Winners

Hawthorn

In: Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide), Tom Scully (GWS), Jack Scrimshaw (Gold Coast)

Out: Ryan Burton, Taylor Duryea

Picks before trade period: 14, 32, 50, 86

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Picks after trade period: 53, 90

Graham Wright has done it again. Winning the affections of an uncertain Wingard was a challenge in itself. Completing the deal, given their lean draft hand, was another. The Hawks gave up a bit, with 21-year-old Burton among the league’s most promising key position players. But Wingard is a rare talent capable of dominating in multiple positions, and Hawthorn have a proven record of getting the best out of their recruits. Scully’s acquisition for a future fourth-round pick still has industry analysts shaking their heads. If the Hawks can get his ankle right - which, it must be said, is far from a sure thing - Alastair Clarkson will have an A-grade wingman at his disposal. Scrimshaw, drafted at No.7 two years ago, has raw talent but needs an attitude adjustment. He’s now at the right club.

Fremantle

In: Jesse Hogan (Melbourne), Rory Lobb (GWS), Reece Conca (free agent - Richmond), Travis Colyer (Essendon)

Out: Lachie Neale (Brisbane)

Picks before trade period: 5, 77

Picks after trade period: 14, 31, 43, 65, 81

It’s a statement that’s been bandied around before, but Hogan could genuinely be part of the solution to Fremantle’s forward woes. In four seasons of AFL football, Hogan has bagged less than 40 goals just once - in 2017 (20 from 10 games), when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer a month after his father’s passing. Tall forward Lobb is among the league’s best contested marks when at his best and can pinch hit in the ruck if needed. Conca’s selection looks more speculative, with Fremantle backing themselves to get the injury-prone midfielder’s body right. Losing Neale hurts - particularly in the clinches, where Freo were found wanting in 2018 - but to quote Ross Lyon, “with adversity comes opportunity”. Expect Connor Blakely to step up.

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Richmond

In: Tom Lynch (free agency - Gold Coast)

Out: Reece Conca (free agency - Fremantle), Anthony Miles (Gold Coast), Corey Ellis (Gold Coast), Sam Lloyd (Western Bulldogs), Tyson Stengle (Adelaide)

Picks before trade period: 16, 34, 70, 88

Picks after trade period: 17, 37, 64, 68, 74, 92

The Tigers landed 2018’s biggest fish for a song, beating Collingwood and Hawthorn in the race for restricted free agent Lynch’s signature. At his best the competition’s most dominant key forward, Lynch accepted a contract worth significantly less than those on offer elsewhere and could earn as little as $500,000 next year on a heavily back-ended deal. Gold Coast’s offer was reportedly up to $600,000 a season more. The loss of four depth players and a lively small forward could hurt if Richmond’s charmed run with injury ends. Damien Hardwick will be crossing his fingers it doesn’t.

Brisbane

In: Lachie Neale (Fremantle), Marcus Adams (Western Bulldogs) Lincoln McCarthy (Geelong)

Out: Dayne Beams (Collingwood), Sam Mayes (Port Adelaide)

Picks before trade period: 4, 22, 40, 58, 76

Picks after trade period: 18, 30, 35, 56, 78

Prising contracted star midfielder Neale out of Fremantle - despite CEO and football manager’s best wishes - is an enormous coup that only the foolish would’ve predicted when 2018 kicked off. Neale is durable, wins the ball and sets high training standards. Adams, a big-bodied defender, should slot nicely into Brisbane’s backline while McCarthy has talent to burn if his body holds up. Names aside, perhaps the most impressive thing about Brisbane’s trade period is the fact all three of the players they attained - Neale (SA), Adams (WA) and McCarthy (SA) - come from interstate. Beams’ departure was brought a year forward and will hurt in the short term.

North Melbourne

In: Jared Polec (Port Adelaide), Jasper Pittard (Port Adelaide), Aaron Hall (Gold Coast), Dom Tyson (Melbourne)

Out: Brayden Preuss (Melbourne), Ryan Clarke (Sydney)

Picks before trade period: 10, 28, 39, 54, 64, 82

Picks after trade period: 42, 47, 48, 49, 55, 58, 86

After missing out on re-signed Eagle Andrew Gaff, North found other ways to fill their need for line-breaking midfielders. Polec could very well become an A-grade wingman if he’s not already while Hall has shown enough in seven seasons to suggest he’s worth persisting with. Trading Tyson for Preuss makes sense, given both were deprived of the opportunity to play in their preferred positions. Clarke’s departure shouldn’t have a huge baring on Brad Scott’s plans.

Losers

Gold Coast

In: Anthony Miles (Richmond), Corey Ellis (Richmond), Jack Hombsch (Port Adelaide), George Horlin-Smith (Geelong)

Out: Tom Lynch (free agency - Richmond), Steven May (Melbourne), Kade Kolodjashnij (Melbourne), Aaron Hall (North Melbourne), Jack Scrimshaw (Gold Coast)

Picks before trade period: 2, 18, 26, 29, 38, 41, 74

Picks after trade period: 2, 3, 6, 24, 29, 80

It’s hard to see a way out of the mire for Gold Coast, who are on the cusp of their second rebuild with little in terms of established talent to work with. Does losing club captains Lynch and May indicate how low morale is at the Suns? Getting the likes of Miles, Horlin-Smith, Ellis and Hombsch will go some way towards plugging the holes that are rapidly starting to emerge, but there is little to get excited about for Stuart Dew. Snagging picks three and six only soften the blow a touch.

GWS

In: Nil

Out: Dylan Shiel (Essendon), Rory Lobb (Fremantle), Tom Scully (Hawthorn), Will Setterfield (Carlton)

Picks before trade period: 13, 23, 44, 49, 67, 85

Picks after trade period: 9, 11, 19, 25, 52, 89

Ouch. A case study for clubs looking to back-end their contracts and avoid the salary cap squeeze. Losing one of Shiel, Lobb, Scully or Setterfield would’ve stung. Offloading all four, with Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio coming out of contract next year, could have significant ramifications on-field. If GWS wants to crack the Western Sydney market, they need to keep winning games. Admittedly, nearly everyone in the football industry saw this mass exodus coming. If Leon Cameron is looking for a silver lining, he’s still got a damn fine list at his disposal.

West Coast

In: Tom Hickey (St Kilda)

Out: Scott Lycett (free agency - Port Adelaide)

Picks before trade period: 20, 36, 68, 72, 90

Picks after trade period: 20, 22, 61, 72, 76, 94

On one hand, it’s hard to criticise the reigning premiers, who defied the odds to re-sign Gaff just days before the trade period kicked off. On the other, Geelong star Kelly was desperate to become an Eagle and actively warded off competition from Fremantle against the Cats’ wishes. West Coast will be confident of forging a deal next year when the 24-year-old comes out of contract but has opened the door for Geelong to change their young star’s mind. Hickey presents as a ready-made replacement for the departed Lycett.