With the big news breaking today that Leo Messi will be leaving Barcelona, the sporting world has gone into overdrive suggesting where he may end up.
From Paris, to Manchester, to even Los Angeles, there's no shortage of quality internet work being done. While in soccer, it's not uncommon for players to move, the size of the name in this scenario warrants a double take.
It's gotten us thinking. Over the years, the AFL has increasingly gone down this path, with player movement in the off-season becoming the norm.
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With this in mind, we decided to take a look at the some of the biggest moves the AFL has ever seen.
Not just in size of the name, the money or the destination. But in terms of the impact that it had. Here are the ones we think have created the biggest splash over the years.
10. Lance Franklin
Perhaps the biggest trade in history, Buddy leaving the Hawks was momentous. With rumours linking the charismatic goal machine to Sydney all year, it was hardly a surprise. Yet still, there was a shocking twist to come.
Snatched from under the nose of their rivals GWS, the Swans made the ultimate power play. Luring Franklin on an incredible nine year deal worth a reported $10 million, this move reverberated around the Australian sporting landscape.
Though the length of the contract wasn't the first time this had happened, it was shock to the system, given that Franklin was already 26 at the time.
Initially, the move had huge impact as it cost the Swans their Cost of Living Allowance. It had an immense financial impact as well, with the SCG packed to the rafters at every home game.
Perhaps the most widely felt impact however, was that long term deals like this have now become more normal. This deal became the benchmark, with several star players recently beginning to ink deals of seven years or longer.
A truly colossal moment for the AFL that has seen a lasting impact.
