Deals of the century: Jay Clark reveals his best trades since 2000
MAKING the right trade can deliver premierships, transform teams and give supporters hope. JAY CLARK has considered every major transaction and reveals the top 50 most successful — and there are some huge moves.
OUTSIDE on-field action — the big goals, the crunching tackles, the super pack marks — nothing excites the football fan more than the prospect of nabbing a star from a rival club.
JAY CLARK has considered every major transaction — some man for man, some much more complicated — since 2000 to determine the 50 most successful.
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These deals have transformed teams, delivered premierships, given supporters hope. But not everyone is a winner in footy’s meat market.
Here are Jay’s top 50 trades.
1. Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
Blockbuster trade deals don’t get any better than this one. Hawthorn parted with Luke McPharlin and Trent Croad to Fremantle in late 2001 for picks No.1 (Luke Hodge), No.20 (Daniel Elstone) and No.36 (Sam Mitchell). It was an incredibly bold call at the time, with many Hawks fans up in arms about the shock decision to off-load favourite son Croad. And while Hawthorn initially copped some more flak for picking Hodge over two-time Brownlow medallist Chris Judd, the Colac product led the Hawks to four premierships. Hodge’s courage, leadership and performances on the big stage are now legendary.
The Hawks also weighed up St Kilda great Leigh Montagna with pick No.36 but instead opted for Box Hill onballer Mitchell, who became one of the premier midfielders and of his era, winning a Brownlow in 2012. Croad played two seasons in the west but rejoined the Hawks in 2004 and played a key part in their 2008 flag.
2. Brad Ottens (Geelong)
The big man was the missing ingredient for the Cats. Geelong had built a superstar young midfield group by late 2014 but desperately needed another marking target in attack and, as it turned out, a reliable ruckman. And despite a slow start to his career at Geelong, prompting a fierce public defence from Mark Thompson, the Cats simply would not have won the 2007 preliminary final without Ottens’ heroics against Collingwood at the MCG. He played a key role in three Geelong flags despite some ongoing knee issues.
The Cats off-loaded Brent Moloney to Melbourne and packaged together picks No.12 (Danny Meyer) and No.16 (Adam Pattison) to Richmond for the injury-plagued big man. Masterstroke.
3. Shaun Burgoyne (Hawthorn)
It went down to mediation after days of tense negotiations, but finally Hawthorn secured the man that would play an integral role in three premierships and is regarded as one of the best big-game performers of the modern era. A midfield star at Port Adelaide, Burgoyne had immense talent but was struggling with some knee issues, and there were no guarantees his career would last more than three more seasons.
But Hawthorn talent guru Chris Pelchen, who worked on the deal for a full year, brought “Silk” to Hawthorn in 2009 as part of a complicated four-way deal that saw the Hawks hand over pick No.9 (Andrew Moore) and No.16 (Jasper Pittard). Hawthorn received pick No.16 from Essendon for sharpshooter Mark Williams. Geelong came to the rescue when it parted with pick No.33 (which went to Essendon to use on Anthony Long) for later selections No. 40 (Allen Christensen), No. 42 (Nathan Vardy) and No. 56 (Josh Cowan).
4. Josh Gibson (Hawthorn)
Gibson was a solid, albeit somewhat undersized key defender when he was shipped off to Hawthorn in late 2009 for picks No.25 (Aaron Black) and No.41 (Ayden Kennedy). It was yet another trade coup for the Hawks as Gibson became a premiership linchpin, winning best-and-fairests in the 2013 and 2015 flag campaigns. He set the record for spoils with 21 in the 2011 semi-final against Sydney, moved on to Matthew Pavlich in the second-half of the 2013 Grand Final and had 32 and 29 disposals in the 2014 and 2015 deciders. The Hawks also picked up utility Taylor Duryea with pick No.61 as part of the Gibson deal.
5. Josh Kennedy (Sydney)
Again Hawthorn is involved, but this time the Hawks are on the other end of a monster trade deal. One of the most consistent midfielders of the past decade, Kennedy was struggling to cement his position in a star-studded Hawthorn midfield playing 13 senior games in 2008-09. So he moved up north with Ben McGlynn for picks No.39 (Sam Grimley), No.46 (Ben Stratton) and No.70 (Matthew Suckling).
Yes, the Hawks hit the nail on the head with Stratton, who is one of the most under-rated defenders of his time, and rocket-launching defender Suckling. But Kennedy’s influence on the Swans has been enormous. The three-time All-Australian, 2012 premiership player and current captain has finished in the top-four of the best-and-fairest count in each of the past seven seasons.
6. Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
The superstar midfielder has won a Brownlow and two Carji Greeves Medals in his first two seasons at the Cattery, helping keep open the club’s premiership window. Clearly, this trade has been a big win for the Cats already, and that’s not including his huge off-field marketing and media appeal. Dangerfield was technically eligible for free agency in late 2015, but Adelaide forced the Cats into a trade to ensure the Crows received meatier compensation.
In the end, the Cats coughed up picks No.9 (Wayne Milera) and No.28 (on-traded for Troy Menzel) and Dean Gore. Ironically, Gore was delisted from Adelaide without playing a senior game and has since rejoined the Cats’ VFL ranks. Dangerfield is one of the top players in the game his breakaway speed and forward craft remains the Cats’ No.1 asset.
7. Chris Judd/Josh Kennedy (Carlton/West Coast)
Probably the most-talked about trade deal in the history of the game. Chris Judd was one of the top players in the league when he made the bombshell call to head home, and picked Carlton over Essendon, Melbourne and Collingwood. At the time, West Coast powerbrokers said it was impossible to receive fair compensation for a player of Judd’s calibre, but out of it they landed picks No.3 (Chris Masten) and No.20 (Tony Notte) and now two-time Coleman Medallist, six-time leading goalkicker and premiership player Josh Kennedy.
While Kennedy has become a superstar spearhead, you can’t underrate Judd’s influence at Carlton from 2008. The brilliant midfielder led the club out of a dark era, changed the culture and gave the Blues hope. He was a heck of a player at Ikon Park, despite some early groin trouble, winning a Brownlow Medal, four-straight All-Australian jerseys, three Carlton best-and-fairests and, as captain, delivered two finals wins. So who won the trade? Even though Masten has never become a star and Notte didn’t make it, Judd himself believes West Coast “probably get the points”.
8. Barry Hall (Sydney)
Barry Hall’s off-field dramas reached breaking point when he requested a trade from St Kilda. The goalkicker turned down interest from Carlton to move up north to Sydney, with huge success. On the field, the powerhouse spearhead captained Sydney to a premiership in 2005 and Grand Final in 2006. He led the club’s goalkicking seven times and was a three-time All-Australian with the Swans. He was also voted the Most Valuable Player in the competition by the AFL Coaches’ Association in the 2005 premiership year.
Off the field, he was a face of the game in Sydney. The move cost the Swans picks No.13 (Nick Dal Santo), No.17 (on-traded for Heath Black) and No.45 (Nathan Clarke). All up, it was a huge deal for the Swans, Cats (who gained James Kelly) and the Saints. Dal Santo became one of the smoothest-movers in the game and helped lead the Saints to Grand Finals in 2009-10.
9. Brian Lake (Hawthorn)
Some thought Brian Lake was shot at the end of 2012. Patchy form and injury troubles left the veteran defender’s career at the crossroads at the kennel. His manager Marty Pask discussed the trade to Waverley with Hawthorn list guru Graham Wright over coffee mid-year, and then kept it secret from Lake himself until Grand Final day. While some may argue Lake was just in the right spot at the right time, the move in hindsight was genius as the attacking key defender played a key role in three-straight flags between 2013-15.
He proved his worth in the tightly-contested 2013 Grand Final win over Fremantle, winning the Norm Smith Medal for his aerial dominance in the second half. Lake moved to Hawthorn along with pick No.27 (on-traded for Tim O’Brien) for picks No.21 (Nathan Hrovat) and No.41 (on-traded for Koby Stevens). We questioned why the Hawks would give up an early second-round pick for a veteran full-back at the time, but it paid rich dividends.
10. Fraser Gehrig/Daniel Kerr (West Coast/St Kilda)
One of the best win-win deals in AFL history, St Kilda and West Coast both benefited enormously from this swap in late 2000. The Saints parted with pick No.18 (Kerr) and David Sierakowski for cult figure Gehrig, who excelled at both ends for the Saints. The powerhouse was runner-up in the best-and-fairest at full-back in 2001 and then won two Coleman Medals and led the Saints goal kicking in five straight seasons.
Kerr, meanwhile, quickly became one of the league’s most dynamic and tough on-ballers in a champion West Coast midfield. Kerr finished runner-up in the Brownlow Medal in 2005 and 2007 and polled the third most votes in 2006. Remarkably successful trade.
11. James Clement and Brodie Holland (Collingwood)
There was little fanfare when Collingwood swapped pick No.39 (Adam McPhee) for two fringe Dockers only days before the 2000 Sydney Olympics. But what a turnaround. After managing only 14 games between them in their last season in purple, classy defender Clement and hard-running midfielder Holland became two of Michael Malthouse’s most trusted and consistent performers as the Pies contested the 2002-03 Grand Finals. A stand-in captain for Nathan Buckley at times, Clement won back-to-back best-and-fairests in 2004-05 and finished second in 2006. The deal hinged on another smart move to send Paul Williams to Sydney for picks No.8 and No.39.
12. Jordan Lewis (Melbourne)
More cleverness from the Hawks. The club moved on Nathan Thompson for pick No.10 in the 2004 national draft and wanted a hard nut midfielder to partner twin towers Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead. But Jordan Lewis would be gone by pick No.10, so the Hawks shipped off that choice and Bo Nixon for pick No.7 to make sure they landed Lewis. The hard ball-winner played an integral role in four premierships at Hawthorn and is now chasing a fifth flag at Melbourne. Thompson finished sixth and second in the Roos’ best-and-fairest in his first two years at North before retiring due to depression after his third season.
13. James Kelly (Geelong)
The Cats off-loaded high-flying forward Clint Bizzell for pick No.17, which master recruiter Stephen Wells turned into three-time premiership midfielder James Kelly. Bizzell played 88 games for the Demons, while the uncomplicated and defensively-minded Kelly was a team favourite. Made All-Australian in the 2011 premiership season and played 313 games, including a two-year stint at Essendon.
14. Grant Birchall (Hawthorn)
Port wanted to top-up after its 2004 flag and targeted left-footer Nathan Lonie from Hawthorn. The Hawks received pick No.14 in return for Lonie and used that selection on four-time premiership defender Grant Birchall. Has there been a consistently better field kick than Birchall over the past decade? The Tasmanian’s centimetre-perfect ball use was one of Alastair Clarkson’s biggest weapons out of the back half. Runner-up in the 2014 best-and-fairest.
15. Mal Michael (Brisbane)
Michael’s career took-off at Brisbane where he became a key cog in one of the greatest defensive units of all-time. While the triple-premiership Lion never received the individual accolades he probably deserved, missing out on All-Australian selection, he was one of the most physical, durable and consistent fullbacks in the competition, playing 140 of a possible 145 games in six seasons up north. An intimidating figure, the Lions nabbed Michael and pick No.22 (Richard Hadley) for Jarrod Molloy and pick No.44.
16. Sean Dempster and Adam Schneider (St Kilda)
Exquisite trading from Saints. Dempster was already a premiership defender at the Swans when he moved to Moorabbin alongside clever goalkicker Adam Schneider for pick No.26 (Brett Meredith). The duo cost the Saints peanuts, in hindsight. Dempster was a blue-collar defender who became an even better player under Ross Lyon, finishing top-three in the Saints’ best-and-fairest four times.
17. Peter Bell (Fremantle)
The two-time North Melbourne premiership player was a shining light during a tough time for the Dockers. The tenacious midfielder won three best-and-fairests in the west, but carried a huge load at times. He picked up 38 possessions and two goals and 44 possessions and three goals in Fremantle’s only two wins in 2001. The Dockers paid a big price for Bell, giving up Jess Sinclair, pick No.6 (Dylan Smith) and No.37 (Guy Richards), but welcomed a man who would become a club icon.
18. Darren Jolly (Collingwood)
Collingwood needed a ruckman, and this superb trade helped signal a more aggressive mode of thinking from clubs in the premiership window. The Pies had relied on Cameron Wood in the 2009 finals series and smartly targeted 2005 Sydney premiership ruckman Darren Jolly. The big man played 26 games in 2010 and helped lead the Pies to the premiership win over St Kilda, finishing 10th in the best-and-fairest that year. Sydney received picks No.14 (Lewis Jetta) and on-traded No.46 to snare Josh Kennedy. Both were key planks in the 2012 flag win over Hawthorn. What a deal.
19. Dion Prestia/Josh Caddy (Richmond)
The foresight on this one went against the grain of public opinion. The Tigers were thought to be in major trouble after missing finals in 2016, but hard nut Gold Coast midfielder Dion Prestia saw the potential in the list. Richmond parted with pick No.6 and a future-second round selection for Prestia and pick No.26, which it on-traded for Josh Caddy. The two players were crucial cogs in the Tigers stunning flag win last year. The Cats nabbed Brandon Parfitt at No.26.
20. Jack Gunston (Hawthorn)
One of the hardest-running forwards in the game, the Jack Gunston trade has been another red-hot move from the Hawks. He arrived in late 2011 after two seasons in Adelaide and has bagged almost 300 goals in brown and gold, saving some of his best performances for the biggest stage. He placed second in the 2013 Norm Smith Medal for his crucial four-goal contribution against Fremantle in the 2013 Grand Final. Adelaide received picks No.24 (on-traded for Sam Kerridge), No.46 (Nick Joyce) and No.71 (on-traded for Cam Ellis-Yolmen) for Gunston.
21. Sam Jacobs (Adelaide)
Jacobs was a back-up ruckman at Carlton when Adelaide snared him for a bargain-based price in late 2010. The Blues already had Matthew Kreuzer, Robbie Warnock and Cameron Cloke, so the Crows swooped on Jacobs, giving up picks No.34 (Patrick McCarthy) and No.67 (Andrew McInness). Since then, Jacobs has flourished into one of the league’s most consistent and prolific ruckmen. He led the AFL for hitouts last year and has made the All-Australian squad three times, without ever making the team.
22. David Hale (Hawthorn)
Hale’s career at North was starting to stutter when Alastair Clarkson’s crew swooped again. The Hawks passed on picks No.27 (Kieran Harper) and No.71 (Ben Mabon) for Hale and pick No.52 (on-traded for Kyle Cheney). But the sweetener was Hawthorn also received pick No.66 from Melbourne in the Cheney on-trade which landed premiership small forward Paul Puopolo. The Dees did well, too, snaring Tom McDonald at pick No.53, which also came from Hawthorn. Hale was structurally important, playing key forward and second ruck in the Hawks’ three flags.
23. Scott Thompson (Adelaide)
As it turned out, Melbourne let go one of the best ball-winners in the competition when it parted with Thompson for pick No.12 in at the end of 2014. The Demons used the choice to gain Brent Moloney from Geelong. Not a bad replacement, but Thompson was a star in Adelaide for long time, winning two best-and-fairests and an All-Australian guernsey over 308 matches. Fourth in the 2012 Brownlow Medal.
24. Ted Richards (Sydney)
Sydney just find blokes and turn them into premiership stars. Richards struggled to cement a regular spot at Essendon before moving to the Swans for pick No.19 (Courtenay Dempsey) and pick No.50 (Sam Lonergan). There, the workmanlike and sometimes unfashionable stopper became one of the best defenders in the AFL. He was All-Australian and finished second in the best-and-fairest in the 2012 premiership campaign.
25. Trent Croad (Hawthorn)
The Hawks rubbed salt into Fremantle’s wounds here. After a brief stint in the west, Croad returned to Waverley at the end of 2003 in exchange for pick No.10 (Ryley Dunn). The strong and athletic backman often took the opposition’s best forward and was All-Australian in 2005. He broke his foot in the 2008 Grand Final and courageously laid a bump on Joel Selwood as he limped off the ground. Played 100 games in five seasons at Hawthorn until the career-ending foot injury.
26. Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)
Another home run from the Hawks. They gave up pick No.16 for one of the prolific ball-winners. The onballer won the Hawks’ club champion award by a street in his first season at Waverley and the Brownlow Medal this year. Sydney on-traded pick No.16 to nab X-factor goalkicker Will Hayward and also cleared some salary cap space.
27. Josh Kelly (GWS)
No matter how you slice and dice this contentious deal, Josh Kelly remains a cut above. Melbourne of, course, had some short-term needs when it gave up its No.2 pick to Greater Western Sydney for Dom Tyson and pick No.9. But unless Salem becomes a genuine A-grader, the Giants clearly hold the upper hand here.
28. Brodie Grundy (Collingwood)
This was the best move Collingwood made as part of its 2012-14 list turnover. The Pies traded Sharrod Wellingham to West Coast for pick No.18. Collingwood used the selection to net the big slider in the 2012 national draft, Brodie Grundy. Wellingham had little impact in his five seasons on decent money in the west, while Grundy has become one of the AFL’s top ruckmen.
29. Callan Ward (Western Bulldogs)
This trade went pear-shaped quickly for Richmond with McMahon demoted to the VFL reserves in his second and final season for the Tigers under new coach Damien Hardwick. But the Dogs were huge winners. They received pick No.19 and found Callan Ward who helped drive the club to consecutive preliminary finals. They Dogs received pick No.6 to welcome gun midfielder Jack Macrae as compensation for Ward’s departure at the end of 2011.
30. Shane Mumford (Sydney)
Mumford left Geelong for more money and more opportunity at Sydney and it was a smart decision. In a fabulous first season, the bone-crushing big man finished runner-up in the best-and-fairest and made the All-Australian squad. By late 2012, the man originally discovered several years earlier playing local footy for Bunyip at 120kg, was a premiership ruckman. Geelong used the Mumford pick (No.28) on jet premiership midfielder Mitch Duncan. Win-win.
31. Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
For all the talk about Carlton’s list build, this decision was a gem. The Blues flipped picks No.25 (Josh Dunkley) and No.26 (Kieran Collins) over to the Bulldogs so they could land Charlie Curnow at pick No.12. It helped that Curnow slid down the draft order off the back of a draft-week arrest for refusing a breath test. But the brilliant forward is rated one of the most versatile, dynamic and exciting young players in the game.
32. Drew Petrie (North Melbourne)
Whether it was smart trading or just high-quality drafting, the Roos hit the jackpot with pick No.23 in the 2000 national draft. The Roos traded Evan Hewitt for the second-round pick and picked up Ballarat product Petrie whose long arms provided a fine marking target for more than 300 games across 16 consistent seasons. He led the Roos’ goalkicking on five occasions and memorably booted seven goals in Glen Archer’s 300th in the win over the Western Bulldogs.
33. Byron Pickett (Port Adelaide)
He was known as the human wrecking ball, and there is little doubt about the impact he had in Port Adelaide’s inaugural premiership. Upsetting the all-conquering Brisbane, Pickett turned in a blinder in the 2004 Grand Final, racking up three goals and 20 possessions to win the Norm Smith Medal. He was sixth in the best-and-fairest in his first season at Port the year earlier. North Melbourne traded him for pick No.13 (on-traded for Leigh Brown) and No.31 (Joel Perry).
34. Tom Boyd (Western Bulldogs)
Is there a more divisive or contentious trade than this one? The Dogs caused shockwaves when a meeting in the underground garage of Peter Gordon’s house led to Tom Boyd’s departure after one season at Greater Western Sydney. The Giants landed pick No.6 (Caleb Marchbank) and Ryan Griffen, or as Jeremey Cameron said, a city slicker for a pig shooter. Whatever your view of Boyd’s $1 million-a-year pay packet, he delivered big time in the 2016 preliminary and Grand Final, helping the Dogs break the longest premiership drought in the game. A tick? It has to be now.
35. Zach Tuohy (Geelong)
It is hard to believe, but Geelong effectively only dropped five spots in the draft order for Zach Tuohy. The Cats gave up Billie Smedts, pick No.63 and their first-round selection (No.17) in 2016 to gain the gun Irish defender and Carlton’s second-round pick (No.22) the following year. Tuohy replaced Corey Enright at half-back and finished third in the Cats’ best-and-fairest last year.
36. Elliot Yeo (West Coast)
Brisbane lowballed Elliot Yeo in contract negotiations, leaving the door ajar for West Coast to zero in on the game breaking midfielder in late 2013. Yeo’s game has taken off as a permanent onballer this season and his size and strength in the clinches, combined with his running and marking power, is a massive weapon for Adam Simpson. Brisbane received pick No.28 back and plucked small forward-midfielder and Rising Star winner Lewis Taylor.
37. Sam Docherty (Carlton)
This penetrating backman was one of five players who left Brisbane with devastating consequences for the Lions at the end of 2013. Carlton split with only pick No.33 for Docherty in what now looks like a huge steal for the Blues. The rebounding half-back won Carlton’s best-and-fairest in 2016 and was runner-up and an All-Australian last year. Probably vice-captain next season, too, when he returns from a knee reconstruction.
38. David Mundy (Fremantle)
Fremantle had blown a few trades in its early years but they nailed it with this one. Exciting defender Steven Koops was exchanged for pick No.19 in 2003, which netted them permanent midfield-forward David Mundy. The silky ball-user has finished top-three in the best-and-fairest three times and was All-Australian in 2015. Koops played only 11 games at the Kennel.
39. Wayne Carey/Daniel Wells (Adelaide/North Melbourne)
The champion centre half-forward teamed up with gun onballer Mark Ricciuto for two final seasons at Adelaide in 2003-04. While injuries curbed Carey’s impact at the Crows, booting 56 goals in 28 games, North used the Carey picks to select Daniel Wells at No.2 and Kris Shore at No.18. Wells also had some injury dramas but was one of the most skilful midfielders of his time and won two best-and-fairests before moving to Collingwood.
40. Aaron Hamill (St Kilda)
Courageous forward fell out with Carlton president John Elliott at the end of a career-best season in 2000, prompting a trade to St Kilda to help spearhead the club’s rebuild. Hamill finished third in the best-and-fairest in 2001, was captain in 2003 and helped lift the club into preliminary finals in 2004-05. But injuries had taken their toll later in his career. Carlton got little out of the deal, using pick No.4 on 46-gamer Luke Livingston and trading in Sam Cranage who played 10 games.
41. Shannon Hurn (West Coast)
The Eagles made sure they were front of the queue for Shannon Hurn in the 2005 national draft with this clever exchange. West Coast parted with pick No.18 and fringe forward Daniel McConnell for No.13 (Hurn) and No.29 (Ben McKinley). Hurn is the current captain and perhaps the most lethal field kick in the AFL. McConnell played six senior games in his career.
42. Bradley Hill (Hawthorn)
Few would have predicted the impact this running machine had from the get-go at Hawthorn. His electric mix of speed and endurance on the wing helped power the Hawks to three-straight flags despite some inconsistency in his junior career. Hawthorn traded Brent Renouf to Port Adelaide for the Hill pick (No.33). He joined Fremantle for pick No.23 at the end of 2016 and won the best-and-fairest in his first season.
43. Josh Jenkins (Adelaide)
Adelaide landed the versatile forward for a bargain. They swapped pick No.31 to Essendon for pick No.41 and Jenkins, meaning the Crows only slid 10 places in the draft order. He has been a consistent gaolkicker and handy back-up ruckman, bagging more than 40 majors in the past five years. Adelaide fought off intense interest from Brisbane to sign Jenkins to a lucrative five-year deal in 2016.
44. Dayne Beams/Jordan De Goey (Brisbane/Collingwood)
Collingwood really turned the screws on the Lions in talks over Dayne Beams. Yes, the Pies lost a star midfielder entering his prime, but Collingwood got plenty back. They turned pick No.5 into bullocking ball-winner Jordan de Goey at the 2014 national draft, used pick No.25 to prise Levi Greenwood from North Melbourne and acquired underrated ex-Brisbane running defender Jack Crisp. Collingwood’s approach here encouraged others to play hardball.
45. Mark LeCras (West Coast)
West Coast off-loaded Chad Morrison to Collingwood for pick No.37, which in turn snagged clever goalkicker Mark LeCras. The small forward has booted 441 goals, the third-most in the club’s history, across 219 games. Adding a premiership medal this year. Morrison played only two seasons and 21 more games at Collingwood.
46. Jake Carlisle (St Kilda)
St Kilda snared gun key defender Jake Carlisle for pick No.6 (Aaron Francis). The bonus was the Saints also landed pick No.14 in a three-way trade involving Sydney to pick-up star small forward Jade Gresham. Essendon received Craig Bird in the deal.
47. Jeremy Howe (Collingwood)
The former Demons high-flyer has become one of the best intercepting defenders in the league. Ironically, Collingwood initially wanted Howe as a forward and let go Ben Kennedy (to Melbourne) and Paul Seedsman (Adelaide) to tick-off the transaction. It has worked a treat.
48. Heath Shaw (GWS)
The rebounding defender has been a key player for the Giants since his on-field meltdown in an elimination final loss to Port Adelaide. The Magpies swapped Shaw for hard nut onballer Taylor Adams. Another win-win.
49. Scott Thompson (North Melbourne)
One of the most successful mature-age pick-ups out of the VFL in recent times. The Roos traded ruckman Brad Moran to Adelaide in 2007 for pick No.37 which it used to beat Geelong to reliable and competitive key defender Scott Thompson. Played 213 games and placed top-three in the best-and-fairest three times. Moran played only 18 matches with the Crows.
50. Toby Nankervis (Richmond)
Richmond poached Sydney’s third-string ruckman for pick No.45 (Jack Maibaum) and turned him into a reliable premiership ruckman. Sydney would surely keep him if it had its time over. Absolute moneyball move from the Tigers.
Originally published as Deals of the century: Jay Clark reveals his best trades since 2000
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