Adelaide's recent dealings with GWS went down to the wire over the acquisition of James Peatling, who joined the West Lakes club along with future third and fourth-round picks for exchange of a future second-round selection.
But the Crows had the option of walking Peatling to the pre-season draft, a fate that the two clubs have lived before.
During the 2020 AFL Trade Period, Giants youngster Jackson Hately expressed his desire to join the West Lakes club after two years in New South Wales.
Despite ample notice at the time being given by Hately, the two clubs couldn't agree on a trade during the exchange period, which ultimately saw Adelaide scoop him up in the pre-season draft.
GWS received nothing, with list boss Jason McCartney saying at the time: "It was left way too late by Adelaide to facilitate something on the night."
And it was all heading down a similar path for Peatling, with the Giants and Crows haggling over an array of future selections.
But as the deadline loomed and the countdown struck zero, a deal was struck.
Adelaide list manager Justin Reid declared that it wasn't the club's "intent" to walk Peatling to the pre-season draft despite it being done before.
"There's a bit of good faith. You've got to also think about the long-term relationships you have in the game," Reid said according to Fox Sports.
"We were keen to get James into the club as soon as we could. (The pre-season draft) was certainly an option, but certainly, in good faith, we wanted to deal with GWS.
"We've done it before, it doesn't mean we won't do it again, but it's certainly not the intent."
Adelaide is excited by what the former GWS midfielder can bring, with up to seven clubs vying for his signature as he weighed up his future.
Ultimately, a four-year deal combined with opportunities in the midfield helped sway Peatling in the West Lakes direction.
"James, obviously we saw towards the end of the year his quick feet and what he can do around the midfield, and he can play a little bit forward as well," Reid said.
"It's certainly something we've been looking at over the last few years with James, and we think we can offer him some more midfield opportunities as well, so we're really excited to get him into the club."
Peatling joins teammate Isaac Cumming at Adelaide as well as ex-Melbourne midfielder Alex Neal-Bullen.
