The seventh week of the AFL season saw a number of recruits live up to their pre-season hype as the power rankings begin to take shape.
A new leader has emerged out of the Bulldogs midfield, while three mainstay defenders solidify their positions in the top eight after big weekends.
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 7 giving us plenty to consider.
5. Jack Macrae (-1)
Macrae looked back near his best for St Kilda in a hard-fought effort against the reigning premiers, tallying four of the Saints' 12 centre clearances for the game and finishing with eight total from 13 kicks.
The Saints ultimately lost this game at the stoppage but it wasn't without effort from Macrae, who tallied four stoppage clearances and nine contested possessions. The Saints' midfield stood tall with Macrae, Jack Steele and Jack Sinclair also putting in good shifts, but their combination wasn't enough to overcome Lachie Neale and Will Ashcroft in the moments that mattered.
While Macrae falls again in the power rankings this week, this game could have turned out a lot worse for the Saints if it weren't for his impact in the clearance battle, so it's impossible to push him further than down than the single rung.
