Wreck It Ralph: Every club’s summer recruiting crop rated
Collingwood lost several players due to its bungled salary cap dump, but have any of they made them pay? Every club’s recruits rated.
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Making dramatic list changes fills supporters with hope and allows coaches to consider the possibilities of what fresh blood might do to reinvigorate tired lists.
But unless clubs actually nail those changes, the draft capital they sacrifice and salary cap chewed up can set lists back for years.
Jon Ralph assesses all 18 clubs on their draft, free agency and summer rookie picks and hands out the pass and fail marks so far.
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ADELAIDE
JURY OUT
Jackson Hately was the club’s big splash over the summer but they will be thrilled he cost nothing in the pre-season draft, given his lack of output.
He has played only three games for no impact at AFL level and averaged 99 ranking points and 23 possessions at SANFL level.
But he is only 20, with the Crows clearly nailing the Riley Thilthorpe selection at pick two despite strong pressure to instead secure WAFL star Logan McDonald.
The Crows also secured Mitch Hinge as a free agent from Brisbane but he is out for the season with a shoulder issue.
BRISBANE
PASS
Joe Daniher would have been worth every dollar so far even if the Lions had been forced to hand over draft picks for the Essendon tall. Instead they ponied up the cash to secure him as a free agent, which means they still have two first-rounders this year. He’s played every game, bought into the culture, and at only 27 years of age would seem to have five great years of footy ahead of him after 26 goals and 6.1 score assists a game.
Nakia Cockatoo was always a highly speculative pick and at times he’s shown signs in the VFL that he’s on the verge of a debut. He is on the comeback trail again after hamstring soreness but he was very much a risk worth taking.
You want a sign of the depth on the Lions list? They aren’t certain they have three obvious players to cut from their list as part of the mandatory movement under AFL rules at year’s end.
CARLTON
FAIL (SO FAR)
The Blues’ recruiting efforts have mirrored their 2021 season — a bust so far but with enough time to turn it around with a late rush.
Zac Williams hasn’t been fit, has cost the Blues defensively at times, clearly doesn’t have the tank to be a full-time mid and is costing $800,000 a season.
But pushed back into defence he is turning his year around, his 26 touches, 627 metres gained, eight intercept possessions and six score involvements against Adelaide part of a whole-team effort.
Adam Saad has been playing hurt but his last six weeks have been extremely solid with at least 93 ranking points in five of the past six games and big dashing moments through the midfield.
Lachie Fogarty has one outrageously good game — 164 ranking points, 25 touches, eight score involvements against Fremantle — but has otherwise been a good role player averaging 69 ranking points and 16 disposals for very little expense.
By Round 23 this rating could be at worst jury out and potentially even a win.
COLLINGWOOD
JURY OUT
In a quiet moment the Pies might be saying to their fans: “We told you so.”
The Pies utterly bungled the execution and messaging of their off-season salary cap dump.
But they knew Adam Treloar was injury-prone, Tom Phillips wasn’t damaging by foot and hadn’t seen enough robustness in the contest from Jaidyn Stephenson to believe he could turn it around.
Now after 16 rounds, Treloar might be out for the year, Phillips isn’t damaging by foot at Hawthorn and Stephenson has had a solid but far from spectacular year at North Melbourne.
And is still an outside player.
Unfortunately their own struggles haven’t yet vindicated their approach despite eight national and rookie draft picks.
Beau McCreery looks a ripper but has a serious hamstring injury and Caleb Poulter has some class so they need Ollie Henry and Finn Macrae to emerge after early-season cameos.
ESSENDON
PASS
Everything Adrian Dodoro has touched has turned to gold, with Nick Hind the value recruit of the year, Jye Caldwell making a strong start as an inside bull until serious injury and Peter Wright inconsistent but at least holding up an end as a forward-ruck until the Dons find a legitimate key position forward.
Alec Waterman has nine goals from eight games and is no world-beater but cost nothing as a summer rookie.
Dylan Shiel (meniscus) is running again but potentially a month from a senior recall.
How do they integrate him into the midfield?
Irving Mosquito is still back in WA after walking away from Essendon, with the Dons having lost hope that he will resume his career at the club.
FREMANTLE
PASS
The Dockers backed themselves in at the draft and decided against a trade or free agency play as they moved on Jesse Hogan and delisted Brandon Matera and Cam McCarthy.
The loss of Hogan hasn’t hurt them given his run of injuries at GWS, and despite early injuries and some inconsistency the Dockers’ build is very much on track.
Heath Chapman (pick 14) looked a real find as an intercepting defender until a shoulder injury, while Dockers fans are in love with the potential of No.7 rookie pick Josh Treacy.
He has averaged a paltry 43 ranking points and eight disposals but the flashes of brilliance from the marking forward stand out like a beacon.
Now the Dockers need to find a way to convince Adam Cerra to sign a two-year deal that might see him fall in love with the joint, while also luring some or all of Jordan Clark, Sam Petrevski-Seton and Quinton Narkle home.
GEELONG
JURY OUT
Jeremy Cameron is a freakish talent but the Cats need to win a flag in his time at the club to justify the three first round picks for a player who should have been secured for nothing as a free agent.
The Cats did, though, get two second-round picks back in the deal.
The Cats are stiff that his injury issues have only just flared given an average of 18 games per year over nine GWS seasons, but at his best he’s transformational.
Isaac Smith has been everything the Cats hoped – averaging 22.7 disposals, 453 metres gained, intervening with big moments late in games.
But the form slump of Shaun Higgins, signed on a two-year deal, has been downright perplexing.
He is still averaging an elite 19.5 disposals at half forward but has kicked only two goals and has one of footy’s worst kick ratings for his position.
Geelong is schooling Jordan Clark as an inside mid and wingman and remains confident he won’t ask for a trade but those around him believe he will likely ask for a move to a club with more opportunity.
If the Cats didn’t win the flag this year and lost Jordan Clark and Quinton Narkle, fans will scratch their heads at whether it has all been worth it.
GOLD COAST
FAIL
Rory Atkins has been a total bust so far which is mystifying for an Adelaide Crow signed on a four-year deal with a huge upside.
He has played three ordinary AFL games and six so-so VFL games, although his weekend clash against Box Hill (33 touches and a goal) suggested a recall wasn’t too far away.
Oleg Markov is quietly having a solid year averaging 82 ranking points, 18 touches, 349 metres gained and some dashing runs from defence along with 81.2 per cent kicking efficiency.
The Suns were criticised for being too young, then criticised for securing Atkins.
It wouldn’t be the first time the media has had it both ways, but he just needs to get a kick.
GWS
JURY OUT
To lose Jeremy Cameron, Jye Caldwell, Jackson Hately, Aidan Corr, Zac Langdon, Zac Williams the retired Heath Shaw and be in the eight after Round 16 means Leon Cameron should be in the race for coach of the year.
Even more so when you realise Braydon Preuss hasn’t played a game given a string of serious injuries and Jesse Hogan has played only two games because of injury.
Hogan will sign a new deal despite missing a games-based clause while its hard to see how Preuss gets a game ahead of the impressive Matt Flynn, with Kieren Briggs showing solid signs as his backup.
HAWTHORN
PASS
Tom Phillips has been serviceable rather than outstanding and Kyle Hartigan a low-key back-up with Denver Grainger-Barras and James Sicily both injured.
But the Hawks have perfectly mined the summer rookie and mid-season draft windows to secure two and potentially three players who have a real future.
Mid-season selection Jai Newcombe nabbed a four-year deal and has averaged 7.3 tackles to go with 10.3 touches in his four games so far, still needing to build the offensive side of his game.
And mature-aged VFL graduate Lachie Bramble has something as a midfielder with high footy IQ and a touch of class — his 16-touch performance against Port Adelaide showing he is on the rise.
The club’s second mid-season pick in Jackson Callow has only four goals in three VFL games but if he can become a player, the Hawks are perfectly set ahead of a draft in which they have picks two, 21 and 22.
MELBOURNE
FAIL
Ben Brown was secured on a four-year deal and while he has time to turn it around, the Demons have shown they prefer not to play him in their best side.
If they won’t do it at 28 years of age, will the contract become an impediment to them when he’s 32?
The Demons can’t play him off two kicks and no goals in his VFL outing on the weekend.
Sam Weideman (three goals) is more likely to return as the Demons look to overcome a second half in which the Demons banged the ball long to Bailey Fritsch and a trio of smalls with no return.
The Roos were worried about his knee issues and contested work when they pulled his contract and he’s yet to prove them wrong.
NORTH MELBOURNE
JURY OUT
Jaiden Stephenson hasn’t shown Collingwood it was wrong to trade him yet.
He racked up 33 Round 1 disposals but then suffered a wrist injury and has been pushed out of a pure midfield role by Luke Davies-Uniacke and Tarryn Thomas.
He’s averaged 18 possessions and kicked 12 goals and has upside but has been far from lights-out good.
Atu Bosenavulagi has played three goalless AFL games (and one as the unused sub) so he hasn’t hurt the Pies yet either.
The Roos secured them using the Ben Brown draft pick, so they would believe the pair have more upside than the rarely-used Demon.
Aidan Corr’s season has effectively been a wipeout with toe issues after two handy games in the first two rounds but he was a free agent so hasn’t cost them a draft pick.
PORT ADELAIDE
PASS
Aliir Aliir is on the podium as the recruit of the year and Orazio Fantasia had kicked 19 goals in 10 games before knee and ankle issues.
What more do you need to say for a club that made a pair of targeted acquisitions that have paid off in spades of a finals series full of expectation?
Bravo to the Port Adelaide recruiting staff, with first-round pick Lachie Jones already a cult hero before suffering a syndesmosis injury.
RICHMOND
JURY OUT
In hindsight, Jack Higgins would have played a lot of football this year at Richmond given their injuries and misfiring small forwards.
Higgins has had a strong season (averaging 15 possessions, and kicking 19.15) despite his much-publicised kicking woes (1.8 in Rounds 12 and 13).
Oleg Markov has shored up his future at the Suns in a year where he might have won plenty of games with Bachar Houli banged up and ageing.
But the 7-8 win-loss record hasn’t been because of Higgins and Markov, with Richmond’s biggest conundrum whether to continue pursuing an Adam Cerra trade or taking four picks that under current ladder position are 10, 14, 27 and 29.
Bachar Houli has fumbled and kicked poorly more than any other year but still averaged 94 ranking points and 23 possessions. The decision on his contract promises to be full of emotion. Summer rookie Rhyan Mansell played early as a small defender but is now in the VFL.
ST KILDA
PASS
Who would have thought Mason Wood would carve out a nice little season at the Saints after all his struggles with North Melbourne?
He has played nine reasonable games and kicked seven goals in his last five games, while Jack Higgins is a real find.
He is only 22 and despite some kicking yips has 19 goals and is elite for forward 50 pressure and ground ball gets.
He should play 150 games with the Saints, who gave up pick No.17 and a future second-round selection for Higgins and received pick No.21 and a future fourth-rounder back from the Tigers.
Summer rookie ruckman Paul Hunter has played four games but struggled for impact.
SYDNEY
PASS
A salary cap as tight as any team in the competition meant the Swans had to lose Aliir Aliir when they secured Tom Hickey.
It begs the question how good they could have been had Aliir remained in defence alongside Dane Rampe and Tom McCartin?
Still, the Swans got the ruckman they needed and trio of star kids (Logan McDonald, Braeden Campbell, Errol Gulden) with rookie elevation
Then they elevated Joel Amartey, who continues to do the kind of things on the football field that make you think he’s a 10-year ruck forward.
WEST COAST
FAIL
Zac Langdon has played 11 games but as a 10-touch-per-game forward who has kicked only four goals.
And Alex Witherden couldn’t find a way to get into an injury-ravaged team early and despite a pair of excellent games (30 touches against Collingwood and West Coast) has found the going tough.
The Eagles only gave up two third-rounders for Witherden, with a fifth-rounder back, but he certainly hasn’t been the answer so far.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
JURY OUT
The Dogs were flying early on as Adam Treloar exploded out of the blocks, Stef Martin manhandled Brodie Grundy in the Round 1 win and summer rookie Anthony Scott made an early debut.
Since then Treloar has battled injury, Martin has played only six more games with diminishing returns, and fellow acquisition Mitch Hannan has buzzed around the half forward line in the past eight games but for only five total goals.
Scott has played 14 solid games as a Luke Beveridge role player, and through it all the Dogs have barely missed a trick.
But let’s hope Martin can make an impact in September and Beveridge’s warning that Treloar could miss the whole season was only an attempt to get the pressure off his potential return date.
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