AFL Editorial and Opinion

The SIX recruits set to have a big impact on the 2023 AFL season

As the 2023 season gets underway, we take a look at the recruits who should have a massive impact on the year ahead.

Published by
Annie Ireland

With the 2023 AFL season about to get underway, a possible 35 players will be running out in new colours after a busy 2022 trade period.

Let's have a look at some of the big name recruits who will be looking for strong seasons at their new clubs this year...

Tom Mitchell

2018 Brownlow Medallist, Tom Mitchell, joins his third club in Collingwood this year and will be chasing the elusive premiership medal he couldn't quite get hold of at Sydney and Hawthorn.

A high-profile recruit, Mitchell joins a star-studded midfield with names like Pendlebury, De Goey, and Daicos.

Mitchell is a prolific ball winner, having set the record for most disposals in a VFL/AFL match in 2018 with 54 disposals.

In that same career-best year, Mitchell was awarded the Leigh Matthews Trophy, selected in the All-Australian team, and won Hawthorn's best and fairest.

Last season, there were only four occasions where Mitchell had under 25 disposals, averaging 28 disposals a game.

Mitchell also ranks above average for total clearances, which Collingwood currently lacks.

Josh Dunkley

After a failed trade request to Essendon at the end of 2020, Josh Dunkley has now found a new home at the Brisbane Lions after departing the Western Bulldogs at the end of last season.

Dunkley won the Bulldogs' best and fairest last year to cap off a strong season, after averaging 25 disposals and six tackles a game.

Dunkley produced a strong best-on-ground performance against Richmond in Round 4 last year, producing 37 disposals and 11 marks in a 38-point loss.

A 2016 premiership player for the Bulldogs, Dunkley was the youngest in the side at just age 19. He recorded 15 possessions and seven tackles, however, was most influential in the semi-final win over Hawthorn, where he amassed 23 disposals and kicked a goal.

Dunkley looked dangerous at Brisbane's intraclub, kicking three goals, and will be set for a big season.

Brodie Grundy

Grundy was part of one of the more high-profile trades during the off-season, having only signed a seven-year contract with Collingwood in 2020.

However, after a knee injury kept him out of the side and the Pies reached a preliminary final without him, Grundy was traded to Melbourne in the off-season.

Grundy looms as a big threat to opposition teams this year, as he combines with No.1 ruckman Max Gawn, where they will no doubt combine to be a formidable pair.

Originally taken at pick no.18 in the 2012 AFL Draft, Grundy has been selected as an All-Australian twice and won the Pies' best and fairest twice off the back of career-best seasons in 2018 and 2019.

At his best, Grundy has been labelled a 'fourth midfielder,' averaging 21 disposals in 2019.

Jason Horne-Francis

After only one season at North Melbourne, former No.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis has returned home to South Australia to play for Port Adelaide following a massive four-way trade.

Horne-Francis played 17 games for North in his first season, earning a Rising Star nomination in Round 7 against Carlton, whilst also being awarded the Best Young Player Award at North.

Averaging 16 disposals, three clearances and 10 kicks a game, Horne-Francis and his physicality should fit in well with the Port midfield.

Tim Taranto

Another big-name recruit, Taranto joined Richmond on a seven-year deal after six seasons at the GWS Giants.

Taranto was taken at Pick No.2 in the 2016 AFL draft, going on to make his debut in Round 1, 2017, where he played 14 games including the Giants' semi-final win against West Coast and their preliminary final loss to Richmond.

A rising star nomination came in 2017 after his 21-disposal and five-tackle effort in GWS' win over Collingwood.

Taranto won the GWS best and fairest ward in 2019 in his career-best season, averaging 27 disposals and six tackles a game.

Taranto continued to rack up strong numbers last season, averaging 25 disposals and 13 kicks a game.

Taranto is a welcome inclusion into Richmond's Round 1 team to face Carlton.

Dan McStay

McStay joins Collingwood from Brisbane and is a versatile player, having played down back and in the forward line during his time at Brisbane.

McStay cemented himself as a forward in 2019, playing all 24 games and kicking 21 goals.

An influential player in Brisbane's finals series last year, McStay had 23 disposals, six tackles and a goal in their two-point win over Richmond in the elimination final, whilst kicking two goals and taking six marks in a semi-final win over Melbourne.

McStay looked impressive during pre-season games, kicking three goals against Carlton.

The Magpies have been searching for a big key forward for years, and they look set to use McStay as the No.1 target inside 50.

Published by
Annie Ireland