The 2024 VFL season is right around the corner, with all 21 clubs heading to the drawing board over the recent off-season to better their list in the hope of making a play for the premiership.
Port Melbourne have been one of the busiest clubs since Gold Coast's flag win, signing ten ex-AFL names ahead of their new campaign, while Williamstown have found success in their player pursuits after losing a pair of star defenders to the top flight.
Some affiliate VFL clubs are set to gain a big boost this year with their linked AFL clubs adding top league talent to their list, with the likes of Shaun Mannagh (Geelong), Marty Hore (Casey), Lachie Sullivan (Collingwood) and Sam Clohesy (Gold Coast) all set to feature in the VFL this year with new clubs.
Outside of the AFL-listed additions, we've predicted ten of the top VFL recruits for the 2024 season, with the Seagulls leading the way with three selections in our list.
The former GWS first-round draft selection has made his move to Victoria after being delisted by Adelaide at the cessation of the 2023 AFL season.
Hately played just the one game at senior level last year at West Lakes, spending most of his season in the SANFL where he amassed a top ten Magarey Medal finish and landed a spot in the competition's Team of the Year.
His arrival at Tullamarine comes as fellow ex-AFL players Jack Peris and Xavier O'Neill also make the switch to Essendon, with Hatley named vice-captain to assist O'Neill this year.
The trio of experienced inclusions come after the Bombers' reserves bid farewell to Tom Phillips, Quinton Narkle, Billy Cootee and Joel Fitzgerald, among others, last year.
The former Sydney-listed defender has made the move to the Seagulls after a stellar 2023 season at Frankston that saw him average 26.1 disposals (74.8% efficiency), 6.1 marks, 5.4 intercepts and 5.4 rebound 50s per game.
Stoddart was among the top names to miss out on a Mid-Season Draft spot last May and will be hoping to strengthen his prospects with a move to DSV Stadium this year.
The 24-year-old is one of several star recruits for coach Justin Plapp, who will need to bolster his backline after the departures of Marty Hore and Oscar McDonald via AFL delisted free agency.
The Seagulls secured the services of the joint 2023 Frosty Miller Medal winner following his delisting at Gold Coast.
With McLaughlin unable to break into the Suns' senior side for an AFL debut last year, the athletic forward booted 51 goals last year to tie for the top honour alongside teammate Chris Burgess in a premiership-winning season for the Carrara club.
McLaughlin averaged 15.8 disposals, 8.2 score involvements, 6.8 marks and 2.8 goals per game in 2023 to secure Team of the Year honours and enjoy a career-best season.
The former Frankston forward now returns to Victoria after his year in Queensland, making the move south alongside delisted Brisbane attacker Blake Coleman.
The former Geelong and Port Adelaide-listed key forward was among the best talls in the competition last year and joins a new-look attacking tandem alongside fellow Southport recruit Hugh Dixon.
After finishing fourth in the league's goalkicking standings last year - booting an accurate 36.7 from 16 games - Buzza remains in Queensland but will pull on new colours, having signed with the Sharks for the season ahead after a strong season with Brisbane's reserves.
Having fallen out of the finals frame after a grand final finish in 2022, Steve Daniel's side will be keen to return to the top and could do so with some experience spearheading their front third.
One of ten ex-AFL signings for Port Melbourne this off-season, the Borough might've saved their best addition to last with the signature of McKenzie.
The recently departed St Kilda wingman spent most of his summer training with Fremantle for a potential list spot, only for a hamstring strain to hinder his chances. Gold Coast were also in line to look at the 27-year-old prior to his setback.
If he can get his body right after an injury-plagued past 24 months, McKenzie is sure to be one of the best recruits of the competition this year.
Another one of the Borough's marquee signings, with the South Australian remaining in Victoria after not being offered a new deal by the Saints at the end of last year.
Highmore was named in the VFL Team of the Year squad last season, emerging as a positive piece in Sandringham's underwhelming campaign to average 22.3 disposals (81% efficiency), 8.7 intercepts, 7.4 rebound 50s and 6.8 marks per game in defence.
Announced as a new addition to Port Melbourne alongside ex-AFL figures Roarke Smith and Billy Gowers, Highmore is also joined by Robbie McComb, Lachie Rankin, Flynn Kroeger, Sam Philp, Daniel McKenzie and Kye Turner in heading to North Port Oval straight out of the top flight.
Delisted by Hawthorn after two seasons at Waverley, Long made the switch to Collingwood in a bid to keep his career alive.
The midfield-forward hybrid played five games in the brown and gold - including four last year- and was often impressive for Box Hill as an emerging option.
Long trained with Collingwood's senior side as a potential Supplemental Selection Period option and will likely remain on the Magpies' radar ahead of the Mid-Season Draft this year.
While he won't have an instant impact like many others on this list, Brown is among the pool of overlooked prospects from last year's draft class who have made the move to the VFL.
The Sandringham Dragons and Vic Metro captain has remained local in signing with the Zebras, with fellow Dragons products Tarkyn O'Leary, Hugo Hall-Kahan and Lochie Benton also joining Jake Batchelor's squad.
Capable of playing forward and through the middle, Brown is one name St Kilda are sure to monitor over the course of the coming year after making the commitment to draft one player out of the Zebras system to a rookie contract at the end of 2024.
Brown ended his draft campaign on a high, leading the Dragons to the premiership with a best-afield outing against the Eastern Ranges, collecting 18 touches, four inside 50s and three goals in the grand final.
A finalist for last year's Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal, Jepson has made the move north to join the Sharks for the season ahead.
Off the back of his best and fairest-winning campaign at Coburg, the 22-year-old will was part of a busy off-season window for Southport, who also signed the aforementioned Buzza and Dixon, as well as local talent and Gold Coast premiership player Campbell Lake.
Jepson averaged 25.1 disposals (78.3% disposal efficiency) and 6.5 rebound 50s per game in 2023 to emerge as one of the premier young defenders in the competition.
The third ex-Dolphin on this list who has made his way to Williamstown over the off-season, with Fordham linking up with the Seagulls after a dominant 2023 campaign.
Fordham won Team of the Year honours last season after averaging 26.6 disposals, 12.1 contested possessions, 6.0 clearances and 4.2 score involvements per game across his 18 appearances.
The former North Melbourne-listed midfielder claimed three best and fairests during his time at Frankston Oval, with the now-departed Dolphins skipper taking out the past two club champion gongs.