The 2023 AFL season was quite the rollercoaster. From the roaring successes for several sides to the drastic underachievement of others, it was been one to remember. It had been a long time since there's been a finals race so close towards the end of the season, and it proved to be one of the most entertaining in recent memory.

For clubs who missed the eight, looking towards the trade period and the draft was the next step. Similarly, those in the eight were already be on the lookout for ways to improve their lists and make the jump to premiership glory.

The trade period can be such an advantageous time of year for any club, however, most moves usually don't work out for both sides. It's common for a side to end up with something better than the other in trades - especially regarding picks - but have there been trades where both clubs come off as beneficiaries?

We put together a list of nine trades that worked out for all those involved.

3. 2016 - A pick swap for the ages

A pick swap rarely turns out to be anything special. Generally, it's one club trying to move up on the draft order and often only one side will benefit. In 2016, one of these pick swaps occurred, and it worked tremendously for both sides.

Port Adelaide sent Picks 9, 19 and 49 to Sydney in return for Picks 14, 17 and 31. Although on paper it looked fairly level, both sides have greatly benefited in the long run.

With Pick 9, the Swans drafted Oliver Florent, who has since played 139 games for the club. The rebounding defender was joined by Pick 19, Will Hayward - another long-serving member of the club, playing a total of 134 games under John Longmire. The Swans' final pick (49) was used to select ruckman Darcy Cameron. Cameron only played one game for Sydney, making his debut in 2018. The ruckman was later traded to Collingwood at the end of the 2018 season for Pick 56 (which later ended up with Richmond who drafted Bigoa Nyuon).

For the Power, it was a similar success story. With Pick 14 they drafted key forward Todd Marshall. Marshall took some time to find consistent footy under Ken Hinkley, but in 2023 he's been an integral part of the side' premiership push. With injuries to their forward stocks for most of the year, Marshall has been a standout. With Pick 17, the Power drafted cult favourite Sam Powell-Pepper. He has been an outstanding midfielder for his side with his brute strength and ability to hit the scoreboard in huge moments. The final one taken was with Pick 31, Willem Drew. Consistently solid, Drew has played roles as a defensive midfielder and tagger under Ken Hinkley.

It was one of those rare draft pick scenarios that worked out (despite Cameron being traded away from the Swans), and has set up the future for both clubs in an immense way.