Now a quarter of the way through the season, a number last off-season most high-profile moves are having the impact in their new colours we came to expect.
Adelaide's attacking tandem has received a healthy dose of flair, pressure and poise thanks to the addition of local livewire Izak Rankine, while across town the Power have found new avenues for their own attack in Jason Horne-Francis and Junior Rioli.
Brisbane's midfield is proving to be littered with class thanks to the acquisition of Josh Dunkley through the trade window and the recruitment of top draft selection Will Ashcroft, with new sharpshooter Jack Gunston also welcomed with open arms in the forward half.
Gunston was one of three senior Hawks to depart at the end of 2022, signalling a further step in the club's list rebuild as Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O'Meara also jetted off to Collingwood and Fremantle respectively.
The Pies were one of the big movers among the off-season, adding four experienced new faces to the fold while also departing with a pair of retractable assets.
While plenty of attention in the aftermath of a mammoth off-season of moves has been placed on how recruits are faring in new colours, their departures have certainly had an impact - positive or negative - on their former clubs who have been forced to shuffle the magnets.
Here we take a look at three of the off-season's big movers and the influcen those deals have had on their old sides.
Dunkley's departure sees top Dog return to his best amid a midfield shift
Whether it be his old teammates or new, there are sure to be some that have thrived since Josh Dunkley's move north, but none looked to have benefited more than Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli.
While Dunkley wasn't a large piece in Luke Beveridge's centre bounce structure in 2022 - ranking fifth for attendances (50%) among onballers last year behind Jack Macrae (64%), Tom Liberatore (59%), Bontempelli (58%) and Bailey Smith (54%), his departure has seen a significant shift in the Dogs' CBA numbers to start this season.
Bontempelli is now attending centre contests at a rate of 76%, only beaten by Liberatore at 78%, to see his numbers across the board also ascend as he pieces together his best season to date.
The four-time Charles Sutton Medal winner is recording career-best figures for contested possessions (+2.0 on previous best), clearances (+2.5) and tackles (+1.2), as well as ground ball gets (+0.5).
Dunkley was the Dogs' top pressure player in the forward 50 last season, a role Bontempelli has also taken upon himself to record 11 tackles inside 50 - almost half of his entire 2022 tally - from just six rounds.
Bontempelli isn't the only Bulldog flourishing in a more highlighted role, with Adam Treloar taking on more duties on the inside this year after tallying just 37% of CBAs in 2022.
Treloar is on track to enjoy his best season as a Bulldog, with his own clearance and possession numbers rivalling his best campaign at Collingwood.
On the flip side, Jack Macrae has been required to find the right balance between midfield and the attacking third that saw Dunkley earn best and fairest honours before exiting the Kennel.
After being the Dogs' No.1 attendee at centre bounces in 2022, the silky ball-winner now sits fourth in the pecking order, behind Liberatore, Bontempelli and Treloar.
Bailey Smith has been forced to follow a similar suit, featuring in just one of three centre bounces after recording a rate of 54% in 2022.
How Hawks have looked to fill the void of senior trioย
The Hawks took on short-term pain for long-term gain in the trade window, and the numbers through midfield are showing just how tough Sam Mitchel's side are battling across the opening quarter of the season.
Hawthorn ranks 18th in the competition for contested possessions and clearances, with their stoppage clearance numbers also the lowest in the competition.
This'll come as little surprise to most though, with the Hawks shedding their most experienced midfield contingent of Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O'Meara, Liam Shiels and Ben McEvoy through the single off-season.
But the trade waves enabled the Hawks to bring the likes of Jai Newcombe and James Worpel to the top of their pecking order, while the burgeoning ranks of Josh Ward, Cam Mackenzie and Conor Nash prove their worth under Mitchell's mentorship at the top level.
The trade blitz also saw Hawthorn acquire Cooper Stephens (Mitchell trade) and Lloyd Meek (O'Meara trade) to further deepen their midfield options and add depth to their ruck stocks after McEvoy's departure.
Gunston's departure came as a different cost for the Hawks, with Mitchell having held hope the veteran sharpshooter would remain at Waverley amid temptations for a switch to Brisbane and their premiership prospects.
The move north was a blow to Hawthorn's plans for attack, an issue that was only compounded by Mitch Lewis' pre-season ACL sprain that has kept the key forward out of action.
The delisted free agency acquisition of Fergus Greene has proven to be fruitful for Mitchell, with the sharp-eyed 186cm forward pulling the weight as Hawthorn's first-string forward target.
While plaudits can fall Greene's way, the lack of support in the forward third has left the Hawks to rank among the bottom third of the competition for marks inside 50 and shots on goal, while their lack of length and structure sees them second last in the league for inside 50 tackles.
Grundy's ripple effect move that's shaping McRae's squad
It was the move many didn't see coming, with Collingwood's dual Copeland Trophy winner in Brodie Grundy linking up with the only ruckman that has bested him over the past decade, Max Gawn.
The trade came after an injury-interrupted year for Grundy, whose place under Craig McRae was quickly bequeathed to Darcy Cameron, with the second-string ruckman flourishing with the opportunity.
Fast forward to 2023 and Cameron was a focal point of Collingwood's humming engine room across the opening three rounds, giving his midfield ensemble access to the ball through the middle and across the ground at stoppages.
But while Grundy's move had given Cameron a new step to take, it was the bearded ruckman's severed financial packet that really aided the Magpies' midfield.
In losing Grundy and his suggested $1 million salary, Collingwood were able to acquire Hawthorn ball-winner Tom Mitchell through the same trade window and add a new string to their midfield bow.
Collingwood have seen a significant rise for contested possessions (14th in 2022 to 2nd in 2023), clearances (13th to 6th) and disposals (14th to 6th), with Mitchell's in-and-under efforts a catalyst in the Magpies' improved ability to win the ball.
There is certainly an argument that Grundy's absence has been felt however, with Collingwood's ruck stocks depleted within the opening month of the season, as Cameron (knee), Mason Cox (spleen) and Aiden Begg (back) all battle with their respective injuries.
But the Magpies are 2-1 since going into battle without a recognised ruckman, with key-position recruit Billy Frampton - another affordable addition thanks to Grundy's departure - taking on the workload commendably.
Additionally, there's little chance the Magpies could've foreseen the injury woes their ruck depths would be faced with, while Grundy's own fitness in his finals seasons at Collingwood was also hindered by setbacks.
If McRae can welcome back Cameron when the Pies are still sitting toward the top of the table later this year, their premiership run will be greatly bolstered should he manage to remain fit for the pointy end of the season.
