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.
Brisbane
Ty Gallop
Following the retirement of star forward Joe Daniher after the 2024 Grand Final triumph, the Lions were forced to look elsewhere to bolster their forward stocks. They added Sam Day from the Gold Coast Suns as an extra forward option, but surprisingly it was draftee Ty Gallop that helped fill the void left by Daniher.
With father-son recruit Levi Ashcroft attracting much of the fanfare, the Lions quietly drafted Academy prospect Gallop at Pick 42 in the 2024 National Draft, and he was likely viewed as a longer-term key position prospect. However, Gallop went on to feature in the last six games of the season, including the premiership win over the Cats.
Although his numbers don't jump off the page, a three-goal performance in a preliminary final followed by a premiership medal the following week was more than enough to justify the Lions recruiters' decision to take him at Pick 42.
Other recruits: Levi Ashcroft, Sam Day, Sam Marshall
