The Western Bulldogs and Geelong have struck a last-minute deal that sends Bailey Smith to the Cats, while Jake Stringer leaves Essendon for GWS after the two clubs reached an agreement in the dying stages of the AFL trade period.
With about five minutes left before the 7:30pm AEDT deadline on Wednesday, news came through Smith had secured his move to the Cats after months of expectation.
The deal was finalised via a four-club trade involving three players and multiple selections in next month's AFL draft.
The Cats got Smith and St Kilda's round-three draft selection (45), while trading out their round-one (17) and round-two (38) picks to the Bulldogs and Carlton respectively.
The Blues traded Matthew Kennedy to the Bulldogs, who gave up Jack Macrae to St Kilda.
In a separate trade, Caleb Daniel leaves the Bulldogs to join North Melbourne.
Stringer was offloaded to the Giants in the final hour of the trade period after it had appeared the deal with the Bombers had fallen through.
The Bombers received a round-three draft selection — pick 53 — in exchange for the 2016 Western Bulldogs premiership player.
Jake Stringer has finished up with the Bombers and will play for the Giants in 2025. (Getty Images: Michael Willson)
Meanwhile, Tom Barrass goes from West Coast to Hawthorn, and Luke Parker and Jacob Konstanty have departed Sydney to join the Kangaroos.
In another late trade, James Peatling heads from the Giants to the Adelaide Crows.
Also on Wednesday, Daniel Rioli's reunion with coach Damien Hardwick at Gold Coast means Richmond now boasts a whopping eight picks in round one of the AFL draft.
The Tigers confirmed Rioli's trade to the Suns on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after they also sent fellow premiership player Shai Bolton to Fremantle.
Richmond scored the number six and 23 round-one picks for Rioli, while also sending later picks to Gold Coast.
The Bolton deal was even more lucrative for Richmond in terms of draft picks.
The Tigers scored the number 10, 11 and 18 selections, while they sent number 14 to the Dockers.
They had received the number 14 pick in Tuesday's bumper three-club trade where they lost Liam Baker to West Coast and Carlton scored the number three draft pick from the Eagles.
As of Wednesday, Richmond have the first, sixth, 10th, 11th, 18th, 20th, 23rd and 24th picks in the draft.
The Dockers initially offered Richmond picks 10 and 18 for Bolton.
But the Tigers wanted pick 10 and 11.
West Coast put pressure on Fremantle by again inquiring about Bolton, forcing the Dockers into action.
Shai Bolton leaves the Tigers to head west to the Dockers. (Getty Images: Josh Chadwick)
Bolton is set to sign a five-year deal with Fremantle, and his impending arrival means the Dockers will start 2025 as one of the premiership favourites.
The 25-year-old won flags with Richmond in 2019 and 2020 during his 135-match career at the Tigers.
Bolton kicked 43 goals and averaged 17.5 disposals and 3.6 clearances during his All-Australian year of 2022.
Rioli, 27, has played 183 matches for the Tigers and was a member of their three premiership teams between 2017-20, which Hardwick coached.
Bolton and Rioli join Baker and Jack Graham in departing the Tigers.
AAP/ABC
Look back at how the final day of the AFL trade period played out in our blog.
And just like that, this is my final post for the trade period!
It has been an absolute blast having a laugh with you guys while we at first celebrated no moves before we got ALL of the moves in the end.
We will have confirmation on the specifics of all the deals as they're confirmed by AFL House shortly.
What a mad time this trade period is.
Let's do it all again next year folks.
I'm off to have some Margaritas, peace out.
So this is how Jack Macrae, Bailey Smith and Matt Kennedy found their new homes!
There's one more deal on the deadline, Matt Kennedy has found a move to the Bulldogs.
The clock has struck ZERO.
NO. MORE. DEALS!
We will have official confirmation on all the deals and what got traded as we receive confirmation from the AFL.
So the players left in limbo at this stage appear to be Xavier O'Halloran and Brodie Kemp.
Jack Macrae appears headed to St Kilda!
An incredible resuscitation job as Jake Stringer gets his move to GWS!
Bailey Smith looks to have gotten his move before the buzzer as well.
Caleb Daniel looks like he's got his move to the Kangaroos as well, it's all happening with a rush!
Luke Parker looks set to be a Kangaroos player, according to AFL.com.au's Riley Beveridge.
Here's AFL.com.au's Josh Gabelich on the details of the deal sending Tom Barrass to Hawthorn.
It looks like we might have another deal now!
James Peatling set to finally be a Crows player after what would have been an excruciating wait.
Here are the details.
St Kilda's Stephen Silvagni is now in the AFL war room as well.
Geelong list boss Andrew Mackie is in the room with the AFL.
You've got to presume this is to confirm a Bailey Smith deal I'd imagine?
Everyone is frantically typing away on their phones.
The managers racking up steps between the different war rooms at a rate of knots, and they're looking increasingly more and more annoyed.
This is great drama.
HERE. WE. GO.
We've got Geelong's list boss, the Bulldogs list boss and the Saints list boss meeting in the corridors of Docklands Stadium.
Bailey Smith's manager Paul Connors there too.
THERE IS 10 MINUTES TO GO.
Is this the move that unlocks the stalemate between Sydney and North Melbourne over a deal for Luke Parker?
Once this trade period ends, I hope you enjoy a well-deserved rest, must be hard to stay awake for most of the trade period.
- Anthony Mcdonald-Tipungwuti
Not sure if I've spent today glued to this live thread for trade updates or your banter Chris. Loving your work mate.
- Pedro
Hi Pedro,
I've had to keep myself entertained because Lord knows there won't be any trades happen.
LoadingWe've got some movement at last!
It appears Tom Barrass is set to finally be a Hawthorn player according to multiple reports.
Seven's Ryan Daniels and SEN's Sam Edmund both reporting a deal has been agreed between Hawthorn and West Coast.
Less than 20 minutes left in the trade period.
Hey Chris just wondering, do you think that the Eagles are stalling on the Barrass deal because they are seeking a better offer or because they want to hold onto Barrass? Or both even? It’s just bizarre since the Eagles were happy to accept 2 future picks and that is the offer currently.
- FlagTassie
Hi FlagTassie,
A lot of West Coast's stance on Tom Barrass would be a direct response to the backlash they received to trading pick 3.
The fans were somewhat rightly absolutely bemused at that deal.
Losing another deal in the eyes of the members is just not an option for the Eagles.
Given Barrass is still contracted for another three years, I think they'd rather welcome him back to the club as opposed to sell him for 40 cents on the dollar.
We have another trade that could be revived with less than an hour to go to the deadline.
AFL.com.au's Cal Twomey saying Adelaide and GWS are back talking on a deal for James Peatling.
There's 39 minutes left before the trade window closes.
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