With the free agency period opening on Friday, October 9 and the trade period opening on Monday, October 12, we look back on some great Cats trades ...
1. Leigh Colbert, picks 53 (Clayton Lasscock) and 67 (Robert Shirley) for picks 15 (David Spriggs), 17 (Ezra Bray), 47 (Corey Enright) and Cameron Mooney for in 1999
The Cats were able to turn the devastation of losing captain Leigh Colbert into part of the nucleus of the club’s greatest era. Both Enright and Mooney became club legends thanks to their role in ending the 44-year premiership drought. Enright might well end his career as the greatest half-back flanker in the history of the game.
2. Michael Mansfield for pick 31 (Paul Chapman) in 1999
Mansfield was 10 years and 181 games into his career with the Cats when he was swapped for pick 31 in the 1999 draft. The Cats used the pick to snare Chapman, who became one of the club’s greats. ‘Chappy’ played 251 games for Geelong, won a ‘Carji’ Greeves Medal, a Norm Smith Medal and three premierships.
3. Picks 12 (Danny Meyer) and 16 (Adam Pattison) for Brad Ottens in 2004
The trade was crucial in putting together the list that created Geelong’s golden era. Ottens was initially recruited to fill a key forward role, but he ended up developing into a superstar ruckman. One of the most popular blokes in the playing group during his time with the Cats, ‘Otto’ featured prominently in the 2007, ’09 and ’11 premierships.
4. Clint Bizzell for pick 17 (James Kelly) in 2001
After requesting a trade to Melbourne, Bizzell ended up playing 75 games in the red and blue. But the Cats certainly got the better end of the bargain, using the draft pick they gained in return for Bizzell to snare James Kelly. ‘Kel’ became a club legend, notching 273 games and featuring in three premiership teams.
5. Picks 14 (Jake Lever) and 35 (Harrison Wigg) for pick 10 (Nakia Cockatoo) in 2014
It is hard to draw too many conclusions in terms of how this deal will turn out in the long run, but it looks very positive for the Cats at this stage. Cockatoo enjoyed an impressive debut season in 2015 and looks set for a long career with the club.
