Recruit of the Year

Two Suns return as Crow, Kangaroo make debut feature: Recruit of the Year Power Rankings – Round 4

See which recruits are having the most impact at their new clubs after Round 4👇

Published by
Hayden Farquhar

The varied mix of performances from recruits in Round 4 shaped a number of results across an intense weekend of footy.

Two Suns have emerged as players to watch while the top two remains unchanged after strong efforts in the midfield by each player respectively.

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 4 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.

Luke Parker (NEW)

Despite the eventual smashing at the hands of his former team, Luke Parker's new era at Arden Street accumulated in an electrifying performance on Saturday night. He collected 27 disposals at 78% efficiency and led North Melbourne in score involvements with six in addition to his two goals the first bringing a standing ovation from the North Melbourne faithful. His pressure around the football was also a stand out in a competitive first half, laying three of his eight tackles inside 50 and leading the Kangaroos in stoppage clearances with five and pressure acts with 19 for the match.

However, this "Swans Parker" like performance isn't a one-off and has been mounting for some time now. Parker is averaging 22.8 disposals per game in addition to a team-high five tackles per games through four games this season and arguably has made the most impact on-field out of North Melbourne's big off-season catches, though fellow veteran recruits  Caleb Daniel and Jack Darling have certainly also made their mark thus far.

With a tough fixture ahead at Gather Round against Gold Coast, the composure of North's veterans will be a must and luckily for the Roos, Parker is a guarantee to add that into the mix.

Dan Houston (+1)

Dan Houston's next fortnight is in doubt after a controversial high-bump on Carlton's Lachie Fogarty. It's not an understatement to suggest that Collingwood will sorely miss him with two titanic fixtures lurking against both 2024 grand finalists. His impact on the Magpies outfit has been critical thus far.

Houston was elite with a ball in hand again in Collingwood's statement rivalry win over Carlton on Thursday night, which not many other players on the field could say. Only Sam Walsh, Adam Saad and teammate Josh Daicos had more disposals at a higher efficiency rate than Houston's 23 disposals of which 70% were effective. His ball use off half back has been critical in generating inside 50s for the Magpies, leading Collingwood in rebound 50s with six on Thursday.

Defensively he put together perhaps his best game of the season in what was an overall ugly contest, collecting seven intercept possessions to improve his average to 6.3 per game. Only key defender Darcy Moore averages more than him at the Pies this season.

How Collingwood fill his role against the Swans remains to be seen but his mistake could be costly considering his importance to their success in 2025.

John Noble (-1)

In an absolute thriller on the Gold Coast, the two hottest teams in the league were split by just a point. It was the Suns' two backline recruits that led the way, John Noble's 20 disposals, five tackles and five rebound 50s instrumental in Gold Coast's first 3-0 start since 2016.

The Suns' attack continues to shine in the early stages of this season, generating another 60 inside 50s on Saturday afternoon. The majority of these stem from rebound 50 with Gold Coast ranking 7th for rebound 50 rate. Thanks to Gold Coast's elite pressure rate behind the ball - 9 of Noble's 13 pressure acts occurred in the defensive half of the ground - Gold Coast are setting themselves up for long-term success under Damien Hardwick.

James Peatling (NEW)

James Peatling has exploded since arriving in Adelaide, averaging career highs in disposals per game, inside 50s, metres gained and clearances. This is incredible when you consider that all Adelaide had to give up for him was a second-round pick, and they even got a third and fourth-round pick from GWS in the package, too.

The AFL world was officially made known of the former Giant's abilities on Saturday afternoon, putting together one of the best games of his career against Gold Coast. Peatling had ten inside 50s and seven score involvements from 24 disposals, 18 of those being effective. He also led the Crows in pressure acts with 24.

Adelaide's attack has been masterful through four games this season, and Peatling has played a critical role in its success. It's clear he's going to be a mainstay in the midfield moving forward, and that makes him look like one of the steals of the off-season trade period.

Matthew Kennedy (-1)

Matthew Kennedy once again stood tall in the midfield for the Dogs as they took on Fremantle's powerhouse insiders. Despite the loss, the Bulldogs should be happy with their efforts in major areas of the contest, winning the clearance battle 42-39 and most notably the centre clearances 15-10. This allowed them to pummel the Dockers with inside 50s, winning that category by 19, but failed to capitalise once the ball got in there.

This wasn't the fault of Matthew Kennedy, who continues to be a revelation for the Bulldogs with Bontempelli. His 26 disposals, nine clearances and six score involvements were simply elite and played a significant part in the Dogs' late surge in the fourth quarter.

Like Adelaide with Peatling, Footscray gave up just a second-round pick for Kennedy, his impact appearing to be far beyond that value so far. It's not wrong to go as far as saying he's been invaluable so far, hence his return to the top eight power rankings for a third consecutive week.

Daniel Rioli (NEW)

Daniel Rioli returns to the power rankings in emphatic fashion after a close to best-on-ground performance against Adelaide. His 26 disposals, 24 of which were effective, led the Suns and became paramount to generating offense as the Crows did a serviceable job containing Gold Coast's rampant midfield. Rioli's six rebound 50s and four score involvements highlight his impact on the win, with his six tackles being his best output for the Suns to date.

Rioli's impact across the whole year has been fantastic too. Only Sam Collins uses the ball more effectively than him at the Suns and Rioli's pace allows him to create many handball receive opportunities to drive the ball forward into attacking positions. Gold Coast's two half back additions in Rioli and Noble have been critical to their early success in 2025 and Saturday's win exemplified that notion.

Bailey Smith (-)

Geelong's Bailey Smith holds his spot in second after another outstanding game in the midfield against Melbourne's superstars of Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver. The new Cat continues to amaze fans with his hard-nosed efforts around the football, proving he belongs the guts.

Smith went to town on the Demons on Friday night, finishing with 28 disposals and five clearances. His gusto when applying pressure must be lauded too, Smith laying eight tackles including three inside 50. Smith's endeavours are often rewarded on the scoreboard too, being involved in 28.8% of all Geelong scores this season, the highest percentage on the team, so it's apparent just how much influence he is already making for the club.

The Cats desperately needed to rebound after falling excruciatingly short the past two weeks, and Smith's continued high-intensity play was significant in ensuring they got back in the winner's column.

Jack Macrae (-)

It's hard to knock Macrae off the perch as St Kilda keep winning games in imposing fashion. Travelling to Adelaide and dismantling the Power on their own deck, with a returning midfield superstar in Zak Butters no less, is incredible, and Macrae once again had his fingerprints all over the contest.

He led St Kilda with 28 disposals, nine clearances and five inside 50s, only outdone by Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jack Sinclair for metres gained. Furthermore, he was involved in nine of St Kilda's 24 scores, bringing his percentage up to 36.5% for the season. Only Toby Greene, Chad Warner and Sam Darcy are involved in a higher percentage of their team's respective scores.

Macrae continues to march the Saints toward September, and he'll need to continue to do so, with St Kilda's next three games against teams that played finals last season.

Published by
Hayden Farquhar