In regards to the big marking goalkickers, times are certainly changing.
Brendan Fevola, Barry Hall, Daniel Bradshaw, Michael O’Loughlin, Matthew Lloyd, Matthew Richardson, Anthony Rocca and Scott Lucas all went into last season as potential weapons for their respective clubs and none will be in the same colours this year. The latter five were forced into retirement by the inevitable aging process which will eventually grab every footballer.
It is Fevola now with the Lions, Hall now with the Bulldogs and Bradshaw now with the Swans who will provide enormous interest going forward.
For a variety of reasons this highly talented trio have suffered the indignity of being effectively banished from their previous clubs, yet are regarded as star recruits by their new teams.
It reminds me of the kids who lived near us when I was growing up.
Every month or so these kids would head to the local tip in search of old pram wheels to build their latest model billy cart.
Most of the time the pram wheels they salvaged were no better than those they already had and were quickly thrown back into the rubbish.
However, every so often they found a couple of wheels which worked well.
Much of the AFL trade period works on this scenario: that one team's leftovers becomes another team's treasure.
Carlton discarded Fevola yet the Brisbane Lions snapped him up and paid the hefty price of effectively giving up two of their three first-round draft picks.
Once the Lions recruited Fev as a younger, better version to play the full-forward position, Bradshaw realised it was time to move on and the Sydney Swans eagerly offered him a lucrative three-year contract.
While the change of clubs might not have been desirable, getting a new three-year deal as a 31-year-old with a creaky back has been a great end result for Braddy’s career as a professional, full-time footballer.
The spot at the Swans was open because O'Loughlin retired and Hall departed in curious circumstances mid-season.
While his exit was handled with great dignity by all involved, it looked to me that big Barry was pushed aside and, if not encouraged to leave, was certainly not encouraged to stay.
The Bulldogs eventually stepped in and Hall went from expendable at the Swans to being an exciting recruit for a genuine premiership contender.
How this trio of power forwards perform at their new homes, and what effect they have on their new teams, will be one of the season's most intriguing issues.
The Fevola partnership with Jonathan Brown will attempt to replicate the Franklin-Roughead duo, who kicked a combined total of 188 goals on the way to Hawthorn's 2008 Premiership.
The new Lions' pairing certainly has the required talent but they are essentially forward 50 targets who are dominant drawers of the footy from teammates up field.
While Browny will push up field occasionally, even with Bradshaw in the team, the Lions captain was his team's forward target 27% of the time last season.
At Carlton, Fevola was the target an even higher 33% of the Blues' forward thrusts. They will be a headache for opposing defences but both are used to the ball being directed to them and the frustration of not being the sole primary target will be a lingering threat.
Overall my estimate would be that the Lions are about a goal a game improved by Fevola in for Bradshaw out, with the added benefit that when enthused, Fev is a much better defensive forward who has the speed to lay a few run-down tackles.
The off-field maintenance and potential distraction factor is very different. Braddy has always been extremely low-maintenance -- a player who goes about his footy with very little fuss or fanfare.
Every coach learns quickly about the 90-10 rule; 90 per cent of your time will inevitably be spent on 10 per cent of your players.
As the last week or so has again highlighted, Fev is definitely one of the high-maintenance 10 per cent.
Players of this ilk are always surrounded by the conundrum of whether they actually help or hinder in the long term. Their form has to be great because the effect on the team's harmony and culture can often be dangerously cancerous.
As an investment, Hall to the Bulldogs could be the biggest cost-benefit winner. He cost very little -- pick 47 in last year's draft -- does not replace another power forward and provides a different type to the Bulldogs' existing personnel.
What he will love is the quick ball movement through the midfield which the Bulldogs do so well.
The main sticking point for me is that the Bulldogs are already the competition's highest scorers with an average of 16 goals per game last year.
This was achieved through an unpredictable forward structure with no 50-plus goalkicker, but 14 players who kicked 10-plus.
The problem with the Hall-type forward is that their size and dominant personalities will attract the ball almost every time, which is contrary to the spread of targets that has been a great strength for the Bulldogs.
What Hall has shown in his couple of NAB Cup hit-outs is that he has still got it. His movement, agility, speed and ball handling are still there.
While veteran players can age overnight, the new Bulldog's form has been outstanding and the early glimpses would lead us to believe the Dogs have picked up a proven top-liner at a bargain price.
With the loss of O’Loughlin and Hall, Bradshaw comes to the Swans as an experienced, proven full-forward who will fit in well provided he can stay uninjured and defy the aging slow-down.
He will particularly enjoy being the Swans' primary target and will be comforted by not having to worry about Browny charging back with the flight of the footy and cleaning up friend or foe in the process.
Three new teams for three of the game’s elite forwards: it is going to be great to watch what unfolds.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
