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
1. Ben McKay (Essendon)
The influence the key defender is having at Essendon is prominent as the club has soared to second on the ladder.
McKay has slotted in seamlessly into the Bombers outfit, proving his price tag in spades under Brad Scott.
Defender
Disposals
Marks
Rebound50s
The former Kangaroo is averaging 12.9 disposals, 7.6 intercept possessions, 7.1 pressure acts, 5.7 marks and 4.8 spoils.
McKay also engages in 2.9 contested defensive one-on-ones per game, losing at a rate of 34%.
