EVERY club has that one trade that changed everything.

Some delivered instantly, while others were more of a slow burn. From bargain recruits who became champions to bold calls that unlocked premiership glory, all AFL sides have a trade they can point to with pride.

Ahead of this year's trade and free agency period, we asked fans to tell us what their club's best ever trade deal was in our recent trade survey.

Check out who you picked as your club's best ever trade.

Jordan Dawson

Adelaide gets: Jordan Dawson
Adelaide gives: 2022 R1 pick

While the first-round pick Adelaide gave up in this 2021 deal ended up being Josh Weddle, there's no doubt the Crows have won big from this trade. Dawson looked ready to explode after 64 games at the Swans before he requested a move back to his home state, but no one could have predicted this. He is now a club captain and a genuine star of the competition.

Fans' top responses: Jordan Dawson, Andrew McLeod, Darren Jarman, Izak Rankine, Eddie Betts

Lachie Neale

Brisbane gets: Lachie Neale, pick 30
Brisbane gives: Picks 6, 19 and 55

More than half of Brisbane fans voted Lachie Neale's 2018 trade from Fremantle as the club's best and it's not hard to see why. A two-time best and fairest winner at the Dockers, the then 25-year-old would go on to become one of the Lions' all-time greats, winning three premierships, two Brownlow Medals, a further four B&Fs at Brisbane and earning selection in the All-Australian team on four occasions, among many other accolades. While it appears Neale is bound for Collingwood this off-season, his contribution to the Lions has been nothing short of exceptional.

What the fans said: Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley, Charlie Cameron, Joe Daniher, Dayne Zorko

Chris Judd

Blues get: Chris Judd, pick 46
Blues give: Josh Kennedy, picks 3 and 20

Arguably the biggest trade in history, Chris Judd's move to Carlton sent shockwaves through the competition. Judd met with Essendon, Melbourne, Collingwood and Carlton before ultimately choosing the Blues, who paid a hefty price to secure his signature, sending high draft picks and emerging key forward Josh Kennedy west. In the end, the deal proved a rare win for both sides. Kennedy developed into one of West Coast's greatest players, while Judd's decorated career reached even greater heights at Carlton, where he claimed another Brownlow Medal, three straight best and fairest awards and further All-Australian selections.

What the fans said: Chris Judd, Charlie Curnow, Jagga Smith, Greg Williams, Heath Scotland

Jack Crisp

Collingwood gets: Jack Crisp, picks 5 and 25
Collingwood gives: Dayne Beams, 2015 R4 pick

Perhaps the greatest 'steak knives' trade of the modern era. While the headline act of the deal was Brisbane's acquisition of star midfielder Dayne Beams, Collingwood quietly secured former rookie Jack Crisp, along with pick No.5 which they used to select Jordan De Goey. What looked like a secondary piece at the time has since become arguably the biggest win of the trade, with Crisp not only becoming a cornerstone of the Pies' side, but one of their most reliable contributors. The premiership hero now sits at an incredible 286 consecutive games - a record-breaking run that began in 2014 when he was still playing with the Lions.

What the fans said: Jack Crisp, Nathan Buckley, Jeremy Howe, Darcy Cameron, James Clement

Matthew Lloyd

Essendon gets: Concession selection (Matthew Lloyd)
Essendon gives: Todd Ridley 

The departure of Ridley to Fremantle gave the Bombers a special concession selection which they used to land Matthew Lloyd. Lloyd would go on to become one of the game's greatest forwards, kicking 926 goals, winning a premiership, three Coleman Medals and five All-Australian selections among other honours. Essendon would also go on to pick Scott Lucas after getting a No.4 pick following the departures of Tony Delaney and Dale Kickett to the Dockers. 

What the fans said: Matthew Lloyd, Peter Wright, Sean Wellman, Daniher brothers, Brendon Goddard

Shai Bolton

Fremantle gets: Shai Bolton, pick 14, 2025 R3 pick
Fremantle gives: Picks 10, 11 and 18

A dual premiership player with Richmond, Bolton returned home to Western Australia at the end of 2024 with the Dockers sending a bounty of first-round picks the Tigers' way in return. He took a bit to find his feet at his new home, but he's now repaid the Dockers in spades. A two-time All-Australian after earning a second blazer this season, his work around stoppage has added another element to Fremantle's midfield and was a key part of the Dockers' brilliant 2026 campaign.

What the fans said: Shai Bolton, Luke Jackson, Lachie Weller, Murphy Reid, Jordan Clark

Patrick Dangerfield

Geelong gets: Patrick Dangerfield, pick 50
Geelong gives: Dean Gore, picks 9 and 28

Adelaide's threat to match any free agency offer meant Geelong had to negotiate a trade for Dangerfield, but the Cats have since been richly rewarded. At the peak of his powers when he arrived, Dangerfield made an immediate impact, earning All-Australian honours and winning the Brownlow Medal in his first season. The local product has since become the club's captain, a premiership player and one of the defining figures of Geelong's sustained success, providing enormous return on investment while helping drive another era of contention at Kardinia Park.

What the fans said: Patrick Dangerfield, Jeremy Cameron, Bailey Smith, Brad Ottens, Tim Kelly

Christian Petracca

Gold Coast gets: Christian Petracca, picks 24 and 28, 2026 R2 pick
Gold Coast gives: Picks 7, 8 and 37, 2026 R1 pick, 2027 R3 pick

The Suns paid up but were over the moon to land the four-time All-Australian and 2021 premiership player from Melbourne. Petracca appeared to be just the type of player Gold Coast needed, adding to an already strong midfield group with the ability to go forward. And the move looked like a winner early in the season, with Petracca racking up 13 Brownlow Medal votes by round 10, including four best-on-grounds. He faded in the second half of the season but the Suns are hopeful he can return to his best form and help lift them back up the ladder.

What the fans said: Christian Petracca, John Noble, Jarrod Witts, Gary Ablett, Daniel Rioli

Clayton Oliver

Greater Western Sydney gets: Clayton Oliver
Greater Western Sydney gives: 2026 R3 pick

It's been less than 12 months since Oliver moved north from Melbourne, so the sample size is small but impressive and includes an 11th-placed finish in the 2026 Brownlow Medal, and a fifth spot in the League for average disposals with 30.2. The three-time All-Australian doesn't turn 30 until midway through next season and has four years to run on his current contract. Now that Jake Stringer has left the club, Oliver is the only Giant with premiership experience, giving him even greater value and making his trade for a third-round pick an absolute bargain.

What the fans said: Clayton Oliver, Jesse Hogan, Heath Shaw, Callan Ward, Shane Mumford

Pick 1 (Luke Hodge)

Hawthorn gets: Picks 1, 20 and 36
Hawthorn gives: Trent Croad and Luke McPharlin

It was the trade that sent shockwaves through the industry. Croad, an emerging star in just his fourth season, was shifted to the Dockers in exchange for the No.1 draft pick in 2001. And for good reason. The Hawks were eyeing a young lad named Luke Hodge, who went on to become one of the club's all-time greats with four premierships, two Norm Smith Medals, two club B&Fs and three selections in the All-Australian team. The deal also saw homesick Luke McPharlin traded for further draft picks, including No.36 who the Hawks used on a handy type in Sam Mitchell. Croad eventually returned to Hawthorn after two seasons in Perth but the initial trade was a win-win for both clubs.

What the fans said: Trent Croad/Luke Hodge, Jack Gunston, Shaun Burgoyne, Brian Lake, Josh Gibson

Three first-round picks

Melbourne gets: Picks 7, 8 and 37, 2026 R1 pick, 2027 R3 pick
Melbourne gives: Christian Petracca, picks 24 and 28, 2026 R2 pick

The Trac deal was made even sweeter by Gold Coast's lowly finish this season. The Suns would have had top-four aspirations when they traded off their first-round pick, but instead Melbourne has landed pick No.6 in this year's draft after the Suns' 13th-place finish. With the two 2025 first-round selections they picked up in the deal, the Demons took Xavier Taylor and Latrelle Pickett, who both showed glimpses of their exciting talent in their debut seasons. 

What the fans said: Christian Petracca, Jake Lever, Jack Steele, Steven May, Jeff White

Luke Parker

North Melbourne gets: Luke Parker and Jacob Konstanty
North Melbourne gives: Pick 44 

A week short of his 32nd birthday, Parker was traded to North Melbourne in a bid to bring both on- and off-field experience into the club, and the former Swan has delivered. Parker has missed just two games since landing at Arden Street, he came fourth in the 2025 best and fairest, and this year has been near career-high returns, all while giving invaluable guidance to the Roos' young list. With one year to go on his current contract, he may not be on the ground in North's next flag team, but Parker's recruitment has been massive plus for the club's present and future.

What the fans said: Luke Parker, Shannon Grant, Jason Horne-Francis, Wayne Carey, Shaun Higgins

Jason Horne-Francis

Port Adelaide gets: Jason Horne-Francis, Willie Rioli, 2023 R2 pick, 2023 R3 pick
Port Adelaide gives: Picks 8, 43, 53, 57, 2023 R1 pick, 2023 R2 pick, 2023 R3 pick

Port Adelaide lured Horne-Francis away from North Melbourne just 12 months after the Roos selected him with the No.1 pick in the 2021 draft. It took a four-club 'mega-trade’ to get the deal done, but the fruits of the Power's efforts are starting to bloom. Horne-Francis was named in the extended All-Australian squad this year and won his first John Cahill Medal as Port's best and fairest. With Zak Butters leaving, 'JHF' becomes the key cog in Josh Carr's plans and looks ready and willing to carry the load, justifying the high price the Power paid to bring him home to SA.

What the fans said: Jason Horne-Francis, Aliir Aliir, Gavin Wanganeen, Jay Schulz, Charlie Dixon

Toby Nankervis

Richmond gets: Toby Nankervis
Richmond gives: Pick 46

At the end of its wretched 2016 campaign, Richmond made three trades that proved pivotal to the success that followed. Dion Prestia and Josh Caddy were the big names, but it was Toby Nankervis, swapped for a third-round selection, that gave the greatest return, effectively carrying the ruck load alone in the Tigers' drought-breaking 2017 premiership win. Ten seasons, 178 games, three flags and five years as captain/co-captain later, and Nankervis has guaranteed his position as a club great.

What the fans said: Toby Nankervis, Dion Prestia, Tom Lynch, Tim Taranto, Bachar Houli

Fraser Gehrig

St Kilda gets: Fraser Gehrig
St Kilda gives: David Sierakowski, pick 18 

Already a star of the competition with West Coast after earning All-Australian selection in 1997, the man known as 'G-Train' swiftly became a cult hero over 145 games at the Saints. Gehrig was the big power forward the Saints needed and would go on to win two Coleman Medals and lead the club's goalkicking in five consecutive seasons. The deal also proved a win for the Eagles, who used pick No.18 on future star midfielder Daniel Kerr.

What the fans said: Fraser Gehrig, Jack Steele, Jack Silvagni, Brad Hill, Sam Flanders

Josh Kennedy & Ben McGlynn

Sydney gets: Josh Kennedy, Ben McGlynn
Sydney gives: Picks 39, 46 and 70

Sydney's 2009 trade haul of Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn from Hawthorn helped shape one of the club's most successful eras. Arriving with just 13 senior games to his name, Kennedy developed into a premiership player, club captain, three-time club champion and one of the Swans' all-time greats. McGlynn proved an equally inspired acquisition, playing 127 games while providing relentless pressure, leadership, and experience. Alongside fellow recruits Shane Mumford, Mark Seaby and Lewis Jetta, the pair helped drive Sydney's resurgence, helping deliver the 2012 premiership and launching more than a decade of sustained success.

What the fans said: Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn, Lance Franklin, Tony Lockett, Charlie Curnow, Brodie Grundy

Josh Kennedy

West Coast gets: Josh Kennedy, picks 3 and 20
West Coast gives: Chris Judd, pick 46

This was the ultimate win-win trade for both clubs. While the Eagles would lose one of their greatest players, Kennedy became a bona fide star of the competition. Just 20 at the time of the trade, Kennedy was far from an established player but finished his career as the club's all-time leading goalkicker (712 goals), a premiership player in 2018, two-time Coleman Medal winner and three-time All-Australian. The Eagles used pick No.3 on Chris Masten, who also played in the 2018 flag, and No.20 on Tony Notte.

What the fans said: Josh Kennedy/Chris Judd, Elliot Yeo, Tyson Stengle, Tom Barrass, Harley Reid

Tom Boyd

Western Bulldogs get: Tom Boyd
Western Bulldogs give: Ryan Griffen, pick 6

Despite playing only 61 AFL games before his shock retirement at the age of just 23, Boyd's lasting legacy will always be that massive last-quarter goal to help the Dogs get over the line in the 2016 Grand Final against Sydney. Boyd played just one season at Greater Western Sydney after being drafted as the No.1 pick in 2013, before being traded for Griffen and the Dogs' No.6 pick, who the Giants used on Caleb Marchbank.

What the fans said: Tom Boyd, Adam Treloar, Matt Kennedy, Barry Hall, Rory Lobb