Mick McGuane’s top five recruits of 2021 so far and those that need to lift
There were plenty of big moves last off-season. But who is delivering on the hype? Mick McGuane gives his recruiting rankings.
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A bumper AFL trade period last October saw some stars change their stripes.
But some less heralded names have proven to be some of the best recruits so far this season.
Mick McGuane ranks his top-five recruits so far this season – and names those recruits that need to lift.
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MICK MCGUANE’S TOP 5 RECRUITS AFTER ROUND 5
1. Aliir Aliir (Port Adelaide)
Unquestionably the recruit of the year to date, both because of his output and what he has added to the team.
My concerns over Port Adelaide last year, was that they were one key defender short to play on the opposition’s best power forwards.
He has provided stability and creativity to the backline.
He ranks above average in one-on-one contests, is a strong intercept player, is composed with the ball and is mostly, a good decision maker.
The former Sydney Swans’ performances have created a healthy internal pressure for spots - forcing Trent McKenzie out of the team, placing constant pressure on Tom Clurey to perform and his inclusion has also allowed Tom Jonas to play a greater intercepting role.
The Power, in their 150th anniversary year as a club, can win the 2021 premiership.
The Aliir trade might just be the reason why.
2. Stefan Martin (Western Bulldogs)
This ranking is not so much based on Martin’s individual performances this year, but what he has done for the Bulldogs as a team.
Martin has not improved on his output for Brisbane last year, but he has plugged the biggest hole for the Bulldogs which was a lack of a competitive ruckman.
It was a risky decision to secure his services, due to his age (34 years old) and back issues.
But it’s proved a wise and compelling trade.
He has taken the majority of the ruck contests in the four games he has played which has allowed Tim English to spend more time as a forward.
By recruiting Martin, the Bulldogs have essentially created their own version of the West Coast forward line of Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and Oscar Allen in the form of Josh Bruce (17 goals), Aaron Naughton (11 goals) and Tim English (9 goals).
3. Orazio Fantasia (Port Adelaide)
This was a gutsy call by Port Adelaide, but a good call.
There were concerns about Fantasia’s body, given he could not string together long runs of games at Essendon.
However, he hasn’t missed a beat for the Power so far this season and is delivering some of the best form of his career.
Fantasia has never been a high possession winner.
He has a great ability to find space and because of this he is winning more uncontested football and is involved in more scoring chains than ever before.
His speed causes chaos for opposition defences and he’s averaging career-high numbers for goals (2.2 a game) and score involvements (7.6 a game).
He also brings an infectious energy to the team.
His goal celebrations help lift team morale and helps generate great enthusiasm to the whole group.
4. Nick Hind (Essendon)
When it comes to Moneyball recruits, Hind just about tops the list.
The Bombers gave up pick 67 and moved three spots back with their pick 74 in exchange for Hind, who has filled the void left by rebounding half-backs Adam Saad and Connor McKenna for a fraction of the cost.
Used as a small forward at St Kilda, Hind has had far greater impact down back, with his speed and ability to run and carry the ball.
His ball use is good and he ranks above average for metres gained at 464m per game — more than what Saad averaged for the Bombers last year.
Defensively, Hind is also very capable.
He has had big jobs on players such as Luke Breust, Orazio Fantasia, Dan Butler and Tom Papley this year — and come out on top.
Hind rates above average for one-on-one contests and elite for both intercepts and pressure.
5. Adam Treloar (Western Bulldogs)
I have to eat humble pie on this one.
Salary cap issues aside, I thought Collingwood moving on Treloar was the right decision.
However, the 2021 version of Treloar has been significantly better than the 2020 version, the Bulldogs having struck gold.
He has accepted his new primary role at the Bulldogs and hasn’t he blossomed because of that.
Finding the footy has never been an issue for Treloar, but his ball use at Collingwood — especially in 2020 — was questionable.
His outside game has returned and his scoreboard impact has never been greater.
He is averaging a goal a game (up from 0.1 goals a game in 2020), and 7.4 score involvements (up from 4.2).
A contested ball winner at Collingwood, Treloar does not looked as banged up in his new outside run-and-carry role.
NOT FAR BEHIND …
No one knew what we were going to get from Joe Daniher this season, after he had played 15 games in three years at Essendon.
But full credit to him and the environment at the Brisbane Lions which has seen him thrive.
We are already seeing a version of Daniher that looks a lot like his 65-goal season in 2017 and he can only further improve with the return of Daniel McStay to create a three-tall forward line alongside Eric Hipwood.
Adam Saad has brought great energy and bounce to Carlton’s defence but there is still room for improvement defensively.
His first half against Collingwood is an example of that.
Lachie Fogarty has been a shining light in attack for the Blues since crossing from Geelong, with his ability to win critical contests and his elite tackling as a pressure forward.
Tom Hickey has resurrected his career at a fourth AFL club at Sydney and has been a catalyst to reinvigorating the Swans with his follow-up work and ability to push forward and impact on the scoreboard.
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Jaidyn Stephenson was predominantly a forward at Collingwood, but is spending 50 per cent of his time up the ground for North Melbourne this year and is working to add another layer to his game.
St Kilda recruit Brad Crouch has always been a high possession winner and his defensive efforts this year have been better, and will only benefit from the returns of Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall in the ruck.
JURY’S STILL OUT
Carlton recruited Zac Williams to be a bona fide midfielder, but he still needs to get fitter to improve his post-clearance defensive efforts.
Inside the contest is not his problem, but when you have walkers out of stoppage in defensive transition the Blues become susceptible to being scored against.
Peter Wright is playing a new role at Essendon, spending 70 per cent of his time in the ruck this season in the absence of Sam Draper.
But the Bombers rank 17th in the competition for clearance differential.
Can Wright have a say in turning that around?
UNSEEN
A trio of key forwards highlight the list of recruits we are yet to see — Jeremy Cameron (Geelong), Ben Brown (Melbourne) and Jesse Hogan (GWS).
After a frustrating 2020, it will be interesting to see what chemistry Cameron can build with Tom Hawkins, or whether his frustrations continue given Geelong’s slow ball movement is reminiscent of his old side at GWS last year.
Now fully fit, both Brown and Hogan will have to earn their spots in their respective teams, which is a healthy position for the Demons and Giants respectively to be in.
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