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Sport Nation
Ranking the 10 best recruits from last year's trade period
Luke Mathews • June 4th, 2025 7:40 pm
Every year, the trade period generates plenty of discussion and interest as clubs look at different ways to improve their list and fast-track their journey towards a premiership.
Last year 28 players switched clubs via either a trade or free agency with some players hitting the ground running in their new colours.
At the midway point of the 2025 season, we’ve put all the recruits from last October’s trade period under the microscope and picked out the best 10 performers.
1 - Bailey Smith (Geelong)
After a year out of the game with a knee injury, polarising character Bailey Smith has quickly reminded everyone of his talent.
He has dominated in a star-studded Cats midfield that looks set to feature in September once again.
The Cats played hardball last year, like they always do, refusing to give up anything more than Pick 17 and it looks to be one of the best deals done during October’s trade period.
The midfielder is averaging over 31 disposals per game, more than 10 contested possession, six clearances and five inside 50s. He has racked up 30 or more touches on seven occasions so far in 2025.
The season of the former Western Bulldog hasn’t been without controversy, flipping the bird at a Crows fan, shoving the ball in Jarman Impey’s face and exchanging words with Marcus Bontempelli through the media.
2 - Matthew Kennedy (Western Bulldogs)
After a difficult end to 2024 which saw the midfielder subbed out at half-time of the Elimination Final against the Lions in Brisbane, Matt Kennedy felt he was on the outer at Ikon Park.
The Bulldogs swooped in late during the trade period to help fill the void left by Jack Macrae and Bailey Smith and it has proven to be a shrewd piece of recruiting.
The recruit somewhat makes up for the Bulldogs' disappointment in losing Smith, with Kennedy only costing Pick 38 which was given to them by Geelong.
The ex-Giant and Blue is averaging over 24 touches a game compared to just 17 last year and he has become an integral part of the Doggies' sparkling midfield unit.
3 - John Noble (Gold Coast)
Rebounding half-back flanker John Noble made the move north last year for family reasons with Collingwood happy to let him go to help unlock the Dan Houston trade.
The South Australian was involved in a complex three-way trade which saw Houston land at Collingwood and Jack Lukosius, Rory Atkins and Joe Richards all moving to Port Adelaide along with a number of pick swaps.
The ex-Pie has become a key part of Damien Hardwick’s side, helping set up their run and drive off half-back which has powered them up the ladder and firming for a finals berth.
His best game came against Hawthorn in Round 10 where he collected 36 touches and a massive 1001 metres gained.
4 - Daniel Rioli (Gold Coast)
After finishing his final season at Richmond with a wooden spoon and a best and fairest, Daniel Rioli opted to move north and unite with former coach and mentor Damien Hardwick.
In search of another half-back to help develop their running game, the Suns were happy to part with Picks 6 & 23 to gain the Jack Dyer Medallist’s services.
It has proven to be a terrific career move for the triple premiership star with the Suns sitting pretty inside the top four and the Tigers in the midst of a rebuild.
Rioli is averaging 20 touches with his best match coming in Round 1 against the Eagles, picking up 21 disposals and creeping forward to kick two goals.
He was also excellent in the one-point win over Adelaide with 26 touches and six tackles, six rebound 50s and five inside 50s.
5 - Jack Macrae (St Kilda)
The three time All-Australian was on the outer at the Whitten Oval, after only playing 19 games last year and clubs came circling, enquiring about his services.
St Kilda were the most keen, looking to add an A-grade midfielder to a side desperately needing some class and the former Bulldog was exactly what they were looking for.
The Saints only had to part with Pick 45 and it has proven to be a bargain with the 2016 premiership star hitting the ground running at Moorabbin.
The midfielder was almost back to his prolific best, averaging 27 touches and 15 contested possessions, however his season has been halted with a punctured lung suffered in Round 10.
6 - Shai Bolton (Fremantle)
Just like teammates Daniel Rioli, Jack Graham and Liam Baker, Bolton opted to leave Punt Road in search of another premiership to add to the two he won at Tigerland.
The obvious choice was to head back home to Western Australia and Fremantle led the race with three first-round picks at their disposal to offer the Tigers.
The Dockers had to cough up all three but did receive Pick 14 in return which helped net them young gun Murphy Reid.
After a slow start to life in purple, the 2022 All-Australian has rediscovered his best form in recent weeks with multiple 20-plus disposals games while booting goals frequently.
7 - Liam Baker (West Coast)
After carving out a successful seven-year stint at Punt Road, Baker chose to finally make the move back home to Western Australia to be closer to his farming family.
The versatile and tenacious Baker was part of a complex three-way trade which involved West Coast and Carlton doing a deal for Pick 3 and Richmond landing another top 15 pick.
The two-time premiership star has had a difficult start to life in Perth with his first win coming against the Saints in Round 10.
But the former Tiger has been one of the Eagles' best, averaging over 22 disposals, and would be up the front for the club's best and fairest.
8 - James Peatling (Adelaide)
The 2021 mid-season draftee finally solidified his spot in the Giants side at the end of 2024, playing 19 games including both finals.
The midfielder remained unsigned at the end of 2024 and the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and Adelaide came calling, looking to add to their midfield depth.
The Crows won the race in the end, handing over a future second-round pick and he has been terrific in providing support for stars Jordan Dawson and Izak Rankine in the midfield.
The former Giant has gone to another level in 2025, averaging 20 disposals with nine of them being contested and was one of the Crows' best in their recent heartbreaking loss to Gold Coast.
9 - Harry Perryman (Collingwood)
Collingwood’s Mr Fix-It, Harry Perryman has slotted seamlessly into Craig McRae’s side after making the switch at the end of last year via free agency.
With the versatile wingman out of contract plenty of clubs came calling with big offers, however, the Magpies won out with the lure of playing for his childhood club too difficult to refuse.
Perryman was slated to play in the midfield over the summer but injuries to Reef McInnes, Darcy Moore and Brayden Maynard at different stages throughout 2025 has seen the former Giant return to defence.
He has hardly made a mistake in his start to life in black and white with his best game against the Blues in Round 4 when finishing with 20 touches, eight tackles, eight inside 50s and a goal.
10 - Alex Neal-Bullen (Adelaide)
After featuring 176 times for the Demons between 2015 and 2024, the hard-running midfielder felt it was finally time to head back to Adelaide for family reasons.
The Demons didn’t stand in his way, receiving Pick 28 from Melbourne as part of the first deal done during October’s trade period.
Neal-Bullen is just one part of Adelaide’s strong off-season with the club also picking up Isaac Cumming and James Peatling while using Pick 4 on young gun midfielder Sid Draper.
The South Australia is averaging just under 17 disposals a game however is having maximum impact, highlighted by his 25 disposals and a goal against the Swans last week.
Just missed: Dan Houston (Collingwood) and Nick Haynes (Carlton) have had some standout performances but at this stage have lacked the consistency to make the top 10.
Tom Barrass and Josh Battle have also showed signs but haven't fully gelled in Hawthorn's backline.
