“WE'RE not going to do the deal unless we can get our man.”

It was the historic live trade which in many ways shaped Carlton’s draft.

And now you can see how it all happened behind closed doors.

The cameras and microphones were on Carlton’s recruiting team on Thursday 22 November, when the Blues entered with the No.1 pick in the 2018 NAB AFL Draft.

They left with Sam Walsh (selected with pick No.1), as well as Liam Stocker. Orchestrating a trade with Adelaide, the Blues exchanged their future first-round pick for Adelaide’s, while also bringing in pick No.19.

Liam Stocker had "no clue" about Carlton's interest.



Then, pick No.19 rolled around - and the rest was history.#BoundByBlue — Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) November 23, 2018

Just like many others, Stocker himself said had no idea the trade to make him a Blue was going down until it had happened.

“Carlton kept its cards pretty close to the chest and I certainly didn’t think I was a chance until my name was read out,” Stocker said.

“It was certainly a big surprise… The way things have panned out, I couldn’t think of a better set of circumstances.”

A lot had to pan out for the Blues, who had an agonising wait as the selections continued to roll on while Stocker remained available.

AFL Media’s Callum Twomey detailed how Carlton was desperate to get Stocker to the Club, leaving no stone unturned on the opening night of the draft.

“The biggest shock of the first round of last week's NAB AFL Draft nearly didn't happen,” Twomey wrote.

READ MORE: How 2018's draft shock almost didn't happen

“If Xavier Duursma hadn’t been taken the selection before, the Crows were set to keep their selection instead of accepting the Carlton deal.

“It’s just one of a number of ‘sliding doors’ moments to come out of the early part of [November’s] draft.”

However, as history would have it, the Blues ultimately got its man after a night of drama for Stephen Silvagni and Carlton’s recruiting team.

Watch the video above for the full footage of how Liam Stocker became a Blue.