Jade Gresham begins a new chapter in his career at Essendon after eight years with St Kilda. Photo: AFL MEDIA

Another two players found new homes on day five of the 2023 AFL trade period as St Kilda small forward Jade Gresham and Brisbane ruckman Tom Fullarton made their way to Essendon and Melbourne respectively.

There had been talk during the week that Gresham’s path to Tullamarine was at risk of being made trickier by the Saints potentially matching the Bombers’ bid for the restricted free agent.

That scenario would have forced Essendon to either trade for Gresham, or wait until the pre-season draft to secure his services.

But in the end, St Kilda was satisfied with the compensation they received from the AFL for losing Gresham which turned out to be an end-of-first-round selection No.21.

Melbourne parted ways with pick 47 to secure Fullarton.

At his best, Gresham can be an electrifying proposition, as evidenced by the 65 goals he kicked across 2017-18. However, he is coming off a modest season by his standards which saw him average only 18 disposals and boot 21 majors in 23 outings.

The Bombers are lacking class in the small forward role, with the Davey twins, Alwyn and Jayden, still raw, Will Snelling failing to have the impact he once did and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti having retired.

Essendon will be hoping that Gresham can help bolster that area of the ground, which also includes Matt Guelfi, Archie Perkins and the promising Jye Menzie who averaged a goal a game in his second season this year.

After 136 games and as many goals in eight years with the Saints, the No.18 pick at the 2015 draft was excited by the potential of the playing list he was joining.

“I believe we can do something special and I’m happy to be a part of the journey ahead,” he said.

“Can’t wait to meet everyone at the club, get stuck into pre-season and get to work for a massive 2024.”

Gresham’s signing continues a busy exchange period for the Bombers who have also picked up North Melbourne pair Todd Golstein and Ben McKay as free agents.

Fullarton heads to the Demons after 19 games in six seasons with Brisbane, where he played primarily as a ruck when he got the chance, but also showed he could go forward and kick a goal.

The 24-year-old failed to play a match this season, such was the dominance of Oscar McInerney, but with Brodie Grundy having left the Demons for Sydney this week, Fullarton has a real chance to make that back-up role for the ageing Max Gawn his own in the years to come.

Plenty of other dominoes are still expected to fall over the final five days of the exchange period.

Brisbane forward Jack Gunston has informed the Lions that he wants to be traded back to Hawthorn, where he won three premierships and played 211 matches for 410 goals, after just one year up in Queensland.

Port Adelaide youngster Xavier Duursma is seeking to become the fourth player to move to the Bombers, and gun Fremantle forward Lachie Schultz wants to join the Magpies.

The Power loom as a big player in the trade period with Geelong swing man Esava Ratugolea, Essendon defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Bulldogs ruckman Jordon Sweet all seemingly destined to join them.

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Essendon on-baller Dylan Shiel had been linked to a potential Gresham trade, but now that the former Saint has been secured as a free agent, it’s unclear where that leaves Shiel.

Bulldogs forward Rory Lobb had been talked about as potentially being in the market for a fourth club – possibly Melbourne – while vastly-improved Fremantle youngster Liam Henry has asked to be traded to St Kilda.

Gold Coast looks set to lose key forward Mabior Chol, who is in Hawthorn’s sights, and the Eagles are keen on Hawthorn’s Tyler Brockman, although Fremantle have also lodged their interest in the small forward.

Hawks forward Jacob Koschitzke has requested to be traded to Richmond, Carlton midfielder Paddy Dow wants to join St Kilda, and Hawthorn is the preferred destination for fringe Bombers defender Massimo D’Ambrosio.

The Blues would like to unite Gold Coast’s Elijah Hollands with younger brother Ollie at Ikon Park, and while the rumours won’t go away surrounding star Bulldog Bailey Smith potentially heading to Geelong, the Cats have dismissed those suggestions.

GWS have shown interest in Port Adelaide’s Orazio Fantasia and Adelaide’s Elliott Himmelberg, Crows forward Shane McAdam appears set to become a Demon, St Kilda’s Nick Coffield will likely head to the Bulldogs, and the Magpies have shown interest in another Saint Jack Billings.

Meanwhile, Geelong fans are breathing easy after champion spearhead Tom Hawkins put pen to paper on a new two-year contract.

2023 PLAYER MOVEMENTS

14. Tom Fullarton (BL) traded to Melbourne in exchange for pick 47.
13. Jade Gresham (StK) joined Essendon as a restricted free agent. St Kilda received pick 21 (AFL) as compensation.
12. Zac Fisher (Carl) and Pick 17 (Carl) traded to North Melbourne in exchange for Pick 22 and Pick 26.
11. Taylor Adams (Coll) traded to Sydney in exchange for Pick 34.
10. Brodie Grundy (Melb) traded to Sydney in exchange for Pick 47 and Future Second-Round Pick.
** Pick 18 (GC) traded to North Melbourne in exchange for Future First-Round Assistance Pick.
9. Chris Burgess (GC) and Pick 14 (GC) traded to Adelaide in exchange for Pick 24 and Pick 27.
**Pick 11 (GC) traded to Melbourne in exchange for Pick 14, Pick 28 and Pick 36.
8. Dylan Stephens (Syd) and Pick 26 (Syd) traded to North Melbourne in exchange for Pick 45 and Future First-Round Assistance Pick.
7. James Harmes (Melb) traded to Western Bulldogs in exchange for Future Third-Round Pick.
6. Ben McKay (NM) joined Essendon as a restricted free agent. North Melbourne received Pick 3 (AFL) as compensation.
5. Todd Goldstein (NM) joined Essendon as an unrestricted free agent.
** Pick 25 (Fre) and Future Second-Round Pick (Fre) traded to Port Adelaide in exchange for Future First-Round Pick.
** Pick 5 (GC), Pick 48 (GC), Pick 53 (GC) and Future First-Round Pick (GC) traded to Western Bulldogs in exchange for Pick 11, Pick 18 and Future First-Round Pick.
4. Tom Doedee (Adel) joined Brisbane Lions as a restricted free agent. Adelaide received pick 20 (AFL) as compensation.
3. Joel Hamling (Fre) joined Sydney as an unrestricted free agent.
2. Matthew Flynn (GWS) joined West Coast as an unrestricted free agent. GWS received pick 43 (AFL) as compensation.
1. James Jordon (Melb) joined Sydney as an unrestricted free agent. Melbourne received pick 42 (AFL) as compensation.