Round 10 shone a light on multiple underrated recruits, two players in particular standing out with notable performances over the weekend.
Those two players, a Blue key defender and a Crows forward, enter the top eight Power Rankings for the first time, while Fremantle's star signing makes his move into the top five after another dominant weekend inside forward 50.
So, who's making the most impact in their new colours? Welcome to the weekly ranking of the Recruit of the Year contenders for 2025, with Round 10 giving us plenty to consider.
1. Bailey Smith (-)
The Cats are back on track with a 76-point romping of Port Adelaide, and Bailey Smith was again at the helm of the win. His nine inside 50s led the game, plus he was involved in a third of Geelong's scores. Tack on another 30 disposals and he's not just become an All-Australian pick, but many see him as a Brownlow favourite now too.
It's truly been a comeback season Smith could have only dreamed of, his 30.7 disposals per game only outdone by GWS' Tom Green (32.2). He's in the upper echelon of inside 50s generated per game and amongst midfielders ranks top ten in almost every possession-based category. With injuries to Jack Bowes and Patrick Dangerfield souring the win, Bailey Smith's play becomes even more critical with a clash against the old mob on Thursday night, a game you know he's had circled for a long time.
