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.
4. 2017 - Brisbane gains electric small forward for a Crows sharpshooter
At the end of 2017, the Crows traded away small forward Charlie Cameron. In return, they were given Pick 12 which was later used to draft Darcy Fogarty. At the Crows, Cameron was building towards the player he is today but just wasn't quite there yet. He played in the 2017 Grand Final against the Tigers and was seen as a successor to veteran Eddie Betts. The electric small was known for his ability to create goals out of nothing, and since moving to Brisbaneย he has become one of the competition's premier forwards.
His talents have earnt him an All-Australian blazer in 2019 and he has been the Lions' leading goalkicker from 2019-2022. Most notably, Cameron has always been high up on the Coleman Medal list, despite being a small forward. He can always hit the scoreboard consistently and has often kicked bags of three or more goals throughout his tenure as a Lion. Taking the club to a preliminary final in 2019 and 2022, Cameron has most definitely been a worthwhile pickup for the Lions.
The pick that the Crows used to draft Darcy Fogarty still has time to develop. Fogarty is one of the best kicks of the footy in the competition and has a big full-forward frame to fill out. Under the guidance of veteran forward Taylor Walker, Fogarty is transitioning towards becoming that full-forward threat he was drafted to be. Throughout his short career, Fogarty's goal accuracy is sitting comfortably at 58.6%, a very high number for a full forward.
Fogarty still has ways to go until he is ready to take up the big Texan's sole forward duties at the club, but with the way he's going, it's a great possibility.
