Through the likes of the trade and free agency periods, 34 players found new homes ahead of the 2024 season.
Of those who traded in for new club colours, four are yet to debut for their new club: Tom Doedee (Brisbane), Tom Fullarton (Melbourne), Joel Hamling (Sydney) and Matthew Flynn (West Coast).
Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney were the most active in the off-season, bringing a quartet of players into their respective clubs.
Melbourne and North Melbourne brought in three while Fremantle, Geelong, Gold Coast and GWS went to the draft instead.
Nearing the halfway mark of the 2024 season, it begs the question, which recruit has had the most impact?
Is it Ben McKay in defence for the Bombers, who currently sit second on the AFL ladder?
Has the acquisition of Brodie Grundy catapulted the Swans to the premiership that has eluded the club in 2014, 2016 and 2022?
Or is the controversial Jack Ginnivan tormenting Collingwood for their decision to let him walk to Hawthorn?
We take a look at the Top 5 recruits of 2024.
Notable mentions: Elijah Hollands (Carlton), Esava Ratugolea (Port Adelaide)
Your club's 2023 trade & free agency recruits
Adelaide:ย Chris Burgess
Brisbane:ย Tom Doedee
Carlton:ย Elijah Hollands
Collingwood:ย Lachie Schultz
Essendon:ย Xavier Duursma, Jade Gresham, Todd Goldstein, Ben McKay
Fremantle:ย None
Geelong:ย None
Gold Coast:ย None
Greater Western Sydney:ย None
Hawthorn:ย Jack Ginnivan, Jack Gunston, Mabior Chol, Massimo D'Ambrosio
Melbourne:ย Shane McAdam, Jack Billings, Tom Fullarton
North Melbourne:ย Zac Fisher, Bigoa Nyuon, Dylan Stephens
Port Adelaide:ย Esava Ratugolea, Ivan Soldo, Jordon Sweet, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher
Richmond:ย Jacob Koschitzke
St Kilda:ย Paddy Dow, Liam Henry
Sydney:ย Taylor Adams, Brodie Grundy, Joel Hamling, James Jordon
West Coast:ย Tyler Brockman, Matt Flynn
Western Bulldogs:ย Nick Coffield, James Harmes
2. Brodie Grundy (Sydney)
Arriving at his third club in two years, the expectation of Brodie Grundy wasn't set at an all-time high.
However, the competition quickly forgot just how good he was at Collingwood, receiving All-Australian blazers in 2018 and 2019 as the competition's best ruckman.
Grundy's acquisition has changed the look of the Swans midfield, which has injected Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner on a more permanent basis.
Ruck
Hitouts
Marks
Disposals
The former Pie has averaged 18.5 disposals, 5.4 clearances and 5.8 score involvements, but most impressively six tackles and 18 pressure acts a game.
Grundy's defensive work rate has epitomised Sydney's rise to premiership favourites, while his ruck craft hasn't faltered, directing 29.3% of hitouts to advantage.
