The top two recruits of the year thus far went head to head in Round 11, as two former Saints made names for themselves in blockbuster Saturday clashes.
A Crow continues to make his rise up the Power Rankings too after a weekend to remember, while a Docker forward drops slightly after a mediocre performance in the wet, relative to his standards.
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 11 giving us plenty to consider.
2. Matthew Kennedy (-)
Matthew Kennedy did everything in his power to bring the Bulldogs a win in a heavyweight clash with Geelong on Thursday night, so while they ultimately fell short, his influence must be recognised.
Kennedy kicked three goals, all coming in the second half, as the Dogs gradually reduced Geelong's five-goal lead. He also led the match in score involvements with 12, though it would be frustrating to see the majority of those opportunities he created turn into several behinds.
In the midfield, Kennedy highlighted his versatility once again while notching 25 disposals and five clearances from stoppage. He's become such a valuable player in Luke Beveridge's system that now it's hard to imagine where they'd be without him.
The Bulldogs now enter the bye with a record of 6-5, Hawthorn awaiting them the week after. However, considering the injury toll the Bulldogs have suffered from this year, a winning record is a position they will gladly be in right now. That's been achievable because of the All-Australian calibre play of Kennedy.
