From cult heroes, inspirational leaders and bargain basement picks, St Kilda has scored over the years when it comes to the trade table.
Although last year's haul may have hit the jackpot with five gun recruits recharging the line-up, the Saints have snared some gems over the past 20 years.
So with the wheeling and dealing of the 2020 Trade Period well underway, we take a look back on some of our best pick-ups from seasons past.
10. Dan Hannebery, 2018
St Kilda traded: Pick No. 39 and a future second-round selection to Sydney
St Kilda received: Dan Hannebery and pick No. 28
St Kilda landed its first big trade in years through Premiership Swan Dan Hannebery, who joined the Saints after a decorated career in the Harbour City.
The three-time All Australian arrived at RSEA Park along with pick No. 28 in exchange for pick No. 39 and a future second-round selection.
Pick No. 28 was passed on to Melbourne for picks No. 36 and 46, which ultimately transpired into selections for Jack Bytel and Matty Parker.
The deal also saw the Saints hold onto their coveted pick No. 4 which was used to select Max King, and also snare Dean Kent from that year's Trade Period after sending pick No. 65 to Melbourne.
Injuries have kept Hannebery to 13 games at his new club but he's made sure they've all counted, particularly in light of his starring performance in the elimination final victory over the Bulldogs.
9. Farren Ray, 2008
St Kilda traded: Pick No. 31 to the Western Bulldogs
St Kilda received: Farren Ray and pick No. 48 (Nicholas Heyne)
Coming from the Western Bulldogs in exchange for Pick No. 31, Farren Ray turned into a core and consistent component of the Saints' midfield for the next seven seasons.
The Saints also received pick No. 48 as part of the deal to draft Orbost Snowy Rovers recruit Nicholas Heyne.
While Heyne only represented the club three times before being delisted in 2010, the smooth-moving, unobtrusive Ray notched up an impressive 130 games before his final season at North Melbourne.
Ray returned to RSEA Park in 2020 as an Assistant Coach (Midfield) for St Kilda's inaugural AFLW side.
8. Michael Gardiner, 2006
St Kilda traded: Pick No. 43 to West Coast
St Kilda received: Michael Gardiner and pick No. 59 (Jarryd Allen)
Forever engrained in club folklore after his colossal mark and goal in the Battle of the Unbeaten, Michael Gardiner also found his own niche in St Kilda history as one of the club's most impactful trade acquisitions.
Off-field incidents during his time at West Coast ultimately forced Gardiner to a new nest at Moorabbin, with the Saints giving up pick No. 43 for the prolific ruckman.
St Kilda also received pick No. 59 as part of the deal, which was used to acquire Jarryd Allen (four games).
Although a foot injury rubbed Gardiner out of his first season at the club, a sensational run from 2008-2010 established him as a premier ruckman of the competition, whose marking power and centre dominance guided the Saints towards successive Grand Final appearances.
A hamstring injury in the 2010 Grand Final cruelly robbed the former Eagle of a replay berth, before one final game in 2011 marked the end of his 52-game tenure in red, white and black.
7. Nick Dal Santo, Heath Black and Trent Knobel, 2001
St Kilda traded: Barry Hall to Sydney
St Kilda received: Pick No. 13 (Nick Dal Santo), pick No. 17 (on-traded for Heath Black) and pick No. 45 (on-traded for Trent Knobel)
With Barry Hall being traded to Sydney at the end of 2001 and forwards Nick Riewoldt, Fraser Gehrig and Justin Koschitzke on the rise, the St Kilda used the ensuing picks from the Swans to bolster its midfield.
The Saints snapped up a young Nick Dal Santo with pick No. 13, before Heath Black (on-traded with pick No. 17) and Trent Knobel (on-traded with pick No. 45) joined the ranks shortly after.
Dal Santo went on to become a key member of the Saints' midfield fabric for the next decade, with the fan-favourite lining up for 260 games and earned three All-Australian blazers before closing out his career at North Melbourne.
Meanwhile, Black (54 games) and Knobel (41) both departed at the end of 2004 to Fremantle and Richmond respectively, while Hall enjoyed many successes in the Harbour City, including captaining the Swans to its first Premiership in 72 years.
6. Dougal Howard and Paddy Ryder, 2019
St Kilda traded: Pick No. 12 and pick No. 18 and a future third-round selection to Port Adelaide
St Kilda received: Paddy Ryder, Dougal Howard, pick No. 10 and a future fourth-round selection
The first acquisitions of St Kilda's ambitious 2019 Trade Period, Dougal Howard and Paddy Ryder proved to be impeccable additions to the line-up in 2020.
Both Port Adelaide lynchpins headed to Victoria in exchange for pick No. 12, pick No. 18 and a third-round selection, with the Saints also gaining pick No. 10 and a future fourth-round selection from the deal.
Ryder's heroics and throughout the year played a significant role in guiding St Kilda to its first finals campaign in nine years, while Howard, an emerging leader of the club, locked down the key defensive post and similarly stood tall in the heart-racing elimination final.
Pick No. 10 from the Ryder/Howard trade was later used to bring Bradley Hill to RSEA Park, with Zak Jones and Dan Butler following shortly after to round out the trade bonanza.
5. Aaron Hamill, 2000
St Kilda traded: Sam Cranage and pick No. 4 to Carlton
St Kilda received: Aaron Hamill
With St Kilda sitting with the first two picks of the 2000 National Draft – used to select Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke – and gaining pick No. 4 following Darryl Wakelin's move to Port Adelaide, the club had leverage at the trade table.
It would ultimately enable key forward and defining leader Aaron Hamill to depart Carlton and begin a new chapter at Moorabbin, with the Saints handing Sam Cranage and pick No. 4 over to the Blues.
Hamill picked the club up by the scruff of the neck from the moment he walked through the doors and had a monumental impact in steering it towards its powerhouse era of the mid-2000s.
The No. 2 booted 125 goals from his 98 matches and captained the club in 2003, before injuries forced a premature retirement in 2007.
The original trade haul also brought Stephen Lawrence (for pick No. 33) and Fraser Gehrig to St Kilda (don't worry, he's on this list!).
4. Zak Jones and Dan Butler, 2019
St Kilda traded: Pick No. 32, Pick No. 76 plus a future third-round selection to Sydney (Jones trade), plus pick No. 56 (Butler trade)
St Kilda received: Zak Jones, pick No. 56 (on-traded to Richmond for Dan Butler) plus a future fourth-round selection from Sydney
With Bradley Hill joining Dougal Howard and Paddy Ryder during the 2019 Trade Period, things could hardly get any better for the red, white and black. But there was more to come.
With Josh Bruce's departure to the Western Bulldogs gifting pick No. 32 and pick No. 51, the Saints got to work to pry Zak Jones from the Swans.
The deal was clinched in the final hour of the AFL's mad scramble, with Sydney receiving pick No. 32 (from the Josh Bruce trade), pick No. 76 and a future third-round selection in exchange for Jones, pick No. 56 and a future fourth-rounder.
But the magic truly happened when pick No. 56 was passed on to Richmond for Dan Butler. And we all know what happened next.
3. Jack Steele, 2016
St Kilda traded: Future second-round selection to GWS
St Kilda received: Jack Steele
The trade to bring Jack Steele to St Kilda seems to get better and better with each passing year.
That was especially the case in 2020 after the 24-year-old pieced together an immense season complete with All-Australian honours, a maiden Trevor Barker Award and a top-three finish at the Brownlow Medal.
Steele was brought to the Saints during the 2016 Trade Period, with the 17-game Giant relocating to Victoria in exchange for a future second-round selection, who would turn out to be Brent Daniels.
Deployed as a defensive midfielder and tagger in his first few seasons at the club, Brett Ratten eventually let Steele off the chain in 2020 to exceptional effect.
Steele signed a contract extension to tie him to the club until at least the end of 2022 off the back of his breakout year.
2. Sean Dempster and Adam Schneider, 2007
St Kilda traded: Pick No. 26 to Sydney
St Kilda received: Sean Dempster and Adam Schneider
This was a steal in every sense of the word.
With Sydney needing to create salary cap space following back-to-back Grand Finals, premiership Swans Adam Schneider and Sean Dempster were shipped off to the Saints in exchange for pick No. 26.
While September glory narrowly eluded both players at their new club, the duo went on to become integral members of St Kilda's line-up for years.
Dempster was resolute down back across his 158 games, with his consistency earning him All-Australian selection and four podium finishes at the Trevor Barker Award.
Schneider starred as part of the Saints’ small-forward fleet, kicking 160 goals from 130 matches in his defence-ravaging partnership with Stephen Milne.
1. Fraser Gehrig, 2000
St Kilda traded: David Sierakowski and pick No. 18 to West Coast
St Kilda received: Fraser Gehrig
A man, a myth and a legend of the game, Fraser Gehrig immortalised himself as one of the most intimidating key forwards of his era.
Originally starting his career as a wingman for West Coast, the widely acknowledged 'modern football prototype' was signed by St Kilda as part of the landmark 2000 Trade Period before going on to create his ever-lasting legacy.
In a win-win situation for both clubs, West Coast received former Saint David Sierakowski and pick No. 18, which secured the services of Premiership Eagle Daniel Kerr.
Gehrig's potential was fully realised after moving to full-forward in 2003, with his unstoppable, freight-train-like leads, terrifying presence in the contest and surprising pace for a man who still holds the club bench-press record winning countless matches for the Saints.
G-Train went on to win two Coleman Medals across his 145-game career for the Saints, kicked 100 goals in a season twice and ended his remarkable innings – to the relief of opposition backlines – sixth on the club's all-time goalkicking tally.
