Round 3 of the AFL season has continued to prove the importance of the free agency and trade periods, as several off-season recruits have continued to stand out as major game breakers for their respective new teams.
As St Kilda continue to win, their newest midfield hero emerges as the competition's best recruit thus far, while two new names crack into the top eight after stellar performances over the weekend's action.
So, 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 3 giving us plenty to consider.
Selection criteria: Only players who were on an AFL playing list at a different club in the prior season will be considered as recruits in these rankings.
2. Bailey Smith (+2)
The second-half capitulation at the hands of Brisbane was the retelling of a story seen 6 months ago. However, it wasn't for a lack of effort from their superstar recruit Bailey Smith, who, despite struggling to use the ball effectively in tough conditions, was undoubtedly Geelong's king of pressure again.
Smith's 26 pressure acts and 11 tackles were only outdone by the known gritty midfielder Tom Atkins, relentlessly putting himself over the ball to kill Brisbane's run and carry that eventually outclassed the Cats.
Sure, Smith's use of the football wasn't great, but considering the conditions, his play was certainly influential, with a team-high eight inside 50s and four score involvements, displaying his hard work to get Geelong's engine running in the second half.
He's a must-have on the field for Geelong, especially if they want the Dangerfield forward experiment to work, making his impact on the Cats clear after just two games in the hoops.
