Hot or not: The best and worst recruits of the 2026 AFL season so far

Bailey Smith helped Geelong to a grand final last season after being traded from the Western Bulldogs.

Ben Brown and Bobby Hill helped Melbourne and Collingwood to flags in 2021 and 2023 in their first seasons with their new clubs.

That’s why what happens in October matters, and why we spend the year analysing who might lure Zak Butters, Ben King or Zac Bailey to their club in 2027.

It’s only the eve of round seven, but there is enough evidence to make some early judgments on who the hottest recruits are so far this season, and which players are battling to make the desired impact at this stage.

The good news for those who are struggling: They have plenty of time to find form.

Last year’s trade period recruits who are running hot

1. Gold Coast’sChristian Petracca has played four of the Suns’ six games so far this season. They have won the four he has played, and lost the two he missed. He sits fourth in the coaches’ association award and has kicked a lazy 10 goals. He also averages 11.5 score involvements, the leading player on that front.
2. Melbourne’s Jack Steele looked like Richmond great Geoff Raines when he stormed out of a centre clearance and kicked long twice in the first quarter against the Brisbane Lions. Steele cost nothing at the draft table and is taking up little in terms of total player payments (TPP). A good person around the club is proving the right fit at the right time.
3. The Giants’ Clayton Oliver had to step up after Tom Green’s knee injury, and he has been impressive in a battling team. After an excellent opening against Hawthorn, he has worked hard to stem the tide in games the Giants have lost.

Honorable mentions go to Port Adelaide’s Corey Durdin and Melbourne’s Brody Mihocek, with 10 goals apiece, Sydney’sJai Serong, who has proved a handful on the wing, and St Kilda’s Sam Flanders, who is playing to expectation at the moment. Finnbar Maley is proving a surprise, albeit ungainly, performer at the Crows.

The recruits running cold

1. The obvious one is St Kilda’s Tom De Koning, who has looked out of sorts in the past two matches, with injury potentially the reason he is dropping marks and not reaching hitouts. He hasn’t earned a coaches’ vote and has kicked one goal. He is capable of more but is yet to find form.
2. The Brisbane Lions’ Oscar Allen played an excellent game against Collingwood after a slow start to his career at his new club. But he is taking time to find his feet as the Lions’ key forward. On the upside, he has not missed a match and has shown enough of his ability in glimpses to give reason for some optimism.
3. Collingwood’sJack Buller did not cost much at the trade table, but he has not yet proved a replacement for Mihocek, as many had hoped. He was out of the side after round one and is not smashing the door down to get back into a misfiring forward line.

West Coast’s Brandon Starcevich has been injured and is not due back until mid-season. Sydney’s Charlie Curnow is up and down but has been threatening and is helping his teammates. He remains a watch, however, given how much draft capital the Swans expended on him.

Playing as expected

Carlton traded in six players but none have been able to turn around the Blues’ fortunes, although none are playing below what they showed at their previous clubs. The Saints’ Jack Silvagni and Liam Ryan have been par. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was always going to take time and is yet to break into the Suns’ team.

A free agent running hot at the right time

Melbourne free agent Kade Chandler has put any contract discussions to the back of his mind as he flourishes as a high half-forward under Steven King after three consecutive seasons of solid football.

The 26-year-old earned eight coaches’ votes for his match-winning performance against the Brisbane Lions. He kicked two big goals in a tight final quarter to add to his one in the second term, which was Melbourne’s only major for that quarter.

The consistent performer has played 23 matches a year in each of the past three seasons and looks likely to remain a Demon, however he is sure to attract interest from other clubs if his good form continues this year.

“I feel really confident in my game, and I feel like my teammates trust me each and every week to just get my role done,” Chandler said.

But he is leaving the contract discussions to when he feels the time is right.

“I have not thought about it too much. I am absolutely loving my footy, and I am just focused on getting a few more wins under the belt,” Chandler told Money Talks. “I am sure those conversations will start when the time comes, but at the moment I am happy having a win with the boys, and I am looking forward to the rest of the year.”

His teammate and fellow South Australian Tom Sparrow is also a free agent being monitored by South Australian clubs.

A mature-age Bomber

Essendon’s Tom Edwards has made a great start to his post-ACL injury career with the Bombers. He has kicked two goals in each of his three matches since his return against the Western Bulldogs coincided with the team’s return to competitiveness.

The Bombers showed their faith in the West Australian after just two games when they extended his contract to the end of this season soon after his knee injury, but they are yet to open discussions with the now 25-year-old who has leadership potential and could command more later in the season if he keeps performing at the same pace throughout.

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