The AFL's trade and free agency periods can be make or break windows for clubs as they look to bolster their playing lists for the next year.
In recent years, premierships have been won off the back of an off-season recruit, most notably Bobby Hill, who won the 2023 Norm Smith Medal for Collingwood in his first season at the club after requesting a move from GWS the prior year.
After Round 1, there are already multiple clubs reaping the rewards of their new signings, with several game-changing performances making headlines.
So, who's making the most impact in their new colours? We'll weekly rank the Recruit of the Year contenders for 2025, with Round 1 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.
1. Bailey Smith
Bailey Smith might have the most pressure on him out of anyone on this list considering the highly publicised circumstances of his move from Footscray to the Cattery. Returning from an ACL injury that ruled him out of the 2024 season completely, there have been numerous question marks hanging over Smith.
Can he still play at an All-Australian calibre level? Can he prove the Bulldogs wrong and show he can produce in an elite midfield?
The early answers to these queries are a resounding yes.
Geelong's midfield looked unreal for the better part of three quarters during their Round 1 clash with Fremantle. Max Holmes and Smith's connection through the square was beautiful to watch and largely outclassed the Dockers midfield unit while in possession.
His energy was truly unmatched by anyone else on the field, hunting possession like a maniac and getting around his new teammates after small one-percenters. His dominance out of the middle allowed Patrick Dangerfield to spend more time in the forward line, an experiment that showed plenty of promise of creating a more dynamic forward third for the Cats.
Smith racked up a game-high 32 touches at 72% efficiency to go with a goal, which could have been more if Ollie Henry let the ball carry through untouched on a couple of occasions. His 12 score involvements also led the game.
To put it simply, the Cats midfield with Smith is must-watch footy and is breeding a new level of excitement down the highway, hence his early ranking as the number one off-season recruit.
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