The AFL's trade and free agency periods can be make or break windows for clubs as they look to bolster their playing lists for the next year.
In recent years, premierships have been won off the back of an off-season recruit, most notably Bobby Hill, who won the 2023 Norm Smith Medal for Collingwood in his first season at the club after requesting a move from GWS the prior year.
After Round 1, there are already multiple clubs reaping the rewards of their new signings, with several game-changing performances making headlines.
So, who's making the most impact in their new colours? We'll weekly rank the Recruit of the Year contenders for 2025, with Round 1 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.
3. Dan Houston
A third Magpie enters this list, and it had to be done.
Dan Houston's impact on debut for Collingwood on Saturday night was unmissable as he exacted revenge against his former club.
The two-time All-Australian will be in play for three Brownlow votes as he dominated possession, delivering 27 disposals at an insane 89% efficiency. Combining that with five inside 50s and six score involvements, Collingwood's midfield looked levels above the Power and certainly played a far more dangerous game than what was seen against GWS in Opening Round.
Collingwood's off-season plan, as senior coach Craig McRae has told the media, was to move away from picks and developing players for established talent. That puts the Magpies in a premiership or bust window. Considering what they had to give up in the trade period for Houston too, there's a lot of pressure on him to succeed.
So far so good.
