Kangaroos veteran on the rise as key Eagle makes return: Recruit of the Year Power Rankings

There's been plenty of movement amongst the top eight after Round 16, with several recruits demonstrating their case to move toward top spot. A former Swan has continued his ascent while a Sun has returned to the form that has seen him become highly touted throughout the season. Who's making the most impact in their new colours? Welcome to the weekly rankings of the Recruit of the Year contenders for 2025, with Round 16 giving us plenty to consider. James Peatling (-) The consistency of James Peatling remains a key factor in the success of the Crows, playing a vital role in their 68-point win over Richmond at the MCG on Sunday afternoon. He recorded 20 disposals at 75% efficiency, the eighth time this season he's registered that many touches in a game. Prior to this season, he'd only reached that threshold six times across 45 games. Despite not directly influencing the scoreboard himself, Peatling had five score involvements, the sixth occasion he's produced five or more this season too. His score involvement percentage of 19% ranks 20th amongst the 38 players listed as mid-forwards, in between Travis Boak (19.1%) and Kade Chandler (18.8%). Peatling perhaps doesn't wow fans in the same way Bailey Smith does or is as prominent as a Shai Bolton rolling between a midfielder and forward role, but Adelaide knows exactly what they will get from him each week and that makes him the perfect system player for the Crows. Liam Baker (NEW) The Eagles had Collingwood on the ropes for three quarters on Saturday night with the effort led by none other than Liam Baker. The former Tiger brought the heat to the contest for West Coast, leading his team with 11 contested possessions and ten ground ball gets. With ball in hand, he was excellent too, 27 of his 35 disposals were effective. That set up several inside 50s for the Eagles, Baker creating five rebound 50s and three score launches off half-back. The effort matches a career-high best of 35 touches and highlights just how critical he has become to the Eagles' on-field success, six of his top 20 games in disposal count coming in 2025. Luke Parker (-) North Melbourne were humiliated in Tasmania this weekend, but it wasn't for a lack of effort from Luke Parker, who continues to demonstrate the 'Shinboner Spirit' in his first year at the club. Parker's efforts on Saturday were no different to what Roos fans have become accustomed to this year, a brilliant 29 disposals, with 14 of which coming in contested circumstances. Despite not hitting the scoreboard himself, Parker was involved in seven of North Melbourne's 20 scores and directly assisted on two goals, increasing his season averages once again. His score involvement percentage of 27.6% is now the second-best rate of his career and demonstrates his importance to the club since joining. Whether it's inside 50 or up the ground in the contest, Parker has been elite all year long and deserves to remain in the power rankings for another week. Jack Macrae (-1) Jack Macrae's return to form continued on Sunday as he led from the middle for the Saints, collecting 26 disposals and seven clearances. St Kilda dominated Fremantle all game long from clearance, similar to their previous clash earlier in the year, but Macrae's lack of efficiency with ball in hand (53.8% disposal efficiency) is why he has slipped this week in the power rankings. That efficiency, or lack thereof, is Macrae's lowest mark this season and seventh lowest of his career, so despite an elite 15 contested possessions and winning the ground ball 12 times, Macrae was only able to amount 233 metres gained. John Noble (+1) The Suns heard the noise and delivered a superb response on Saturday, dominating the Demons for much of the contest. Noble's 29 disposals at almost 90% efficiency was the standout performance, his elite kick generating a team-high seven rebound 50s, three inside 50s and 624 metres gained. Noble's nine score involvements are a season-best also, launching five scoring chains off half-back. Against Essendon under the roof next week, Noble has a prime opportunity to cement himself into the top three of these power rankings and get Gold Coast comfortably inside the top eight. While at the Pies last year, Noble collected 19 disposals at 90% efficiency against the Bombers in the Anzac Day draw. Shai Bolton (-) Bolton's goal and 15 disposals may not blow anyone away as the Dockers clung on to a two-goal win over St Kilda on Sunday night, but it's just how impactful he was with those possessions that showcases why the Dockers were so keen to acquire him last off-season. Bolton had nine score involvements and three forward 50 ground balls gets as his place in the forward line is solidified, leading the way for the Dockers in both metrics. In fact, not many other forwards impact the scoreboard as Bolton with as few possessions. Amongst players averaging 19 disposals or fewer, only four are involved in a higher percentage of scores than Bolton (30.1%); Luke Jackson (30.2%), Sam Darcy (30.5%), Jack Gunston (31.1%) and Cooper Sharman (31.3%). Matthew Kennedy (-) Kennedy's two goals and fifteen disposals were needed in the Bulldogs' nine-point thriller win over Sydney as he staked his claim as one of the more clutch players in the league, heavily involved in the final quarter with effective disposals and, of course, the goal early in the frame that ultimately was the match-winning kick. Kennedy has failed to claim top spot, however, as his Friday night performance was actually his worst for the year based on the Player Rating metric (7.1), even with the two important goals. Outside of those snags, he had just two other score involvements and recorded only nine effective disposals, his lowest figure for the season. In the end, it won't impact the Bulldogs all too much, as even with a down game for Kennedy's standards, he still was elite when they needed him to be, but it's difficult to rank him above one of the Brownlow favourites because of it. Bailey Smith (-) It's hard to knock off a Brownlow favourite from this pedestal. Smith's 32 disposals per game not only lead the AFL this season, but would lead the AFL across the last two seasons as well. While many question the effectiveness of these disposals, it's hard to ignore his 7.4 score involvements per game, which ranks him seventh in the league. The Cats are primed for a top four finish with one of the easier runs home to September, giving Smith a great chance to continue his dominance in the middle and potentially secure a shock Brownlow Medal. Even if he doesn't achieve that, he will likely still be in top spot for the Recruit of the Year power rankings, considering the Cats plucked him from the Bulldogs for just picks 17 and 38 in the draft.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	ADEL	23	18	5	72	139.3
2	GEEL	23	17	6	68	141.5
3	BL	23	16	6	66	114.2
4	COLL	23	16	7	64	122.4
5	GWS	23	16	7	64	115.3
6	FRE	23	16	7	64	109
7	GC	23	15	8	60	124.9
8	HAW	23	15	8	60	120.9

Kangaroos veteran on the rise as key Eagle makes return: Recruit of the Year Power Rankings – Round 16

See which recruits are having the most impact at their new clubs after Round 16 👇

3Shai Bolton (-)

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