The best recruits of 2024 have been well-established now. Massimo D'Ambrosio landed at Hawthorn for a pack of peanuts and produced an All-Australian squad year, Brodie Grundy recaptured top form at Sydney whilst still getting payments from Collingwood, and Jack Ginnivan flourished with the freedom granted to him by Sam Mitchell.
But there were many others that shifted across borders in the 2023 trade period that produced solid contributions to their team's success in 2024.
We've named the four most underrated recruits of 2023, reflecting on those who went under the radar at a fresh club in the season gone by.
2. Elijah Hollands (Carlton)
Having played just 14 games across three seasons at Gold Coast, Hollands made a remarkable instant impact at Carlton.
Hollands played 22 out of a possible 24 games, averaging 17.8 disposals (+5 on 2023), 2.9 inside 50s (+1.3 on 2023), and even recorded a three-vote Brownlow game for his three-goal display against the Bombers. Despite his consistent run at the top level, Hollands flew under the radar in comparison to other traded counterparts in 2024.
The 22-year-old's trade looks set to be a bargain for Carlton in the long run too, trading just a future third-round pick and sliding two spots in last year's with an exchange of Picks 26 for 28. In a team bound for another September charge in 2025, Hollands looks to be an established member of the Carlton side for another season yet.
