The AFL's top recruit for 2025, podium finishers revealed: Recruit of the Year Power Rankings - Round 24 - Zero Hanger

The home-and-away season has concluded for 2025, and with it comes the confirmation of Zero Hanger's top recruit of the year. A couple of changes took place in Round 24 as the final top eight rankings took shape, with the trio on the podium officially locked in. Welcome to the weekly rankings of the Recruit of the Year contenders for 2025, as we unveil who made the most impact in their new colours this season. James Peatling (-) Peatling rounded out a terrific campaign for the Crows in their 13-point win over North Melbourne, having his most damaging match of the season, at least on the scoreboard. Peatling kicked a season-high three goals and had 10 score involvements from 19 disposals, which included three direct goal assists. The move from GWS to Adelaide has been a raging success for Peatling, averaging career highs in disposals, inside 50s and clearances. Peatling has been a standout for the Crows among numerous other recruits, such as Alex Neal-Bullen and Isaac Cumming. Considering what Adelaide had to give up for Peatling, which was not much at all, and his rapid ascension into becoming a consistent factor in the club winning its first minor premiership since 2017, his credentials stack slightly higher than the other Crows recruits. That makes him the recruit of the year for Adelaide and, in turn, cements himself inside this list's top eight. Jack Macrae (-1) Macrae had a blistering start to the 2025 season and has never fallen out of the top eight of our Recruit of the Year Power Rankings as a result, though he concludes the year at a season-low seventh. The Saints have opted to develop their young midfield stars in the final month of their overall disappointing 2025 campaign, which saw Macrae named as the tactical substitute for their Round 24 match against GWS. Regardless, Macrae has statistically had one of the better seasons among recruits. He ranks fourth among recruits in disposals per game with 24.6 and led the group in clearances with 6.7. In the early parts of the season, St Kilda's midfield was a shell of itself without Macrae in the middle, particularly notable in his absence due to injury mid-way through the season. How Macrae's role evolves next year will be an intriguing story, but his impact on the Saints this year deserves to be commended. Josh Battle (+1) The recently named All-Australian squad member Josh Battle has undoubtedly earned a place in the Recruit of the Year rankings as he played a major role in Hawthorn's elite defence this season. Battle was one of the league's best one-on-one defenders, losing just 18.5% of his 2.3 one-on-one defensive contests per game. Among listed key defenders, Battle also averaged the third-highest tackles per game, highlighting his versatility in defence, both aerially and on the ground. However, where Battle really stood out for the Hawks was his lethal disposal efficiency that regularly turned defensive half possessions into scores. Among key defenders, he ranks third in score involvements per game and generated 3.5 rebound 50s per game, second on the Hawks behind James Sicily. Battle was the perfect off-season addition for the Hawks and will surely play a factor in their attempt at a deep run in September. Luke Parker (-) The former Swan finished his first season at Arden Street with a bang, collecting 27 disposals, 14 contested possessions and a season-high 10 clearances in the Kangaroos' 13-point loss to Adelaide. It was a game North Melbourne was expected to roll over in, but their veteran leaders, including Luke Parker, demonstrated the spirit that will get Kangaroos fans excited for what 2026 could bring. The Round 24 performance rounds out a captivating month of football for the 32-year-old, where he failed to register at least 25 disposals just once. Parker's on-field impact is obvious, but his off-field leadership has been invaluable to the young Roos side, hence his ranking inside the top five. Shai Bolton (-) The Dockers recorded a famous away win to clinch a Finals berth against the Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon, and unsurprisingly, Shai Bolton had his fingerprints all over it. The shifty forward kicked two goals and had seven score involvements in the 15-point win while playing around the ground, featuring in almost half of the centre bounces for Freo. He was damaging around the contest, claiming eight contested possessions and using the footy at an efficiency of 78.9 per cent - close to his best efficiency of the season. While Bolton's season has had its ups and downs, it's impossible to knock him out of the top four, especially when his scoreboard impact is factored in. Only Bailey Smith averages more score involvements per game among recruits this season, and Bolton's involvement in 29.9 per cent of all Fremantle scores not only bests every recruit this season, but leads Fremantle as a team as well. To put it simply, Fremantle aren't back in September without Bolton and could very well go deep into the finals series if he maintains his elite form for another month. John Noble (-) The Suns' long-awaited leap into contention has arguably stemmed from their highly successful 2024 trade period, landing a pair of elite half-backs in John Noble and Daniel Rioli, which has shaped their transition football from the defensive 50. Noble's impact has been immediate since arriving in the Sunshine State, averaging over 25 disposals per game and leading the club in rebound 50s with 4.8 per match. His lethal kick has been a perfect fit into Damien Hardwick's system, leading the club with a kicking efficiency of 81.4 per cent. In fact, among players averaging at least 15 kicks per game, that efficiency is fourth-best in the AFL. Noble's impact is evident, hence why he has found himself on the podium for this year's recruit class. Matthew Kennedy (-) Matthew Kennedy's second half of the season has gone under the radar after being moved out of the midfield, but among all recruits for 2025, Kennedy was as reliable as you could get. The former Carlton figure failed to register at least 20 disposals just twice this season, kicked a career-high 21 goals and averaged 6.1 score involvements, highlighting his immense impact across all 23 fixtures for the Dogs. It's clear Kennedy will play a key role for the Bulldogs for years to come, hence his final ranking in second on this list. Bailey Smith (-) It was always going to be Bailey Smith on the throne. The former Bulldog has relished his increased midfield minutes at the Cattery, leading the league in disposals per game and averaging career-highs in metres gained, clearances, inside 50s and score involvements. He's been the catalyst to Geelong's rebound from a disappointing preliminary final exit in 2024 as they seek redemption in September against Brisbane. While the midfield matchup looms as a difficult one for the Cats, if there's any star in the league to help them get over the line and set up a potential flag opportunity, it's Baz.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	GC	3	3	0	12	191
2	WB	3	3	0	12	137.2
3	SYD	3	2	1	8	139.5
4	HAW	3	2	1	8	118.1
5	NMFC	1	1	0	4	168.7
6	MELB	1	1	0	4	112.1
7	ADEL	2	1	1	4	104.6
8	COLL	2	1	1	4	98.7
9	GEEL	2	1	1	4	79.6
10	GWS	2	1	1	4	76.4

The AFL’s top recruit for 2025, podium finishers revealed: Recruit of the Year Power Rankings – Round 24

The final power rankings are in 👇

1Bailey Smith (-)

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