GWS midfielder Xavier O'Halloran was virtually out the door in last year's trade period as the Western Bulldogs pushed hard for his services.
Negotiations took place between the two clubs up until the final day of the player movement period, but ultimately, the Giants swiftly denied a move for O'Halloran and kept him to his 2025 contract.
It avoided a mass exodus, which saw the likes of Isaac Cumming and James Peatling (Adelaide), Harry Perryman (Collingwood), and Nick Haynes (Carlton) depart the club, and opened a vacancy in the midfield.
The injuries to veterans Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio further consolidated the Giants' retention of O'Halloran, as coach Adam Kingsley gave him the opportunity to stand up in their absence.
The former Pick 22 has thrived in his new role, taking him from a perceptive "fringe player" to a significant cog who signed a three-year extension.
"Midfield opportunities is definitely one thing," GWS Head of Talent Adrian Caruso said on Gettable.
"It's given him the chance to show what he's capable of. When we drafted him, it was seven years ago, and people probably forget, but some of his best footy that year was played in the midfield.
"In the Championships for Vic Metro, he had to play a role forward, which made us think 'he could play forward, he could play wing, he could play mid', but the midfield opportunities weren't there for him in previous years.
"Circumstances this year with (Stephen) Coniglio and (Josh) Kelly being injured, and us wanting to take (Toby) Bedford out of the midfield, the opportunity presented and he went a grabbed it.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
"He's gone from a player that is seen as a fringe player, someone who might be on one or two-year deals, to now, where he's got himself a three-year deal.
"It's a credit to him for the work he's put into his game, and the fact he's wanted to come in and play the role to complement Tom Green and Finn Callaghan."
O'Halloran is set to play a career-best number of games in 2025 as the Giants look towards the finals.
The 25-year-old and GWS will face the Bulldogs on Thursday night at Marvel Stadium.
