The 2024 trade and draft windows formed a busy off-season for many AFL clubs.
Whether it was a big-name free agent on the move, a highly touted youngster capable of creating immediate impact, a steal late on draft night, or a low-cost trade filling a list need, each club found a player that helped shape their 2025 season.
This isn't a ranking of your club's best-performed recruit, but instead a player that outperformed what your club paid to get them - a player who addressed a list need, had an impact and played an important role in your team's system. Here's one recruit each AFL club nailed.
Port Adelaide
Christian Moraes
All eyes were on star recruit Jack Lukosius heading into the 2025 season, but an injury-ravaged season meant he wasn't able to produce what Power fans had hoped for.
First-year player Christian Moraes gave fans something to be excited about. A late second-round draft pick and lighter frame, it may have seemed unlikely at the beginning of the year that Moraes would break into the AFL team as early as he did.
He played 14 games, starting as the substitute in six of them, averaging 12.2 disposals and three marks per game while playing mainly on the wing. It was his Round 3 performance against Essendon that sent tongues wagging, registering 27 disposals and seven marks in just his second game at AFL level.
He won the Gavin Wanganeen Award as Port Adelaide's best player under 21 and looks like he could play an important role on the wing under new coach Josh Carr.
Other recruits: Rory Atkins, Benny Barrett, Joe Berry, Tom Cochrane, Josh Lai, Jack Lukosius, Jacob Moss, Joe Richards, Jack Whitlock.
