Gather Round provided footy fans with several classics, the impact of star off-season additions as apparent as ever.
A key Geelong midfielder has re-established himself as the top-ranked recruit, while the Gold Coast and Bulldogs see their star pickups continue to rise.
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 Gather Round giving us plenty to consider.
3. Matthew Kennedy (+1)
The Western Bulldogs' capitulation to the AFL's latest comeback kings, Brisbane, will sting for a while, blowing a third-quarter 39-point lead. It's hard to blame the midfield, however, as their efforts continue to impress even in the absence of Bontempelli.
Matthew Kennedy could argue his case for his best afield for the Bulldogs, his weekly growing impact ensuring his role at centre bounces going forward is almost a certainty. The former Blue racked up another 27 disposals on Saturday at Norwood Oval, and while he wasn't overly efficient amongst the congestion, his ability to win the football from centre clearances was crucial.
The Bulldogs generated eight scores from centre bounces against Brisbane, equal-most for any team this season. Kennedy's three centre clearances and six total for the game paid dividends in this metric, and with the Bont's return imminent, it's exciting for Dogs fans to wonder how good they can become at full strength.
Ultimately, the Dogs' 2-3 record probably doesn't reflect how good they've been while undermanned this season, but Matthew Kennedy's efforts are incredibly influential in keeping the Dogs competitive.
