GEELONG has secured former Carlton swingman Lachie Henderson after a trade deal was completed on Wednesday morning.

The Cats have traded their first-round selection in the 2016 draft to the Blues in exchange for the 25-year-old veteran of 117 AFL matches.

It is the first time a future draft pick has been used to acquire a player since the trading rules were changed earlier this year.

"It wasn’t an easy decision or a flippant decision in any way to give away a first pick," Cats recruiting boss Stephen Wells told AFL.com.au's Trade Radio shortly after the Henderson deal was confirmed.

"And I don’t know how we would’ve got this all done if the future picks weren’t there."

Henderson grew up near the small town of Birregurra, which is just 60kms south-west of Geelong.

A super-talented junior, he came through the Geelong Falcons TAC Cup program and the AFL-AIS Academy before being drafted by the Brisbane Lions with pick eight in the 2007 national draft.

Two years later, he was traded to Carlton as part of the deal that took Brendon Fevola to the Lions.

Henderson finished third in the Blues' best and fairest in 2013, although he had a tough run with injuries and form in 2014 and this season.

"We obviously rate Lachie highly, and he would’ve liked to play a bit better footy this year," Wells said.

"Lachie’s a versatile player, so he’ll be seen at both ends of the ground, I reckon.

"But over the next couple of years, as guys finish up in our backline that have been fantastic players but are into their 30s now, we probably see Lachie playing his best footy down back for us."

Henderson has become the third player to join Geelong during the trade and free agency periods.

Former Adelaide midfielder Patrick Dangerfield and ex-West Coast onballer Scott Selwood were secured by the club on Monday.