Adelaide, 2002
Kane Johnson and picks 12 (Jay Schulz) and 41 (Tim Fleming) to Richmond and picks two (Daniel Wells) and 18 (Kris Shore) to North Melbourne for Wayne Carey, Jason Torney and pick 32 (Luke Jericho)
There were mixed emotions for Johnson, who played in both of Adelaide's premierships but had barracked for Richmond growing up. It weakened the Crows' midfield moving him on, but they saw bright lights with the arrival of Carey. Exiled by his former club, the champion centre half-forward, while 31, looked fresh from a year off but a neck injury forced his retirement after 28 games. The Crows got 77 out of Torney before delisting him at the end of 2007, while North has plenty more to come from the talented Wells. Johnson has been the Tigers' captain for the last four seasons.
Brisbane Bears, 1993
Nathan Buckley and pick 39 (Jason Wild) to Collingwood for pick 12 (Chris Scott), Troy Lehmann and Craig Starcevich
Collingwood had its eye on Buckley before he joined the Bears, and was aware of the get-out clause in his contract. After 21 games, he became a Pie and commenced a decorated career that would include six best and fairest awards, a Brownlow Medal, a Norm Smith Medal and nine years as skipper. Brisbane could do little to stop his departure and found some compensation in drafting Scott, who won the Rising Star Award in 1994 – a year after Buckley – and was a fierce premiership defender in 2001 and 2002. Lehmann played 13 games, while the experienced Starcevich added 20.
Carlton, 2000
Aaron Hamill to St Kilda for pick four (Luke Livingston) and Sam Cranage
Criticism from president John Elliott convinced Hamill to leave the Blues in a year that showcased some of his best football. Damaging and courageous in attack, supporters were angered and disappointed by his departure. St Kilda was thrilled. Utility Cranage had only played eight games for the Saints, was dumped after a year with the Blues and re-drafted to play 10, while defender Livingston was another high selection from the 2000 pool that struggled with injuries and form. Injuries became Hamill's curse too, but not before 98 games, a year as captain and a continued hardness that inspired his teammates.
Collingwood, 2000
Mal Michael and pick 22 (Richard Hadley) to the Brisbane Lions for Jarrod Molloy
Michael was a Pie for 61 games until the club surprisingly parted with him to secure hard-hitting forward Molloy from the Lions. It was the best thing for Michael, who added kilos to his frame as an imposing defender in the Lions' three premiership sides. Even Hadley, drafted with the pick that accompanied the Papua New Guinean, got his medal in '03 after a run of injuries. Molloy was solid for the Pies in 49 games, second in the 2001 best and fairest and a member of the 2002 grand final side, but retired at just 28.
Essendon, 1996
Gavin Wanganeen to Port Adelaide for pick five (Daniel McAlister)
The birth of the Power inspired Wanganeen to consider a return to South Australia. He had joined Essendon from the SANFL, won the 1993 Brownlow Medal and played in a premiership side at 20. Destined for more accolades, he became the Power's inaugural captain and held that role until relinquishing it in 2000. Best and fairest and All-Australian in 2003, Wanganeen claimed another flag in 2004 and persevered through 2005 before retiring a year later. Back at Windy Hill, things just didn't happen for New Zealander McAlister, who crawled to six games in six years.
Fremantle, 2001
Picks one (Luke Hodge), 20 (Daniel Elstone) and 36 (Sam Mitchell) to Hawthorn for Trent Croad and Luke McPharlin
It was another blockbuster deal for Freo, which stocked its defence by gaining Croad and the emerging McPharlin. It suited Hawthorn which, despite making a preliminary final, wanted to shore up its future. Unfortunately for Croad, the move west for 38 games was a disappointment and Freo's decision to part with its No. 1 pick proved a waste when he returned to the Hawks after two years. Croad, Hodge and Mitchell featured in this year's premiership, Mitchell as captain, but not all is lost for Freo, who have got 121 games so far out of McPharlin.
Geelong, 1998
Pick eight (Jude Bolton) to the Sydney Swans for Jason Mooney
Effective at centre half-forward for the Swans, Mooney was targeted by Geelong as the man to bolster its attack. He presented value for their first draft selection and began 1999 in a flurry – kicking 17 goals in the first six rounds. But he missed the last six weeks with a knee injury, and it would be his bane for two years. He gave the Cats 32 games while, further up the coast, a young Bolton was doing nicely. Reaching the 200-game milestone this year, he played an important role in the Swans' 2005 premiership win.
Hawthorn, 2002
Daniel Chick to West Coast for pick eight (Luke Brennan)
Homesickness eventually got the better of hard man Chick, who was courted by both WA clubs. The Eagles won, landing the 26-year-old in exchange for pick eight. Hard working and able to play at half-back, half-forward or in the midfield, Chick also gave coach John Worsfold 149 games of experience. By the end of 2006, Chick's 11-year wait for a premiership was over – his role in that match stirring. Hawthorn had welcomed key position prospect Brennan, but delisted him soon after Chick's triumph and 19 games.
Melbourne, 1997
Nathan Bassett to Adelaide for Matthew Collins and Brent Williams
Rookie-listed at the Demons, Bassett cracked his sternum before he could make his debut. He returned to South Australia in exchange for defender Collins, who had broken his leg, suffered earlier injuries and hoped to return to Victoria for personal reasons. Collins played 35 games, however, forward Williams didn't add to his seven. Until his retirement at the end of this season, Bassett was a valuable running backman for the Crows, finishing second in the best and fairest count in 2005 and earning All-Australian honours in 2006.
North Melbourne, 2002
Byron Pickett to Port Adelaide and pick 13 (Byron Schammer) to Fremantle for Leigh Brown and pick 31 (Joel Perry)
Premiership player Pickett got a road back to his hometown after six years and 120 games with the Roos. The uncompromising half-back was always going to be difficult to replace, and it took North some time to cope with his absence. Brown came with 63 games and has been useful in the key positions for 118 more, but has sometimes struggled with form. Freo has done well with Schammer, who continues to improve after reaching the ton, but promising youngster Perry got to eight games and stopped there.
Port Adelaide, 1996
Pick one (Michael Gardiner) to West Coast for Ian Downsborough
An interesting situation for the new club saw 20-gamer Downsborough head to Alberton in exchange for No. 1 in the draft. Gardiner was a readymade ruck replacement for the Eagles, and it was inevitable that he would join them with that pick. He made his debut as a 17-year-old, soon assumed the chief post and enjoyed a stellar run as one of the competition's best big men until injury struck in 2004. After a knee reconstruction he was used forward and was hit and miss. But what he gave in 129 games was in stark contrast to Downsborough's output across the border.
Richmond, 2004
Brad Ottens to Geelong for picks 12 (Danny Meyer) and 16 (Adam Pattison)
Pattison or Meyer may reward the Tigers yet, but All-Australian Ottens took little time to thrive at the Cattery. Disgruntled after 129 games and 152 goals, and with a stronger emphasis on playing as a forward than in the ruck, it has been quite the opposite at Geelong. Ottens paired well with Steven King, and even emerged as the preferred ruckman as the Cats claimed their first flag in 44 years. Despite missing the first nine games of 2008, Ottens returned for an impact and, just 28, more success could await him.
St Kilda, 1994
Tony Lockett and pick 87 (Simon Arnott) to the Sydney Swans and Simon Minton-Connell and pick 59 (Nathan Saunders) to Hawthorn for picks five (Joel Smith), 13 (Chris Hemley), Robert Neill, Joshua Kitchen and Glenn Nugent
It was always going to leave the Saints short-changed. Lockett had spent 12 years at St Kilda for 183 games and 898 goals. The first full-forward to win a Brownlow Medal, he struggled with the spotlight in Melbourne and headed for a lower profile in Sydney. But his influence didn't diminish and in round 19 of his first season there he kicked 16.0. By the time he retired, the Swans had played in a grand final and three more finals series, while Lockett had become the greatest goalkicker in the history of the game. The best of the other players involved in the trade, forward Minton-Connell couldn't revisit his early success while Smith, a talented half-forward, was robbed by injuries at the Saints but made up for it in 146 games at the Hawks.
Sydney Swans, 2001
Greg Stafford to Richmond for Nick Daffy
Sydney-bred Stafford became a key figure for the Swans and was one of the competition's best big men as the side won its way to the grand final in 1996. He reached 130 games but consistency had dwindled and, after groin and hip injuries ravaged his 2001 season, he was traded to the Tigers for crafty half-forward Daffy. Stafford was important in 74 more as a ruckman and a forward, while Daffy played just one game and kicked one goal – losing a battle with a knee injury and a passion that had pleased so many fans in his time at Punt Road.
West Coast, 2000
Mitchell White to Geelong, pick 27 (Ted Richards) to Essendon and pick 57 (Steven Sziller) to Richmond for Mark Merenda, Michael Prior and pick 45 (Trent Carroll)
A knee injury had restricted White to 12 games in 2000, but the departure of the vice-captain was a big shock to supporters. After 151 games and All-Australian selection in 1996, White's opportunity came at Geelong as West Coast coach Ken Judge threw lifelines to Tiger Merenda and Bomber Prior. Injury-prone, Merenda kicked 26 goals in 26 games while Prior was stopped at nine by a knee reconstruction. Carroll, a former Fremantle defender, played 45 games in four years, but despite the trio having little influence at their second clubs, White had back troubles and retired at the end of 2003 after 23 games.
Western Bulldogs, 2005
Jade Rawlings and pick 43 (Andrew Swallow) to North Melbourne for pick 46 (Travis Baird)
Bizarre is one of few words that can describe the Dogs' agreement to hand key position player Rawlings and its third-round draft pick to the Roos for nothing better. Former Lions rookie Baird managed just three games before he was delisted at the end of 2007, while Rawlings – a reliable defender in 116 games with Hawthorn before walking out on the club at the end of 2003 – was united with brother Brady for three games in one season at Arden St. He cited injury for his retirement. Midfielder Swallow, who the Roos took with their pick, has played 40 games and will hope for a big 2009.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
