Several recruits starred over the long Easter weekend as footy fans were treated to several thrilling contests.
A Fremantle forward has jumped up into the top four as his scoreboard impact continues to mount, while the Bulldogs' dominant win over St Kilda sees their star recruit leapfrog a Saints midfield acquisition.
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 6 giving us plenty to consider.
2. Matthew Kennedy (+1)
Marcus Bontempelli may have stolen the show in his return from injury - and rightfully so -Â but Matthew Kennedy once again produced the goods for the Bulldogs as they thrashed St Kilda on Sunday night.
Kennedy was nowhere near the Bulldogs' leading disposal getters this week, unlike the first five weeks of the season, but Bontempelli may have been the only player more impactful with his touches, Kennedy getting the most out of his 22 disposals for the game. Kennedy used the ball at 82% efficiency and led the game with ten clearances, the second-highest tally for his career and his most in a game since 2022. Seven of those clearances came from stoppages, which were important wins as St Kilda's most dangerous midfielder, Jack Macrae, is typically dominant in those contests.
It became clear on Sunday night that even with Bontempelli back in the middle, Kennedy can still make a noticeable impact, despite his centre bounce attendance expectedly dropping. For Dogs fans, that is an incredibly exciting prospect.
