AFL ranks the top ten recruits for the 2026 season

AFL.com.au has released its rankings for the ten most impactful player recruits of the 2026 season. The evaluation considered all 34 players who changed clubs during the trade period last October. Will Hayward, who joined Carlton, holds the tenth spot after recording career-highs in disposals and inside 50s. Christian Petracca occupies the ninth position despite fluctuating form during his debut year with Gold Coast. Sam Draper, now with Brisbane, and Corey Durdin, currently at Port Adelaide, also feature in the lower half of the list alongside Melbourne's Jack Steele. The rankings reflect individual performances across a 2026 campaign that remains active. While the top spot has been determined by the panel, the full list highlights how movement during the off-season has influenced team rosters and individual output throughout the current year.

• 8:00 PMAFL — Ranking the 10 best recruits of the 2026 season