Long before Lance Franklin, there had been a history of Melbourne-based tall forwards finding their way to the Swans. Unfortunately they tended to come from St Kilda, with Barry Hall making the same career change in 2001 that Tony Lockett had made seven years earlier.

There had been some suggestion that a private meeting with Lockett during the season helped consolidate the decision for Hall before the season had come to an end.

TRADING PLACES: The first of its kind

Hall famously kicked a goal after the siren in the last game of 2001 against Hawthorn to give St Kilda a win. It turned out to be his last kick for the club as he sought a move immediately afterwards.

What counted in the Saints’ favour was that Hall’s move coincided with the strongest AFL draft of all time and St Kilda was in a prime position to harvest some quality young talent.

TRADING PLACES: Time called for Big Ben

The Saints already had picks two, five and 21 with the Hall trade brought in picks 13 and 17. The club shifted 17 to Fremantle in return for Heath Black and used 13 on a skinny but talented midfielder from the Bendigo Pioneers named Nick Dal Santo who went on to play 260 games for the club.

Meanwhile, Black played 54 games for St Kilda across three seasons before requesting a trade back to Fremantle at the end of 2004.

TRADING PLACES: The raids of 2000

Tuesday's Trading Places: Plugger goes up north



Heath Black, Stephen Milne and Lenny Hayes celebrate a win over Cartlon in Round 16, 2002.