We rate every club’s off-season trade and free agency recruits after seven weeks
JON Ralph has rated every club’s trade and free agency recruits after seven weeks of the season. Does your club fall under the boom or bust category?
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HOW have last year’s trade and free agency acquisitions fared so far in 2017.
Jon Ralph looks at the wins and the losses after seven games.
RECAP RALPHY’S LIVE TRADE Q&A IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW
BIG IMPACT: WHO IS THE RECRUIT OF THE YEAR?
ROUND 8 TEAMS: DOGS REST BOB, DEBUTS AT GIANTS, CATS
TOP TEN
1. Toby Nankervis (Richmond): The Tigers plucked Nank the Tank from Sydney for just pick No.46 and have been wowed by his intercept marking, midfield grunt and hit-out-to-advantage rate.
2. Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn): The Hawks paid up for him - pick 14 and a swap of picks in the 50s - and he has delivered big time. Averaging 34 disposals a game, ranked No.1 in the comp.
3. Caleb Marchbank (Carlton): Averaging the fifth most intercept marks of any defender, the perfect defender for the modern era. The backline is finally taking shape.
4. Bradley Hill (Fremantle): Averaging 20 uncontested possessions — elite for his position — and 445 metres gained. Was given up by the Hawks as part of the O’Meara deal.
ROUND 8 TIPS: SEE WHO THE EXPERTS ARE PICKING THIS WEEK
EVERY CLUB: WINNERS AND LOSERS IN RUN HOME
5. Zach Tuohy (Geelong): Been the perfect recruit for the Cats. No fuss, averaging 27 touches, uses the pill well and the best part of a forward line with plenty of changes in the first seven weeks.
6. Jack Steele (St Kilda): Hard and rugged, averaging nearly eight tackles and racking it up as well. Averaged the fifth most pressure points of any midfielder.
7. Nathan Brown (St Kilda): Always a serviceable player but generally flew under the radar at the Pies. Been involved in 33 one-on-one contests. Has lost just eight of them, which is elite for the AFL.
8. Will Hoskin-Elliott (Collingwood): Kicked the winner in the win over Sydney, exceptional in the victory over Geelong. Averaging a goal and score assist a game, both ranked elite.
9. Marley Williams (North Melbourne): Has played every game as a running defender. Disposal is better and averaging 16 touches and four intercept possies, both up on last year.
10. Jordan Lewis (Melbourne): The only flaw is the three missed games, so costly for his club. Averaging an elite 27 touches, elite 19 uncontested touches and real poise in big moments.
BUSTS SO FAR
Brett Deledio (GWS): The Giants gave up a first and third-round pick for him in 2017, with the Tigers paying a good slice of his contract. The club revealed last week he pulls up sore every time he ramps up running. That’s a real concern.
Dion Prestia (Richmond): Has barely trained with a knee issue that is affecting his kicking and productivity. Going at 41 per cent by foot, and averaging only 21 touches. Now sidelined with hamstring/knee.
Chris Mayne (Collingwood): Kicked just two goals in his three games and didn’t take a contested mark. Only averaged 12 disposals. Not back for buck when he’s on $500,000 a year for three seasons.
Tyrone Vickery (Hawthorn): Didn’t take a contested mark in his three games, only took a single mark inside 50. Only kicked one goal, then hasn’t got back in after a sore back. On too much money to be playing VFL.
Jaeger O’Meara (Hawthorn): It’s not his fault his knee is pulling up sore and has wrecked a bright start at his new club. But is going at only 39 per cent by foot, gains only 168 metres a game and has just 28 kicks to his 59 handballs.
THE REST
Michael Hibberd (Melbourne): Will be ranked higher soon but only three games so far. Ranks fourth for intercept possessions for all defenders. Racking up 26 touches a game. A huge get.
Daniel Wells (Collingwood): A watching brief given only two games. Excels at the areas where the Pies struggle — kicked three goals and had four score assists, both elite for a midfielder.
Sam Mitchell (West Coast): Missed a game with a bad ankle sprain and has been just OK since then. His clearance work is only average, his ball use is just average. Still, not bad for pick No.88.
Michael Barlow (Gold Coast): A delisted free agent who cost the Suns nothing, he has averaged 26 touches a game and ranks above average in contested possessions and clearances. Played every game, kicked five goals.
Cam McCarthy (Fremantle): Could have been so much better. 29 shots at goal and a great target but 38 per cent accuracy at goal — the worst of the top 20 scorers. Will be a real player when he straightens out kicking.
Josh Green (Essendon): A really handy addition to the Dons. Only scored four goals so far but good pressure and assists inside 50 for a team that has lacked in that department.
Jarryd Lyons (Gold Coast): A sleeper in that he has barely been mentioned but after swapping from Adelaide for only pick No.43 has averaged 25 touches. Strong in contested footy and clearances.
Jarrad Witts (Gold Coast): So many doubts after a quiet 2016 and an indifferent VFL finals series but has been a huge find. Has battled hard against the likes of Stef Martin, Shane Mumford, Matthew Kreuzer and Sam Jacobs.
Billie Smedts (Carlton): Only four games, dropped again this week, biggest possession haul of 17 possessions. Given Zach Tuohy has been so good in a deal that traded Carlton’s second pick for Geelong’s first, it’s a concern.
Nathan Hrovat (North Melbourne): Was nearly dropped at one stage but fairly handy as a small forward. Averaged 19 touches and has won plenty of hard ball in forward-half stoppages.
Koby Stevens (St Kilda): Small sample size but will rise with a bullet. Hard at it, runs well and kicks it well too. Has averaged 28 touches and nine score involvements - elite for midfielders. The Saints got him for a swap of later picks, so will be a value pick.
Aaron Black (Geelong): On fire in his first of three games with two goals and 21 touches then has tailed off slightly. But great forward pressure - three tackles a game - and excellent numbers so far.
Travis Cloke (Western Bulldogs): Five goals in nearly four games, after being injured late in the Dogs win over North Melbourne. Just serviceable so far, with 13 touches on average and six score involvements.
Josh Caddy (Richmond): By his coach’s own admission, hasn’t set the world on fire. Kicked five goals in seven matches as a tough half-forward, but no breakout moments. Tigers gave up picks No.24 and 64 and got back No.56.
Lynden Dunn (Collingwood): Just two games so far, but impressed in those clashes. Excellent in the win over Geelong and held his spot against Carlton.
Ricky Henderson (Hawthorn): Already dropped by Hawthorn despite getting plenty of it. Averages 24 touches but his pressure stats and disposals are below par so far, a reason why he is playing VFL. A free agent, so he cost them nothing.
Nathan Vardy (West Coast): Played every game so far and averaged nearly 20 hit-outs, not bad for a player battling in the VFL last year. Numbers aren’t great, but he’s holding up an end.
Jarrod Pickett (Carlton): Looks dangerous but only two goals from his five games so far and is now playing VFL footy.
Joel Hamling (Fremantle): His best game was trouncing Travis Cloke but he has battled in the one-on-ones. Has lost 12 of 35, which is worrying. Hasn’t been the boom recruit they wanted, but he will get better. Only young. They gave up pick No.35 for him then shuffled a couple of late picks.
Jack Frost (Brisbane): Was suspended for Round 1 but after only two games and 10 possessions at full-back on Cale Hooker and Patty McCartin he was demoted to the NEAFL.
Rhys Palmer (Carlton): Played one game with 12 possessions for Carlton, with the youngsters already gone past him. Good big-bodied insurance.
Pat McKenna (Melbourne): A hamstring injury has ruined his season so far after he crossed from GWS after two seasons there.
Pearce Hanley (Gold Coast): Gained 494 metres in his only AFL game so far, then was home bereaving his brother’s death before a NEAFL injury that has kept him out since. Will still be a jet once he gets right.
James Stewart (Essendon): Was seen to have an excellent chance to push into an Essendon forward line needing tall targets but has only played VFL. Only gave up pick No.77 for him.
Paul Ahern (North Melbourne): Was traded with an ACL injury so was never going to play this year. Can’t be considered.
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