There’s never a shortage of hype around new recruits in the off-season, but once the campaign proper is underway, it’s time to justify it on the park.
Two months into the season, we’ve gotten a fair indicator of which names have fired at their new clubs — and which have left a bit to be desired in the early going.
With help from Champion Data, Foxfooty.com.au makes an early call on 24 off-season trade and free agency recruits based on the first eight rounds of the season.
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Josh Battle, Hawthorn: A
Like fellow marquee recruit Tom Barrass, Battle has warmed into his tenure at Waverley Park, but the Hawks are already seeing dividends; sitting second in the competition for defending ball movement. Battle is the 11th-rated key defender in the competition this season — having played eight of eight possible games thus far — and while he sits outside the top-150 rated players in the competition after finishing 63rd last year, the gun interceptor rates elite for disposals, uncontested possessions and metres gained. Further, he’s won 43 per cent of the one-on-one contests he’s faced this season, ranking 10th in the top 50 players for contests defended. The Hawks are paying Battle big bucks, but he’s already proving he’s worth them.
Harry Perryman, Collingwood: B
There was no secret Perryman wanted to play more time in the midfield in moving to Collingwood — and he got his wish across the opening month of the season, playing 62 per cent of time in the guts compared with 38 per cent in defence. However, the script has curiously flipped in the past month. Through the past four matches, Perryman has spent a lopsided 98 per cent game-time in defence. It corresponds with the full-time move of emerging ball-getter Ned Long into the engine room after the 22-year-old spent three of his first four games this season as the starting sub. It’s an intriguing switch-up, but the recipe is clearly working for Fly’s Pies. Perryman, though, had one of his better games as a Magpie last weekend, notching 17 disposals, five intercept marks, 11 intercept possessions and six score involvements. But understandably, playing more in defence, the former GWS utility isn’t having as much impact on games. After ranking 42nd in 2023 and 130th in 2024 for impact, he’s currently ranking a lowly 217th. And given they’re thought to be paying the 26-year-old around $900,000 per year, it’d be fair to hope for a bit more week-to-week impact.
Nick Haynes, Carlton: B
Haynes, in his own words, started the season in “rusty” fashion but has since come on in his Carlton tenure and is a key structural cog in Michael Voss’ defensive setup. Across the past six rounds, Haynes is the No.82 rated player in the competition as the Blues found a bit of a groove. In the past fortnight, Haynes has managed his best two games for the club, averaging 18 disposals, six intercept marks and 8.5 intercept possessions to complement the aerial presence of Jacob Weitering and Mitch McGovern. Promisingly, the 32-year-old has played in all eight Carlton games thus far, already matching the eight total senior matches he played in his final Giants season. There are areas of improvement, however, with Haynes’ 1.0 tackle and 6.3 pressure acts per game considered below average for general defenders.
Isaac Cumming, Adelaide Crows: B
The ex-Giants speedster is currently the 22nd-rated wingman in the competition, rating elite for score assists and above average for score involvements among fellow wingmen. A wise user with ball in hand, Cumming is playing a key role in Adelaide’s linking chains, with the Crows currently sitting fifth in the league for defensive half-to-score rate. The 26-year-old has played in all eight games thus far, already eclipsing the six he managed last year — crucially remaining available after battling multiple soft-tissue injuries in recent seasons. He’s not breaking games apart, but he’s a weekly contributor to a side expected to play in September.
Alex Neal-Bullen, Adelaide Crows: A
The hard-working half-forward is having a tremendous impact at his new club, having been the 20th-rated player in the competition over the past six rounds. The former Demon’s tenacious pressure around the contest is paying dividends for Adelaide’s forward-half game, with the Crows currently first in the competition for points from turnover. Neal-Bullen rates elite for disposals, uncontested possessions and forward-half pressure among general forwards this year. A highly-valued linking chain forward-of-centre during his Melbourne days, the Crows are already maximising the 29-year-old’s best traits.
Jack Darling, North Melbourne: B-
The long-time West Coast forward wasn’t brought across to Arden Street to be a goalscoring force this late in his career — but he’s made the most of his limited opportunities, kicking seven goals from 10 shots this season — playing in all eight North Melbourne game this season — and he’s presenting a solid decoy for All-Australian spearhead Nick Larkey as the Roos are 12th for scoring. Currently, Darling is the 20th-rated key forward in the competition; bringing the ball to ground and managing an above-average 5.9 contested possessions per game. This is about the best he could be graded given his tangible output.
Jack Graham, West Coast Eagles: B
The ex-Richmond hard nut is currently ranked No.4 among all players in the competition for pressure points this season, having brought intensity to the contest all throughout his career. He also rates above average for disposals, uncontested possessions and inside-50s. Graham has clearly been a welcome addition in terms of bringing a contested ball mindset, but it’s hard to genuinely stand out in this struggling Eagles side — and one that currently concedes the most clearances per game in the competition. The 27-year-old has played all but one West Coast game this year and is averaging an elite 8.0 tackles per game, but he’ll look to improve his scoring output — he’s yet to kick a goal in Eagles colours and has managed a below-average 0.6 shots at goal per game.
Liam Baker, West Coast Eagles: B-
Another ex-Tiger in his first year as an Eagle, Baker has always had the capability to play multiple positions — and that flexibility has again been called upon in 2025. Between Rounds 1-5, Baker played 61 per cent in the midfield, 29 per cent in defence and 10 per cent up forward. But given the Eagles’ evident instability behind the ball, first-year senior coach Andrew McQualter has called on the 27-year-old’s experience and deployed the dual premiership player in defence for 90 per cent of the time between Rounds 6-8. But in terms of output, Baker hasn’t reached the levels he has in past seasons — having been a top-100-rated player in four of the past five years — currently rating 230th in the competition. He does, however, still rate above average for disposals, metres gained and intercept possessions among general defenders.
Matt Owies, West Coast Eagles: C
It’s been a considerable fall from grace in terms of scoring output for Owies, who kicked 33 goals in 23 games in his final season at Carlton but has managed just four majors through eight matches in 2025. He’s had less looks at the sticks, regressing from 2.6 shots at goal per game to 1.3. He’s also generally had a poorly-rated start to the year. He is, however, making an impact on the defensive side of the ball, ranking eighth among general forwards for forward-half pressure acts. He’s also recorded at least one score assist in six of eight performances this season, so it’s not as if he’s having zero offensive impact. West Coast didn’t pay a massive price for the 80-gamer, but it’d be hoping for a bit more impact out of the 28-year-old, who’s played in all eight games thus far.
Dan Houston, Collingwood: B+
Houston missed three matches due to suspension, but his presence both aerially and as a precise ball-user has been felt in Collingwood’s defensive half. The dual All-Australian rates above average for disposals and uncontested possessions among general defenders, with the Pies currently third in the competition for defensive half-to-score rate. The 27-year-old is averaging 4.8 score involvements from defence; a figure that is classed as above average and just a touch below elite standards. Missing three consecutive matches was a disruption, and if not for the fact Collingwood paid a steep trade price for the former Power rebounder, this grade might’ve been higher.
Joe Richards, Port Adelaide: B+
An underrated acquisition given some of the higher-profile names in this list — and given the modest price of acquisition — Richards has averaged 16 disposals and five score involvements in the past six rounds to rank in the top-100-rated players in the competition across this period of time. The ex-Magpie livewire rates above average for disposals, marks, score involvements and tackles among general forwards, adding another valuable layer to a top-eight forward-half scoring side.
John Noble, Gold Coast Suns: A
Partnering with fellow Gold Coast recruit Daniel Rioli across Damien Hardwick’s half-backline, Noble is currently rated 136th among all players in the competition this season — currently his best return across his entire career. The ex-Collingwood rebounder is one of only five general defenders to rate elite for disposals, uncontested possessions and metres gained. He’s not been at Carrara long but is already one of the side’s most trusted back-half users — the fourth-placed Suns are currently third for ball movement, and he’s a big part of the reason why.
Harry Sharp, Melbourne: C
Sharp has certainly added speed on the flanks since arriving at Melbourne, currently rating 55th among general forwards in the competition. It’s been difficult to holistically judge the ex-Lion’s impact given he’s been either subbed off or the activated sub in each of his past five games, but he’s appeared in all eight Melbourne games thus far.
Shai Bolton, Fremantle: A-
The two-time premiership Tiger was always touted to play a majority high-half-forward role at the Dockers, and he’s been influential in that role — rating elite for disposals, uncontested possessions and score involvements among general forwards this season. But when he’s been deployed by coach Justin Longmuir as a pure midfielder, he’s wreaked unmatched havoc; the No.1 rated midfielder in the competition over the past six rounds in a shining sign of his impact when roaming purely in the guts.
Daniel Rioli, Gold Coast Suns: A+
Like John Noble, Rioli has had exactly the kind of impact the Suns were hoping he would across half-back. The former Richmond rebounder is the 39th-rated player in the competition this season and rates 12th among general defenders. The speedy 28-year-old also rates above average for disposals, uncontested possessions, metres gained and pressure points, exemplifying why Gold Coast opted to pay a premium trade price for the triple flag-winner. And like Noble, Rioli is another reason Hardwick’s Suns are third for ball movement, as well as the best chain-to-score outfit in the competition.
James Peatling, Adelaide Crows: B+
The third of three classy off-season additions for the Crows, Peatling is currently the No.5 rated general forward in the competition. But the former GWS utility has just about split his time between forward and midfield — playing 52 per cent forward of the ball and 48 per cent as a pure ball-getter through the middle of the ground. Either way, like Neal-Bullen and Cumming, Peatling is having an early impact at West Lakes.
Caleb Daniel, North Melbourne: B
One of a few experienced heads North Melbourne welcomed in the off-season, Daniel has offered composed decision-making and is in most cases the preferred ball user exiting the Roos’ defensive 50. The ex-Bulldog rates elite for disposals, uncontested possessions and above average for metres gained among all general defenders this season. In the past six rounds, Daniel has snuck into the top-150-rated players across the competition, averaging 27 disposals — up 12.8 from last season — 16 uncontested possessions and 420 metres gained. Not every kick has been perfect, but the 28-year-old is still averaging a career-best 21.8 effective disposals per game.
Luke Parker, North Melbourne: A
The former Sydney captain has been the best of the Kangaroos’ 2024 recruits, providing a calming midfield influence and characteristic ferocity at the contest. Parker has probably played more pure midfield time than most would’ve expected of the 32-year-old, currently 75 per cent in the middle and 25 per cent forward of the ball. In doing so, the veteran hard nut has hit 20+ disposals in every game so far this season, aiding the likes of Luke Davies-Uniacke, George Wardlaw, Tom Powell and co. as the Kangaroos go from strength to strength in terms of their stoppage prowess — they’re the second-best stoppage scoring team in the AFL.
Jacob Konstanty, North Melbourne: B
The small forward, who went two years untried at the Swans after being a first-round pick, has quietly made a positive impact in his short time at Arden Street, ranking No.7 at North Melbourne for scoreboard impact thus far this season.
Tom Barrass, Hawthorn: A
Like his running mate Josh Battle, Barrass has built into his maiden Hawthorn campaign, since Round 3 ranking seventh for intercept marks across the competition, averaging three. The former West Coast stopper had his best game as a Hawk last weekend against Richmond — he was the No.4 rated player on the ground, recording 14 disposals, three intercept marks, seven intercepts and seven spoils in his highest rated performance of 2025. Barrass, over the past six rounds, sits just outside the top-100-rated players in the competition. Another who cost a considerable amount to lure, but there’s very little doubt over the 29-year-old’s ability to produce in the long run for the flag-contending Hawks.
Bailey Smith, Geelong: A+
There was plenty of external uncertainty around Smith coming off his ACL injury at the end of his Bulldogs tenure, but he’s absolutely blitzed it in the infancy of his Geelong journey. He’s currently averaging career-highs of 30 disposals, 11 contested possessions, five clearances and five tackles. The exciting midfielder is presently the 16th-rated player in the competition this season — an especially astonishing early feet given he’s only managed two seasons rated inside the top 100 across his career. Right now, the first-round price to bring him over is looking like massive unders.
Jack Macrae, St Kilda: A+
He’s not the superstar long-term gamebreaker the Saints have been desperately clamouring for, but Macrae has brought a hardness and ball-winning capability previously lacking in this engine room, with Ross Lyon’s side currently unmatched for groundball gets. The veteran stoppage master became only the fifth St Kilda player to record 35+ disposals, 20+ contested possessions and 10+ clearances in a game, doing so in last Friday’s comprehensive belting of Fremantle. He also broke the record for the most contested possessions (25) in a game for St Kilda since 1999. Macrae is currently the 55th-rated player across the competition. Not too shabby for Pick 45.
Matthew Kennedy, Western Bulldogs: A+
Kennedy’s arrival at the Kennel cost the Bulldogs just Pick 38, and the former Carlton utility is currently the 24th-rated player in the competition this season. He’s averaging the third-most clearances in the league — with his 7.3 per game up massively from just 2.1 in 2024 — and while his engine room role might progressively lessen given the recent returns of Marcus Bontempelli and Adam Treloar, the layer of depth he adds will be invaluable come finals time, assuming the Dogs qualify. Right now, the 28-year-old rates above average for inside-50s, groundball gets and pressure points among all midfielders.
Jake Stringer, GWS Giants: C
It hasn’t been the start to his maiden GWS season Stringer was hoping for, in the pre-season having to overcome a hamstring injury before battling an early form slump. The former Essendon goalsneak has recorded a shot-at-goal accuracy of just 30 per cent this season — the lowest of the top-50 players for shots across the competition. Stringer was relegated to sub duties for last weekend’s Swans derby, but when he came on he was impactful with three goals. In more positive signs, he’s averaging the second-most forward-50 groundballs of any general forward in the competition, and he rates above average for forward-50 marks, goals and score involvements among general forwards.