THE 2019 free agency pool lost four of its biggest names on Wednesday when Lachie Neale, Steven May, Chad Wingard and Dylan Shiel all found new homes on the final day of the NAB AFL Trade Period.
The exodus of star power leaves Giants Stephen Coniglio and Nick Haynes, Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui, Fremantle speedster Stephen Hill and Gold Coast midfielder David Swallow among 2019's headline free agency acts.
Will rival clubs tempt Stephen Coniglio to leave the Giants in next year's free agency period? Picture: AFL Photos
TRADE TRACKER Every done deal and free agency move
Port Adelaide forward Wingard was the first of the high-profile quartet to find a new home when he was traded to Hawthorn on Wednesday morning in exchange for Ryan Burton and a raft of draft picks.
Early that afternoon, Fremantle midfielder Neale and Gold Coast defender May were traded in quick succession to Brisbane and Melbourne respectively.
Neale got to the Lions in a deal centred around pick No.6, a selection that also sent May to the Demons after they acquired it from Fremantle in the Jesse Hogan trade.
It had been feared all of these deals could go down to the wire, but it was Shiel's move to Essendon that threatened to fall over by Wednesday's 8.30pm deadline.
Finally, with barely five minutes left on the clock, the Bombers agreed to the Giants' long-stated price of two first-round picks and Shiel was theirs (along with GWS's future second-round pick).
NAB AFL TRADE HUB Latest news, videos and full reaction
David Swallow (r), could follow Dayne Beams (l) on his way out of Queensland. Picture: AFL Photos
Next year's free agency group also includes Eagles defender Brad Sheppard, Richmond defenders David Astbury and Brandon Ellis, Hawthorn midfielder Liam Shiels, rejuvenated North Melbourne backman Majak Daw, Giants Adam Tomlinson and Matt Buntine, and Saints midfielder Jack Newnes.
It numbers three club captains – Melbourne's Nathan Jones, Saint Jarryn Geary and West Coast's Shannon Hurn – along with star veterans Josh Kennedy (West Coast), Shane Edwards, Grant Birchall, Todd Goldstein, Ben Stratton and Matthew Kreuzer.
INDICATIVE DRAFT ORDER Your club's picks
A selection of 2019's prospective free agents
CARLTON
Levi Casboult
Matthew Kreuzer
FREMANTLE
Stephen Hill
GOLD COAST
David Swallow
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Adam Tomlinson
Stephen Coniglio
Nick Haynes
HAWTHORN
Grant Birchall
Liam Shiels
Ben Stratton
MELBOURNE
Nathan Jones
NORTH MELBOURNE
Majak Daw
Todd Goldstein
RICHMOND
David Astbury
Brandon Ellis
Shane Edwards
ST KILDA
Jarryn Geary
Jack Newnes
WEST COAST
Shannon Hurn
Josh Kennedy
Nic Naitanui
Brad Sheppard
Rate your club's Trade Period
How did your club fare at the trade table?
You can use the form below to rate your club's NAB AFL Trade and Free Agency Period out of 10. If you like, you can also have your say on your side's deal-making.
We'll publish the results and best responses on AFL.com.au on Saturday, October 20.
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