With just six rounds to go in the 2024 AFL season, it is time to reflect on the recruits of the year to this point.
As it stands, our rankings formula has six players in contention to take out the award. Who will sit atop the heap after Round 24? Let’s have a look where things are at.
So, how does this work?
Well, every game recruits play, they are given a rating out of ten… by me, because I like to think I am a pretty fair judge. This is where the advantage comes in for the teams that have not had a week off at this point in the season.
Oh, and no rookies. Only players who have switched clubs are eligible for this award.
Previous winners as follows.
2022 – WILL BRODIE (FREMANTLE)
He certainly seems as though he was a one-hit wonder, at the moment, doesn’t he? Still, he buckled down in 2022 and made a real difference to the Dockers.
2023 – TIM TARANTO (RICHMOND)
He made a splash, indeed, also taking out the Tigers’ Best and Fairest Award in his first year at the club.
THE CONTENDERS IN 2024
BRANDON ZERK-THATCHER
In the off-season, there was a lot of talk about what Esava Ratugolea was going to add to the Power. There was an impression that he was the marquee defensive recruit.
I had to screw my nose up at that one. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher was always going to be the one to watch, as unlike Sav, BZT is more of a natural footballer.
The arguments against him were hollow – he won the “reverse Coleman” in 2023, apparently… that is shuck a shit award, which punishes individuals for the poor work of their team. Zerk-Thatcher was a victim of that last year.
This year, he has been the bloke doing a lot of the heavy work, to allow both Sav, and Aliir Aliir to become better intercept players. At 25, BZT is entering his peak as a defender. A great pick up for Port, and not just for a year or two.
BEN MCKAY
When the Bombers picked up McKay, I thought Jayden Laverde would be thanking the heavens. It always seemed to me that Laverde was doing more heavy lifting than he was capable of.
Regardless of how stats reflect the performance of McKay, the benefit of having him as the deepest defender is that he makes others walk taller. I like BZT, but Ben McKay in the Essendon defence makes others walk taller.
And even though I have mentioned Laverde, I reckon the biggest beneficiary has been Jordan Ridley, who has been freed up to play his more natural intercepting role with McKay holding the fort.
I don’t think many are questioning the wisdom of McKay’s jump from the Kangaroos to the Bombers, but I know there were some before the season commenced. My guess is that they’re being pretty quiet right about now.
JAMES JORDON
Prior to the start of the season, I remember discussing the possibility of Jordon making the best-22 for the Swans. I said he’d be on the wing, whilst the person I was speaking with said he wouldn’t crack the 22.
It’s nice that we were both wrong.
Jordan re-invented himself as one of the league’s best stoppers, claiming some big scalps through the season, and with September on the horizon, his presence in this Sydney team may be one of the factors that swings a final or two.
For third choice wing and perennial sub at Melbourne to one of the best run-with players in the game, it has been a great year thus far for Double-J.
BRODIE GRUNDY
He’d have to be the odds-on favourite, right now.
There was a cloud hanging over the big man when he was recruited to the Swans – could he rediscover the form that made him an All-Australian? I have to admit, I was a little sceptical, but he has done the work and re-established himself as one of the premier rucks in the game.
In terms of rucks, he is ranked number two in disposals per game, number seven in hit outs, number two in tackles, and number ten in clearances.
Grundy has made a huge difference to the Swans and whilst there are a number of reasons they’ve leapt up the ladder, his presence would have to be one of the main ones.
He has had nine games in 2024 where he has registered 20 or more disposals, and 20 or more hitouts in a single game. He is the all-time leader in this stat category.
MASSIMO D’AMBROSIO
Really snuck up on people this season, with Champion Data rating him as the best wingman in the game, at one point.
Of course, they’re full of shit, as Mass plays a little more defensive as a wingman, and at times, acts as more of a half-back flanker than a genuine wing. That he is 16th for inside 50s, and 15th for score involvements on his own team serves as proof of this.
That said, he is fifth on the team in R50s, which has given the Hawks tremendous drive out of defence.
I would love to see him sneak forward more, as that deadly boot would be welcomed by the leading forwards, but perhaps it is a case of not attempting to fix something that’s not broken, at this stage?
JEREMY SHARP
Given what he cost (nothing), Sharp has been a revelation for Freo in 2024, his running power and long kicking adding an offensive weapon to the Dockers on the outside.
When you look at what Freo has lost over the last couple of years at the wing position – Brad Hill, Blake Acres, Liam Henry – having Sharp come in and completely own the role, has been an absolute blessing. At just 23, he has a massive future ahead of him, and picking him up for free may just be enough to see him be crowned the recruit of the year for 2024
So, there we go. If you had to choose one, who would it be to this point of the season?
Personally, I think it is tough to go past Brodie Grundy. He has done everything Sydney hoped he would, and shows no signs of slowing down. The next six weeks might tell a different story, but as of the conclusion of Round 18, Brodie is the man.
Look forward to seeing who you think is the best.