Has the idea of a one-club player begun to decline?
North Melbourne recruit Luke Parker believes so following his surprise move from Sydney. Parker spent 14 years at the Swans and never considered trading out the red and white for a rival jumper.
"I probably always had in my head that I'd be a one-club player, but these days, things do change really quickly, and clubs go in a different direction," Parker told SEN.
"That is going to happen more and more these days. I think it will be very rare to see a one-club player as they get over the 12 to 13-year mark."
Parker wasn't the only player joining the Kangaroos in the hope of adding some much-needed experience to the young side.
Fellow All-Australian and premiership players Jack Darling (West Coast) and Caleb Daniel (Western Bulldogs) also arrived at Arden Street following the trade period.
Darling spent 14 years at the Eagles, playing 298 games, while Daniel featured 192 times for the Bulldogs across a decade.
And yet, these three players aren't the first of their kind, strengthening Parker's assertion.
Below are examples of club legends and stalwarts departing.
| Player | Previous Club | Club | Games |
| Luke Hodge | Hawthorn (2002-2017) | Brisbane (2018-2019) | 346 |
| Brendon Goddard | St Kilda (2003-2012) | Essendon (2013-2018) | 334 |
| Drew Petrie | North Melbourne (2001-2016) | West Coast (2017) | 332 |
| Todd Goldstein* | North Melbourne (2008-2023) | Essendon (2024-current) | 329 |
| Sam Mitchell | Hawthorn (2002-2016) | West Coast (2017) | 329 |
| Nick Dal Santo | St Kilda (2002-2013) | North Melbourne (2014-2016) | 322 |
| James Kelly | Geelong (2002-2015) | Essendon (2016-2017) | 313 |
| Luke Power | Brisbane (1998-2011) | GWS (2012) | 302 |
| Jack Darling* | West Coast (2011-2014) | North Melbourne (2025-current) | 298 |
| Luke Parker* | Sydney (2011-2024) | North Melbourne (2025-current) | 293 |
| Steven Johnson | Geelong (2002-2015) | GWS (2016-2017) | 293 |
| Paul Chapman | Geelong (2000-2013) | Essendon (2014-2015) | 280 |
| Brett Deledio | Richmond (2005-2016) | GWS (2017-2019) | 275 |
| Bryce Gibbs | Carlton (2007-2017) | Adelaide (2018-2020) | 268 |
| James McDonald | Melbourne (1997-2010) | GWS (2012) | 264 |
For example, Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge still had a few miles in the legs, and Brisbane desperately needed a standards-setter.
The Hawks were heading in a new direction, which, ironically, Parker flagged as the reason he departed the Swans.
Hodge had a strong hand in developing the young talent which is currently at the Lions, playing a pivotal role in its revival, which culminated in six straight finals appearances and the 2024 premiership.
Essendon's decision to target Kangaroos veteran Todd Goldstein was to help breach the gap between Sam Draper and the next ruckman, given the Bombers hadn't seen enough from its tall cohort.
"For me, it was basically that I started to feel that the club or certain things were heading in a new direction," Parker added.
"The club has got to do what is best for the club, and I can fully understand that.
"I still felt that I had a lot of good football ahead of me and a lot to offer. I wasn't too confident in what my future looked like at the Swans, so that was really the reason that I started to look around.
"I'm not coming here to get an extra few years and hopefully help a few boys and develop the team. I'm here to take us to where we want to go and to where I want to go."
