There's the hope that a new opportunity – among new teammates in new colours – will encourage the best from a recruit.
But when considering his potential output in Dream Team terms, there's also the danger it won't.
Hands up if you locked in John Meesen as your back-up ruckman after he moved to Melbourne? Did you think Cain Ackland was going to prosper as a Blue? Or maybe you pondered Jade Rawlings as the Bulldogs' key forward.
Here at afl.com.au, we'll happily admit that we’ve fallen to similar traps and have grown sceptical of hearing coaches suggesting that a trade week gain 'fits our needs'.
But there have been exceptions – plenty of them – and maybe this year's crop of recycled players will unearth a real bargain.
Rhyce Shaw (Sydney Swans) – $386,000
So long the whipping boy at Collingwood, some might think Shaw is overpriced. But he has always been able to find the ball. With Tadhg Kennelly and Nic Fosdike gone, there is an opening for a high-possession run-and-carry type player at the Swans and Shaw will get plenty of opportunities.
Robert Warnock (Carlton) – $203,600
This trade was based on potential rather than proven performances. How quickly Warnock can live up to the hype will attract much scrutiny. At 206cm, he's bound to be part of Carlton’s ruck rotation at some stage but will have to push past Cameron Cloke and Matthew Kreuzer. An interrupted pre-season would make it tough, so Dream Team coaches could be best waiting to see how he's faring a few rounds in before trading for him. He only averaged 45.89 from nine games last year.
Farren Ray (St Kilda) – $322,800
Can get a bit of the ball but Dream Teamers will be hesitant to take the new Saint at this price and rightly so. He will play from half-back and in the midfield, but when you're looking at the $320,000-mark you want to bring in someone that can pull out the odd 120-plus point game. Ray is not that man.
Anthony Corrie (Collingwood) – $252,900
Collingwood got him at a bargain price in trade week and Corrie could also be a bargain pick-up for a Dream Team. He managed 20 games with the Brisbane Lions last year and offers enough to be a regular for the Magpies. He scored 66 points in the NAB Cup game against West Coast which might be a sign of things to come.
Leigh Brown (Collingwood) – $240,100
The former Roo only played nine games in 2008 for an average of 54.11. If you’re looking at this price for a defender you want a ball-winner, whereas Brown will almost certainly play a stopping or pinch-hitting role for his new club. There is very little case for the affirmative in this one.
Ben Cousins (Richmond) – $364,000
This is a selection just about every Dream Team coach will consider. Some might have thought that Cousins would come a bit cheaper than this, given he hasn't played since September 2007, and that will scare away some selectors. He has shown before that he can bounce back from a long absence and will definitely get a couple of high-scoring games, but there's the question of how often he will do it.
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The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
