North Melbourne has bolstered the experience in their back half, securing premiership rebounder Caleb Daniel off the Western Bulldogs in exchange for pick 25.
Negotiations heated up on the final day of the AFL trade period, and both clubs engaged in extensive discussions to finalise the deal.
The Bulldogs had previously knocked back North's initial bid, which included pick 25 for Daniel and a later pick. As the deadline clock ticked down, however, urgency led to a breakthrough that satisfied both parties.
The 28-year-old defender, renowned for his ball use out of defensive, had been a mainstay for the Bulldogs since being drafted with pick 42 in 2014 until recently.
Over his 192-game career, Daniel played a crucial role in the club's 2016 premiership success.
But despite his pedigree, Daniel found himself on the fringes this past season, featuring only eight times at VFL level as he struggled to maintain his spot in the senior team.
The addition of Daniel is a significant boost for North Melbourne, who are looking to inject experience and skill into their defensive line, having already secured veteran forward Jack Darling earlier in the trade period.
The Bulldogs now hold picks 25, 35, 48
North Melbourne's draft hand reads picks 2, 44, 62.