It is rare that trades are win-win for the involved clubs.
But the dealings between Fremantle and Richmond 12 months ago that saw Shai Bolton cross from Victoria to Western Australia are a massive tick.
As well as Bolton, four first-round selections swapped hands, with the Tigers acquiring Picks 10, 11 and 18, while the Dockers were sent 14.
It was a historic draft haul from Richmond, which committed to the rebuild, tallying seven picks inside the top 30.
Sam Lalor and Josh Smillie were the first cabs off the rank, but Fremantle's former picks were used on the next three exciting prospects: Taj Hotton, Jonty Faull and Luke Trainor.
The trio all featured in the senior side throughout 2025, and showed incredible signs for the future.
Trainor played 21 games in his maiden campaign, and showed his versatility throughout multiple roles.
Faull featured 16 times, and had scoring chances in all but three matches as a key forward.
Hotton, whose career was delayed by an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his draft year, played the last seven games of the 2025 season, and quickly became a fan favourite with his freakish ability and knack for being in the right spot. Ironically, he was quickly likened to a young Shai Bolton.
The potential shown by the trio offset the loss of Bolton, making for good business by the yellow and black.
But the same can be said of the purple haze.
The selection received by Fremantle was initially Pick 14, but was pushed three spaces, and on the night was used to select Murphy Reid.
The Sandringham Dragons product was the 2025 AFL Rising Star, pipping the likes of Levi Ashcroft, Dan Curtin and Harvey Langford.
Reid played all 24 games for the Dockers, averaging 14.5 disposals and a goal a game.
Impressively, the 19-year-old rarely played as a forward throughout his junior ranks, but became a point of difference in Justin Longmuir's side.
Then there's Bolton, and what he contributed to Fremantle.
He played all but one game, and was destructive at his best, which took the Western Australian club back to the finals. On nine occasions, he was a multiple goalkicker.
But what cannot be understated is the intangible effect he has, and the worry and concern that filters through the opposition.
Bolton is a hard player to plan for, and more often than not, when he is relatively well held, his teammates get a fair lick of the ice cream.
Both Richmond and Fremantle have every reason to be thrilled with the success of this trade over the past year.
And proved that win-win exchanges are more than possible.
