As part of AFL.com.au's annual AFL Players' Top 50, players were surveyed and asked to pick which recruit will have the biggest impact for their new club in 2017.
Players predicted some Hawthorn veterans on the move would have immediate impacts for their new clubs, as both Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis were rated inside the top three.
Despite losing two important players the Hawthorn did gain two young guns, with players believing Jaeger O'Meara will make his mark at the Hawks, as well as former Sydney midfielder Tom Mitchell.
| Player | Old club | New club | Votes |
| Sam Mitchell | Hawthorn | West Coast | 17% |
| Jaeger O'Meara | Gold Coast | Hawthorn | 14% |
| Jordan Lewis | Hawthorn | Melbourne | 12% |
| Pearce Hanley | Brisbane | Gold Coast | 10% |
| Tom Mitchell | Sydney | Hawthorn | 7% |
| Dion Prestia | Gold Coast | Richmond | 7% |
| Michael Hibberd | Essendon | Melbourne | 5% |
The Suns also feature prominently on the list, with O'Meara and Dion Prestia set to make big inroads away from the Gold Coast in 2017.
It's not all bad for the Suns however, as Irishman Pearce Hanley is set to succeed according to his fellow peers.
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