But while it is certainly the most high-profile defection since Chris Judd quit West Coast to join Carlton at the end of 2007, footballers have been regularly swapping clubs since the VFL began back in 1897.
- Since that first season, 2288 players have played at more than one club.
- More than 1000 of them have switched clubs since Ron Barassi’s famous decision to leave Melbourne and sign with Carlton in 1965.
- Nearly 100 players have switched clubs as result of a trade or the draft over the past three years.
- 22 Brownlow Medallists have switched clubs. These include 14 who won a medal at their first club. They are Gary Ablett, Len Thompson, Peter Bedford, Graham Teasdale, Brad Hardie, Shane Woewodin, Ross Glendinning, Tony Lockett, Gavin Wanganeen, Jason Akermanis, Chris Judd, Ben Cousins, Kelvin Templeton, Gary Dempsey and Brian Wilson.
- Five players have won a Brownlow Medal at their second club - Barry Round, Bernie Quinlan, Gerard Healy, Nathan Buckley and Chris Judd.
- Four players have won Brownlow Medals at two clubs - Ian Stewart, Peter Moore, Greg Williams and Chris Judd. Other big names to have switched clubs include Gary Ablett snr, Doug Wade, Barry Davis, Carl Ditterich, Peter McKenna, Justin Madden, Terry Daniher, David Cloke, Geoff Raines and Darren Jarman.
- Of the 16 AFL coaches from 2010, eight played for more than one club - Mick Malthouse, Matthew Primus, Alastair Clarkson, Brad Scott, Damien Hardwick, Ross Lyon, Paul Roos and Rodney Eade.
- Of the former players currently working in the media, 37 of them played for more than one club. They include names such as Gerard Healy, Rex Hunt, Robert Walls, Brian Taylor, Alistair Lynch, Dermott Brereton, Stan Alves, Roger Merrett, Daniel Harford, Tom Harley, Wayne Schwass and Nathan Brown.
