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.
After transferring over to Brisbane in 2023, Gunston made his way back home to his triple-premiership club in 2024.
Coach Sam Mitchell has noted before he was saddened to let Gunston go in the 2022 trade period, and it was clear as to why in his return year. Gunston's veteran leadership was evident in Hawthorn's unlikely rise to finals, producing greater output on-field than in 2023, whilst assisting in developing a young brigade of forwards, especially the development of father-son Calsher Dear.
Dear was expected to develop in the Box Hill VFL ranks in 2024, but would debut in Round 8 and hold his spot for the remainder of the year. Gunston's teaching and experience to Dear were critical in his rise to playing AFL, whilst their personal bond over losing their fathers created a special connection. Gunston's off-field assistance turned out to be an unexpected yet crucial bonus to Hawthorn's acquisition of the triple-premiership forward.
Of course, it wasn't only off-field where Gunston shined. He kicked 29 goals across 18 games in 2024, including a bag of five against Richmond in Round 23, as well as two hauls of four goals. In a rapidly improving, youthful forward line, Gunston still proved he has the talent to play at the highest level.
Stuck behind Tim English at the Bulldogs, Sweet took his talents across the border to South Australia in the 2023 trade period, joining the Power for Pick 50. Amongst Port Adelaide's three other recruits was Ivan Soldo, with the former Richmond ruckman set to battle Sweet for the Power's number one ruck role.
Soldo was expected to clear 26-year-old Sweet, but the 206cm South Australian had other ideas. Sweet played a career-high 17 games in 2024, besting his previous tally of nine games as a Bulldog.
His contribution rapidly exceeded his Bulldogs days, averaging 35.2 hitouts per game, an increase of 11.5 compared to 2023. His best day came on a massive occasion, outperforming in-form Hawthorn ruckman Lloyd Meek in the semi-final with 52 hitouts and six clearances.
Four games between Rounds 6 and 11 started his time in Power colours, but it wasn't until Round 15 that Sweet maintained his position in the side. Hence, Sweet's season flew under the radar as star Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy stole the limelight for his captivating start to 2024. It was nonetheless a significant improvement for Sweet, and for Pick 50, well worth his trade value.
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.
Jordon further proved his worth as one of the league's best taggers, playing a crucial role in Sydney's runner-up efforts in 2024.
He played in all 26 games for the Swans this year, averaging 14.7 disposals and 3.3 tackles. However, his best performances came through limiting his direct opponents' possession.
Jordon kept Noah Anderson to just 19 disposals in Round 6, whilst limiting Sam Walsh to just 20 disposals in Round 10 - both players' lowest totals for the year. Jordon was also impressive in Sydney's finals campaign, limiting Zak Butters to 20 disposals and two score involvements in the preliminary final.
Joining the Swans as an unrestricted free agent, Jordon was a valuable pickup from the Demons and contributed significantly to Sydney's deep September charge. As a tagger, his role in the side regularly went unnoticed by the average fan, especially in a midfield of Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Errol Gulden. Surprisingly, as the first player to change clubs in 2023, Jordon's season often went under the radar against other recruits, albeit his tagging role on Dayne Zorko picked up media traction heading into the grand final.