Steve Johnson is the recruit of the year when you consider the low price GWS paid to secure him

PATRICK Dangerfield, Adam Treloar or Steve Johnson — who has delivered most bang for their buck this season? BEST AND WORST TRADES

AFL: Round 5 St Kilda v Greater Western Sydney at Etihad stadium, 24th of April, Melbourne Australia. GWS Giants Steve Johnson celebrates his goal in the fourth quarter Picture : George Salpigtidis

A YEAR after GWS offered picks four and seven for Steve Johnson they secured him for the princely sum of a future fifth-round draft pick.

Talk about bang for buck, which Johnson has been providing in the AFL ever since his epiphany in early 2007.

Patrick Dangerfield and Adam Treloar have rightly been lauded for the impact they have provided at their new teams this year.

But strip it back to a pure value-for-money equation and triple premiership star Johnson is the recruit of the year.

Nine rounds into the season he has a remarkable 21.10 so far and is joined by only Adelaide’s Tom Lynch, Nick Riewoldt and Steve Motlop in averaging 19 touches and two goals a week.

Back where he belongs as a pure small forward of guile and rare goal sense, he is on track for his most accurate and prolific haul since 2011’s 50 goals and 514 disposals.

So much so that he will easily tick off the contract triggers that mean he could decide to make the second year of his contract about playing rather than coaching.

Of the 58 top-ups, free agents and traded players, so many have been outright busts, surplus to senior requirements or are yet to prove themselves.

Yet Johnson, 33 on Saturday week just keeps coming up with big moments in a Giants forward line full of swagger and matchwinning moments.

“He just kicks goals at the right time. His two on the weekend were exactly at the right time,’’ new Giants football boss Wayne Campbell said on Tuesday of his contribution against the Western Bulldogs.

Steve Johnson has been outstanding for GWS this season. Picture: George Salpigtidis

“We were a couple of players down and we had missed a couple of shots and they were really good goals. Beauties. He has always been a big-game player and those guys tend to be competitors.

“That rubs off on young blokes and if you see his teaching stuff on the ground and before and after training, he is just constantly talking to the players.”

Call it lack of fatigue or just a purple patch, but Johnson is running a goalkicking hot streak.

Last year playing an identical role at Geelong he went 30.25 for the year and ran at minus 7.2 per cent for what Champion Data calls expected accuracy.

This year of his 33 shots he has 21.10 with two missed shots, 19.4 per cent above his expected accuracy of 44.3 per cent.

“He just kicks goals at the right time. His two on the weekend were exactly at the right time."

- GWS football boss Wayne Campbell

In other words he just keeps going for the tough shots and nails them, ranking No.1 in the competition of the 35 players to have at least 25 shots at goal.

Those statistic would all be well and good but the added layer of leadership and teaching makes him more than the sum of his parts.

“I think most players towards the end of their career still want to play well, but they enjoy teaching others just as much,’’ says Campbell.

“You still have to perform and justify that position but I am sure he is enjoying watching Jon Patton grow just as much as his performance.”

Adam Treloar has been one of Collingwood’s best players so far this season. Picture: Colleen Petch

And what about that contract for 2016, with Johnson recently joking he should have asked Graeme Allan for another deal on his last day at the Giants?

“He has a two-year contract, whether it’s playing then playing again, or playing then coaching,’’ says Campbell.

“We haven’t even opened discussions. It’s way too early, but if he keeps going the way he is, it will make for an interesting discussion.”

COUPS AND BOOS

Clubs have had vastly different experiences with players recruited from rivals.

GOOD MOVE

1. Steve Johnson (GWS)

Has kicked 21 goals, averaged 19 possessions and earned rave reviews for his leadership. And they effectively gave up nothing to get him.

2. Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)

The one minor pot is his wayward goalkicking but bar that has delivered on every front.

Everyone knows the impact Patrick Dangerfield is having at Geelong. Picture: Sarah Reed

3. Adam Treloar (Collingwood)

Can’t believe some knocked the club’s investment in him. Likely leading the Pies B&F with six 30-plus possession games.

4. James Kelly (Essendon)

Champion Data has him in the elite category, with seven of nine games over 25 possessions.

5. Tomas Bugg (Melbourne)

An agent provocateur, but averaged 20 touches and added to Melbourne’s new hard edge.

6. Zac Smith (Geelong)

He and Rhys Stanley have become a formidable ruck combination. Smith cost picks 49 and 53.

7. Sam Kerridge (Carlton)

Only occasionally wayward disposal has taken the gloss off the season for hard-running Kerridge. Got him and pick 28 for the disappointing Troy Menzel.

Sam Kerridge has reignited his career at the Blues. Picture: Colleen Petch

8. Paul Seedsman (Adelaide)

A key member of Adelaide’s long-kicking brigade, who bounced back from a stinker against Geelong with 21 touches and a goal against the Gold Coast.

9. Ben Kennedy (Melbourne)

Starved of opportunity at Collingwood, his 10 goals for the year and average of 18 disposals have added a touch of class at Melbourne.

10. Charlie Dixon (Port Adelaide)

Might not have lived up to the outlandishly high expectations but still has 21 goals. Where would they have been without him?

BIT TO DO

1. Lewis Jetta (West Coast)

The Eagles gave up Callum Sinclair for him and he has already been dropped after only four goals for the year. Can’t get a kick in a great side.

Lewis Jetta was dropped by West Coast. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

2. Troy Menzel (Adelaide)

Arrived at Adelaide woefully unfit and has not yet been able to break into the side despite his amazing talent. Needs to work harder.

3. James Aish (Collingwood)

When he was dropped he was the last-ranked of 140 midfielders to play four games in the comp. Rediscovering workrate in the VFL.

4. Jimmy Toumpas (Port Adelaide)

Already dropped after returning to South Australia for a new start, his decision-making and skills not at AFL level right now.

5. Chris Yarran (Richmond)

The Tigers gave up pick 19 for him and he turned up as much as 7kg overweight then battled injuries and personal problems.

Chris Yarran has not played a game for Richmond yet. Picture: Michael Klein

6. Harley Bennell (Fremantle)

Out for the year after recurring calf issues but Fremantle says he is here for eight years so is looking long-term.

7. Jake Carlisle (St Kilda)

Trashed the brand with drug issues then banned by WADA, with St Kilda losing a pair of narrow games where a big key defender might have got them over the line.

8. Nathan Freeman (St Kilda)

Was always a long-term prospect but Alan Richardson has already ruled him out of seniors for the year with hamstring issues.

9. Jack Redden (West Coast)

The Eagles gave up pick 17, but just 150 touches so far with six games in the teens possession-wise and only five goals.

10. Andrew Moore (Richmond)

The Tigers free agent has played just one game and mainly been a VFL regular despite his reputation as a tough inside midfielder.