WHILE the likes of Charlie Cameron and Bryce Gibbs have made immediate impacts at their new clubs, other recruits are yet to fire a shot.

Most notably, Jake Lever and Tom Rockliff have looked more like fishes out of water than big fishes commanding lucrative price tags.

Lever — touted as the next Alex Rance — has struggled to implement his intercept game at the Demons, with a number of clubs strategically isolating him one-on-one.

Yet even on the weekend against Hawthorn, where the former Crow was given the freedom to come off his opponent, he made a number of critical errors. At halftime Lever had nine disposals and seven turnovers.

Finals Week 1

Of course, Lever wasn’t alone on Sunday, with the Demons having their colours lowered across the board.

But because the Demons gave up two first-round draft picks to secure the 22-year-old, there’s added pressure - or at least perceived pressure - on the defender.

Tom Rockliff (right) had a limited pre-season. Photo: James Elsby/AFL Media/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

In the case of Rockliff, a limited pre-season may explain his sluggish start to 2018.

The former Brisbane skipper didn’t compete in any JLT Community Series matches and has spent more time forward at the Power, kicking three goals from four matches.

But his average disposals (12) are the lowest they’ve been since 2010, with Rockliff yet to play more than 72 per cent game time.

A “sore calf” sustained in the first quarter against the Bombers didn’t help his cause on Sunday.

But coach Ken Hinkley was hard pressed to deny his recruit was yet to hit his straps.

“He did a manful job to be honest to hobble around there as best as he could,” Hinkley said.

“He hasn’t been in his best form, but last week I felt like he was building a bit better.

“This week unfortunately he’s had a little incident that has slowed him down a little bit. I don’t think it’s a big incident.

“But it’s enough to slow you down on a fast track.”

Time breeds familiarity and so it’s expected both Rockliff and Lever will ease into their new roles.

Indeed, one only needs to look to the 2017 season of Dion Prestia for confirmation that good players take time to adjust to new surrounds.

While the former Sun’s numbers waned in the infancy of his Tigers career, Prestia averaged almost 27 touches throughout the finals series to be one of the club’s most solid performers.

Richmond’s patience paid off.

Given time, it’s probable Port Adelaide and Melbourne will also reap the rewards with their big fish.

As Lever’s teammate Jordan Lewis said after Round 2: “People rush to try and judge someone.”

“We’ve got to have patience, he’s come to a new club, he’s playing in a backline and backlines are hard to jell these days,” Lewis said.

“You’ve got to play together for a long period of time.

“He’s going to be a superstar, he was nearly All-Australian last year. He’s two games in so just be patient.”