A TOTAL of 34 players moved clubs last October, so who has made the biggest impact in their first season at a new club?

The 2026 season is not quite over yet, the team at AFL.com.au has taken a look at all 34 'new' players this year and ranked the top 10 in order.

The No.1 spot probably isn't a great surprise, but there is sure to be plenty of debate about our top 10, including those who missed the cut (apologies to Liam Ryan and Ollie Florent).

Read on for our top 10.

10) Will Hayward

Carlton received: Will Hayward, three first-round picks (2025, 2026, 2027)
Carlton gave: Charlie Curnow, three second-round picks (2025, 2025, 2027)

Part of the trade that saw Charlie Curnow join the Swans, Hayward was a strong contributor for the Blues this season, particularly as they completed a remarkable turnaround to make an elimination final under Josh Fraser. Hayward kicked 24 goals in 21 games while he also spent time on the wing as he finished with career-highs for disposals (16.3), marks (5.7) and inside 50s (2.8) in his first season as a Blue.

9) Christian Petracca

Gold Coast received: Christian Petracca, three second-round picks (2025, 2025, 2026)
Gold Coast gave: three first-round picks (2025, 2025, 2026), one second-round pick (2025), one third-round pick (2027)

Recently bias suggests Petracca shouldn't be on this list at all, but don't forget just how hot his start to the season was. The Suns recruit had 37 coaches' votes from a possible 50 in his first five full games of the year (either side of a hamstring issue) and while his form tailed off considerably, he still finished the year as the No.21 ranked player in the game, according to Champion Data. A season of wild fluctuations for the former Demon.

8) Sam Draper

Free agent. Essendon received end of first round compensation pick

Despite coming off a ruptured Achilles, the former Essendon ruck has stood up in his first season in Brisbane. Both his 23 games (and counting) and 16 goals this year are career-highs as the 27-year-old enters a key part of his career after notching up his 100th AFL games earlier in 2026. While the Lions were top two in the competition for clearance differential in each of the three seasons before Draper's arrival, he has helped Brisbane sit top in that area this year.

7) Corey Durdin

Port Adelaide received: Corey Durdin, one second-round pick (2026)
Port Adelaide gave: one second-round pick (2025), one fourth-round pick (2025)

After seeking a return to South Australia from Carlton, Durdin produced the best season of his career in his first year with Port Adelaide. He kicked 32 goals – more than doubling his previous best of 15 – even as the Power finished in the bottom four. Durdin's 15 goal assists were also the fourth most for Port this year. The small forward is still only 24, but showed impressive signs in his first campaign with the Power.

6) Jack Steele

Melbourne received: Jack Steele
Melbourne gave: one third-round pick (2027)

Steele was a bargain recruit for the Demons following the departure of Clayton Oliver and the former St Kilda captain enjoyed an excellent first season at Melbourne. He averaged 23.5 disposals, six tackles and five clearances as the Demons enjoyed a fairytale run to a wildcard final in their first season under coach Steven King. Particularly in the absence of Jack Viney due to injury, Steele was a key figure in a dynamic Demons' midfield.

5) Jai Serong

Sydney received: Jai Serong, one fourth-round pick (2026)
Sydney gave: one third-round pick (2026)

Recruited for a steal as a versatile tall defender from the Hawks, Serong has missed just one game this year as the Swans have moved into a home preliminary final. Having impressed on the wing for most of the year, he's recently moved on ball to play crucial tagging roles while also picking up plenty of the ball himself, including 13 clearances in his past two games. Having played just 10 senior games in four seasons at Hawthorn, Serong has arrived in the harbour city in a big way.

4) Ben Ainsworth

Carlton received: Ben Ainsworth, one fourth-round pick (2025)
Carlton gave: Corey Durdin, one second-round pick (2026)

After a slow start to his time at the Blues, Ainsworth was pivotal to Carlton's surge in the second half of the season and finished the year as one of the most in-form players in the competition. The former Sun played all 25 games for the Blues and enjoyed career-bests for disposals (17.7) and goals (1.2), with the highlight being consecutive 20-disposal, three-goal games in round 24 and the wildcard win over Melbourne.

3) Jack Silvagni

Free agent. Carlton received end of first round compensation pick

The Saints' season did not go as planned, but their recruitment of Silvagni has been a huge win for the Saints already. The former Blue's numbers this year don't necessarily jump off the page but he formed a brilliant partnership in defence with Cal Wilkie, whose All Australian season may not have happened without Silvagni taking the best forward most weeks. Silvagni averaged career highs for marks and disposals this year and also proved a handy forward option at times.

2) Clayton Oliver

Greater Western Sydney received: Clayton Oliver
Greater Western Sydney gave: one third-round pick (2026)

A bargain recruit from Melbourne, Oliver stood up in a difficult season for the Giants, particularly after the pre-season knee injury suffered by Tom Green. Oliver finished third in the Kevin Sheedy Medal after averaging 30.2 disposals, 7.3 clearances and 4.8 tackles as he played in all 23 games for Greater Western Sydney this year. With Finn Callaghan missing the late part of the season due to injury and Green set to return, the trio will be crucial for the Giants in 2027.

1) Charlie Curnow

Sydney received: Charlie Curnow, three second-round picks (2025, 2025, 2027)
Sydney gave: Will Hayward, three first-round picks (2025, 2026, 2027)

It just has to be Charlie. After a sluggish start to the season, the now three-time Coleman Medal winner has been clearly the leading forward in the game this season, and finally delivered in a final with a bag of five against Brisbane on the weekend. After 23 goals from 10 games to start the season (including seven against a beaten up Bulldogs backline), Curnow's season started to turn after a strong showing in the loss to Geelong in round 11. Since then, he's averaged nearly four goals and five marks a game and will be a crucial part of Sydney's flag push.