I am a big NFL fan. To be honest, it is pretty rare that big $ signings payoff and they have had a lot longer at this FA stuff than us. Outside of perhaps getting yourself a true franchise QB splashing big cash around very rarely works.
In the AFL, as much as we all still lose our shit over big guys, gone are the days I think when you need a truly dominant big man. Its not like every goal now is kicked by your FF and CHF combo. There are perhaps 5-6 true match winners in the AFL, that I think are worth really big money. These are guys that on the regular, win the game off their own boot. We don't need one, because we already have one. His name is Dangerfield and we were lucky that we got him below market because he happens to be born in Moggs Creek! (This is the football equivalent of the life equivalent of being born in Australia and not Haiti).
The best recruiting is what we have done over the last few years. Mid money players, who are keen to move clubs because they want a change. Hendo, Tuohy, Crameri, Smith, Stanley, Black. etc. Regardless if you think these players are good, bad or indifferent, we didn't sell the farm to get them, so if they don't work out, they play some VFL, get the occasional call up when required, then they are gone. You aren't saddled with Daisy Thomas at $750k a year for 5 years, or Tippett playing for a $1M a year then retiring after lists have been lodged. (Add in our mature aged recruits and again, paying MASSIVE unders for players with immediate value). Hawthorn did the same for years.
(it helps if you are both good and known as a good club to go to - stable, good resources, etc). Even what Port did, the jury is out on if it will work. But they are in the top 8 and again they didn't sell the farm to get 3-4 good first 22 players. I still don't think that any of their recruits aren't in their 22 and again they aren't paying any of them f***you money.
We all love the chat about $1M players and those "big names" but really in FA this year, I would be looking at clubs like Essendon, Dogs, Carlton, Collingwood, etc. Clubs that are in the bottom 6-7 and thinking. Who there might be keen for a move - sort of how we plundered Carlton a few years back.
TBH I think our list is in the best shape it has been in years, in particular depth wise. I don't really think we need to do anything massive in FA this year. Perhaps some players around the edges and go back to the draft for some kids. A ruckman or CHB/FB could be king. There may be a 2nd ruck somewhere that is worth taking a punt on in particular as it seems every team but us has one.