Key Hawk flies to the front as three new names enter the mix: Recruit of the Year Power Rankings – Round 2

There have been a number of changes to Zero Hanger's Recruit of the Year Power Rankings after Round 2 of the AFL season, with the impact of the off-season trade period apparent for a number of premiership contenders.

One Hawk's performance has seen him leap into the lead, while a Saint has produced another superstar performance in the midfield to assert himself onto the podium.

So, who's making the most impact in their new colours? Welcome to the weekly ranking of the Recruit of the Year contenders for 2025, with Round 2 giving us plenty to consider.

Selection criteria: Only players who were on an AFL playing list at a different club in the prior season will be considered as recruits in these rankings.

Liam Baker (NEW)

Liam Baker immediately became one of the Eagles' best when he first donned the blue and gold guernsey in Round 1, producing 10 rebound 50s from 21 disposals, but that inspiring effort was overlooked by many due to the appalling fallout of that match for West Coast.

However, it's time to stop taking his play lightly. Baker's impact was unmissable in the Eagles' early ambush of the Lions at their flag unfurling. While West Coast ultimately fell just shy of the upset, Baker was heavily involved in maintaining a competitive game, finishing with 25 disposals and creating four inside 50s from halfback and midfield. Only Richmond's Tim Taranto's 18 defensive pressure acts outdid Baker's 17, and his seven tackles are the third-highest tally of his career.

The value of the winning experience he brings from the Richmond dynasty days is already proving to be vital for this rebuilding Eagles side, who were facing immense scrutiny if this became another devastating blowout.

His leadership on this inexperienced team will be something to watch as the season progresses.

Matthew Kennedy (NEW)

The Bulldogs lost a lot of talent over the summer, but Matthew Kennedy has quietly emerged as an elite pickup.

Through two games, he's averaging 22 disposals - the most since his career-best 2022 season - and is attending the majority of centre bounces.

The Dogs will surely be loving his effectiveness with ball in hand too, especially considering the quality of his opposition in the midfield through the first two rounds.

Defensively, his intensity has been elite, ranking in the Dogs' best for pressure acts and tackles. With another stacked midfield group awaiting the Western Bulldogs this Friday night, headlined by the Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps, Kennedy's services will once again need to be at his best when he comes up against his old side.

When Marcus Bontempelli returns, it will be intriguing to see if Kennedy's role changes much, but for now, Kennedy has been much more than a serviceable figure in the middle during 'Bont's absence, and that's really all the Bulldogs can ask for.

Alex Neal-Bullen (NEW)

Adelaide have been red-hot to open their 2025 campaign. What certainly has helped their early attacking dominance is the seamless transition of their recruits, most notably Alex Neal-Bullen.

Neal-Bullen's impact has been solid in 2025 as he represents the city he grew up in. He impressed during Saturday's clash with Essendon, collecting 18 disposals and scoring two goals.

He found space well across the MCG as the Bombers struggled to match the Crows' work rate, leaving the ground with 13 uncontested possessions.

Neal-Bullen was a bit of a streaky goal scorer during his days with the Demons, but amongst a group that has the elite scoring rate of the Crows, he's bound to find more success and that was evident on Saturday afternoon.

Time will tell if the Crows can maintain this success against a top eight side, but the early signs are promising, especially when looking at the early play of Neal-Bullen.

Daniel Houston (-2)

Dan Houston has taken a small fall in the rankings after a quieter performance against the Bulldogs on Friday night compared to what was seen in Round 1.

However, almost all of his 15 disposals were impactful for the Magpies, using the ball at 87% efficiency. He also kicked a goal in the second quarter, one of his four score involvements for the match.

What should excite Collingwood fans the most is the depth of their midfield with Houston in the lineup. Yes, he didn't necessarily win the ball this week like he did against Port Adelaide, but he didn't need to with Nick Daicos back at his absolute best.

When Houston got the ball, he rarely made errors and in momentum-swinging, back-and-forth affairs like Friday's game turned out to be, that was important.

Bailey Smith (-3)

Despite not playing in Round 2, Bailey Smith's impact on Geelong is still recognisable.

Geelong's midfield was completely outclassed by St Kilda on Saturday night without him and looked nothing like their ambitious selves that competed strongly with an elite Dockers group the week prior.

The Cats sorely missed Smith's efforts around the stoppage, where he won a game-high six clearances from stoppage in Round 1. Without him, they lost this statistic by eight, 31-23.

His impact by foot was also needed, as until the final quarter, the Cats struggled mightily to hit targets, forcing them to play a lot of contested footy, ultimately finishing the game with just 174 uncontested possessions, the lowest from a team this season.

With Brisbane on the cards, Geelong fans will be eager to see him return, as the Lions rank fourth in the AFL for stoppage clearances.

Dangerfield should not have the burden to carry the Cats midfield anymore, and while there's a lot of pressure on the Cats' youth to step up from here on out, Smith's ability to ease that burden with his skillset is undeniable.

Tom Barrass (-1)

The Hawks stifling defence was on full display once more on Thursday night, even without Jack Scrimshaw due to suspension.

Barrass' importance to this factor was evident, roaming around the defensive 50 to create a handful of intercept marks and spoils.

It was a less eventful game for Barrass than what was seen in Round 1, hence his slight drop in these power rankings, but considering he didn't lose a defensive one-on-one, his rock-solid labour must be recognised.

The Hawks' back six is dynamic in nature and bats deep, but arguably Barrass' addition to it in 2025 has elevated them into elite territory almost more than anything else.

Jack Macrae (+2)

St Kilda's continued win streak over Geelong at Marvel Stadium was a collective effort, but at the centre of it all was the poised Jack Macrae.

He relentlessly punished the Cats' complete lack of ball pressure around the contest, winning five centre clearances and a further four from stoppages. His 35 disposals at an unfathomable efficiency of 83% put him in a class above anyone else on the field, involved in 10 of St Kilda's scores.

Macrae was also ruthless in defence for St Kilda, playing a key role in the shutdown of Geelong's attack for the first three quarters. He laid 10 tackles on Saturday night, won two free kicks and made four intercepts as Ross Lyon's defensive vision was executed to near-perfection.

In what was another positive, Macrae was not left hanging by his teammates like he was in Round 1, giving the Saints army clarity on what his true impact could look like.

The Saints have been an unpredictable side to face for a few seasons now, but it's not crazy to suggest that Macrae's dominance in the midfield will likely be a constant in 2025.

Josh Battle (+7)

Hawthorn's defence stands out in their three gritty wins to begin the season - and it's had to.

The Hawks have struggled in the middle in their past two games, losing the clearance battle by an average of 15.5 in those matches. This has meant their backline has been crucial in not just preventing scores, but also generating attacks out of the back half.

No player has been better at that than Josh Battle.

Last week, Battle generated 10 rebound 50s and delivered another five against Carlton on Thursday night. However, in addition to those, he also created four inside 50s and had four score involvements.

He has pronounced himself as one of the best kicks in the competition; 18 of his 21 disposals on Thursday were effective. His Round 2 performance was also his best in air-combat, with a season-high six spoils to go along with five marks while holding Carlton spearhead and 2023 Coleman Medal winner Charlie Curnow to just five disposals and zero shots at goal. It was a complete effort that has been rightfully lauded by fans and media alike.

The Hawks have some areas to work on if they're truly going to set themselves apart from other premiership contenders, but their backline has done wonders in securing all 12 available premiership points so far.

Battle's efforts in that mix cannot fly under the radar any longer.