That is, after most free agents found new homes early in the window, the vast majority of big moves had to wait until the period’s dying hours.
Much of what defined this window hung on Port Adelaide, as the Power had a flurry of anticipated deals in the closing stages of talks.
The Hawks and Power were primary ringleaders with an enormous slate of wheeling and dealing, though never with one another.
Port’s 41st, 49th and future-fourth picks went on the table Wednesday afternoon alongside Fremantle’s 2024 second-rounder for Richmond big man Ivan Soldo, who eventually found his way to Port with pick 50.
Pick 50 would be turned over shortly thereafter as the Bulldogs’ price to part with understudy ruck Jordon Sweet, now expected to compete with Soldo for a starting berth.
The Power also paid a high sum for Cobram recruit and Geelong tall utility Esava Ratugolea, having the option to settle for selecting the Cobram recruit in next month’s national draft.
Instead of entering into this risky venture, the Power wound up parting with almost their remaining slate of 2023 picks ― 25, 76 and 94 ― to secure the big man’s signature.
Embroiled in arduous negotiation with Essendon, a straight swap of Xavier Duursma and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher became an optimistic Bombers viewpoint.
AFL House announced their deal after the 7.30pm cut off, with key defender Zerk-Thatcher taking pick 73 and two future fourths in his luggage to South Australia in exchange for Gippsland-born winger Duursma.
Not to be outdone, Hawthorn would rattle off a furious series of late deals to drastically reshape its forward line.
In a bombshell development, the Hawks would honour Collingwood premiership substitute Jack Ginnivan’s 11th-hour trade request, with a bevy of 2023 and 2024 second-rounders trading places along the way.
After first sending backup forward Jacob Koschitzke to the Tigers for a third-round selection, premiership star Jack Gunston sensationally returned to the club after a year at the Lions with mid-season draftee Brandon Ryan headed north amid another pick swap.
A future pick received from the Lions would become property of the Suns to acquire Mabior Chol in the three-team deal, before securing mid-season pick-up Massimo D’Ambrosio from Essendon as the last paperwork in before the deadline.
Gold Coast’s extraordinary 2023 draft hand ― which it plans on detonating to secure access to a trio of prized Academy youngsters ― was further bolstered by offloading Chol and midfielder Elijah Hollands to Hawthorn and Carlton, respectively.
Carlton arranged for the arrival of Hollands ― the elder brother of Blues first-year speedster Ollie ― after fringe midfielder Paddy Dow left in a four-team deal that saw Nick Coffield move from St Kilda to the Bulldogs.
In an under-the-radar deal on deadline day, St Kilda’s Jack Billings found his way to Melbourne for a 2024 third-rounder.
Highlighting Tuesday’s trade news was the completion of a deal between Fremantle and Collingwood that saw the premier acquire Moama export Lachie Schultz for pick 34 and a 2024 first-round selection.
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