Round 3 of the AFL season has continued to prove the importance of the free agency and trade periods, as several off-season recruits have continued to stand out as major game breakers for their respective new teams.
As St Kilda continue to win, their newest midfield hero emerges as the competition's best recruit thus far, while two new names crack into the top eight after stellar performances over the weekend's action.
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 3 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.
The bye may have caused Houston to slip slightly in these power rankings, but it is impossible to take him off. The new Magpie has been crucial in elevating Collingwood's list back into the elite status it once held, and that comes from his elite ball use off half back.
Houston is in an elite club of efficiency early on in 2025. Only four players are averaging at least 20 disposals per game at 88% efficiency or higher - Jase Burgoyne, Harry Himmelberg, Christian Moraes and, of course, Houston. Defensively, Houston has impressed too, amongst Collingwood's best for tackles with 3.5 per game.
He's been a perfect fit next to the Daicos brothers and veteran superstars Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom, generating plenty of transition attack opportunities with a pinpoint accurate kick. Collingwood is all in on a premiership this season and as it stands, Houston will be playing a critical role in that hunt for glory.
The Eagles may be 0-3, but they have looked competitive in patches. Sunday was no different as the Eagles got the jump on Fremantle in the first quarter and were in reaching distance of a potential comeback until mid-way through the third. Liam Baker played a significant part in keeping West Coast in the hunt, standing out as one of the side's best yet again.
Baker finished with 23 disposals to his name, 16 of which came in the first half, and he generated three inside 50s - only forward Liam Ryan and ruck Bailey Williams created more.
With a larger role than ever before in his career, Baker is standing up to the plate. He's attending almost half of West Coast's centre bounces this season and he won three clearances from there on Sunday. Those efforts around the footy have been vital, considering the Eagles' stars have struggled in that department, with Harley Reid winning just one clearance again on the weekend.
Baker's efforts on the poor side deserve recognition, hence his return to the power rankings this week.
North Melbourne are tracking nicely so far this season if you dismiss the 1-2 record, appearing to be much more competitive than seasons past. Many questioned their approach when they added several veteran players in the off-season but all three major signings - Caleb Daniel, Jack Darling and Luke Parker - look to be making a supreme impact on the football club.
Perhaps none more so than Caleb Daniel, though. Daniel has found the footy at an exceptional level this season, averaging a career high 29.3 disposals off half-back at near 80% efficiency. The former Bulldog provided travelling Kangaroos fans with a performance to remember in the loss to Adelaide, raking in a game-high 33 disposals and nine marks. The Kangaroos look more dynamic going forward when Daniel is involved in the passage of play; he had four rebound 50s and six score involvements on Sunday.
Furthermore, his defensive instincts kept North Melbourne in the contest before they faded late, finishing with 12 pressure acts and six intercepts.
His leadership has been paramount to fast-tracking the development of the young Kangaroos. With plenty of finals experience and a premiership to his name, Daniel is undoubtedly helping shift the culture of Arden Street back into a winning one.
The Gold Coast Suns have notched two impressive victories to begin their 2025 campaign, with former Magpie John Noble being instrumental in both. His domination from half back was certainly apparent for the Demons, whose decision to blaze away inside 50 allowed for Noble and fellow Suns backmen to generate several transition attacks, leading to his eight marks and team-high six rebound 50s.
Noble was everywhere on Saturday. Often finding himself in a plethora of space, he won 29 disposals, the third highest tally of his career, and kicked his first goal in the red guernsey, getting the handball receive off Matt Rowell while the Demons' defence was asleep. His efficiency must be lauded, too, with 26 of his 29 disposals being effective.
Gold Coast have piled on two high scores in their opening games which has rightfully garnered a lot of attention, especially with the dominance of their midfield bulls. But equally, their defence has been impressive and lifted in moments where the game is still in the balance, holding their opposition to an average of 55.5 points per game. John Noble's role in that back six can't be overlooked.
In one of the windiest games seen in quite some time, Josh Battle stood up to the challenge, Hawthorn emerging as the team to beat after winning their fourth straight game.
The game was ultimately won in the third quarter for Hawthorn, as they won the term going against the strong breeze that both sides capitalised on in the first half. Of course, it wasn't just Battle doing the hard yards down back, Josh Weddle and other defensive recruit Tom Barrass also impressing in preventing the Giants' surges, but Battle's five marks and efficiency off half back enabled the Hawks to outscore GWS 26-13 in the third term, which was the ultimate difference maker in the end.
With three score involvements and a handful of rebound 50s, Battle has done enough to feature in the power rankings again, despite slipping out of pole position.
The Western Bulldogs come from behind victory would have tasted even sweeter for Matthew Kennedy, who dominated his old side with two important goals and 22 disposals.
Kennedy has been a saving grace for a depleted Dogs midfield, stepping up in Bontempelli's absence to work in tandem with Tom Liberatore, attending 81% of centre bounces. He won another nine clearances on Friday night, four of them from the centre of the ground.
With five score involvements to his name in addition to the two snags he kicked, Kennedy is looking more likely to play a key role in the Dogs' hunt for another Finals appearance in 2025.
The second-half capitulation at the hands of Brisbane was the retelling of a story seen 6 months ago. However, it wasn't for a lack of effort from their superstar recruit Bailey Smith, who, despite struggling to use the ball effectively in tough conditions, was undoubtedly Geelong's king of pressure again.
Smith's 26 pressure acts and 11 tackles were only outdone by the known gritty midfielder Tom Atkins, relentlessly putting himself over the ball to kill Brisbane's run and carry that eventually outclassed the Cats.
Sure, Smith's use of the football wasn't great, but considering the conditions, his play was certainly influential, with a team-high eight inside 50s and four score involvements, displaying his hard work to get Geelong's engine running in the second half.
He's a must-have on the field for Geelong, especially if they want the Dangerfield forward experiment to work, making his impact on the Cats clear after just two games in the hoops.
Three votes, Jack Macrae? It took St Kilda about two and a half quarters, but they eventually crushed the lowly Tigers on Saturday afternoon, and once again, at the centre of it all was star off-season pickup Macrae. Three games in and three 30+ disposal performances later, it is hard to deny the impact of Macrae on the Saints team, especially as he becomes surrounded by more talent each week, with key pieces returning for St Kilda from injuries.
It's not just fantasy stats that have landed Macrae the number one spot. 18 of his 31 disposals against Richmond were contested, his 11 ground ball gets leading the game. He also won a game-high nine clearances, was involved in twelve scores and laid six tackles.
And sure, it could be argued these happened against Richmond, one of the worst teams in the league, but Macrae was arguably better than this against Geelong last week.
His ability to win the football is the best in the league at the moment and actually makes an impact on the scoreboard. While he leads the league in contested possessions and ground ball gets, he is also the only non-forward in the top 10 for forward 50 ground ball gets (fifth with 3.3 per game). This helps explain his ranking as second in the AFL in score involvements per game (9.7), contributing to over a third of St Kilda's scores (36.3%).
Jack Macrae is evidently leading the Saints on an unprecedented march towards September and it's why he now ranks as the best recruit of 2025 so far.