-up to this season, he has moved into the midfield with great effect.

Last weekend he tallied a team-high 21 disposals in the Cats’ narrow VFL loss to Port Melebourne.

Luxford, who stands 187cm, is now eligible to make his AFL debut as early as Sunday’s clash with West Coast in Perth.

"Over the last month or so in the VFL he would be close to our most consistent player," Scott said. "So he's getting closer.

"It would be nice to have another player from a non-tradition background make it for the Cats in the AFL."