Reunited: former Collingwood teammates Brodie Grundy (left) and Taylor Adams will link up again at Sydney. Photos: Getty Images and Michael Klein

After a ho-hum start, the 2023 AFL trade week exploded into life on day three with no fewer than five players finding new homes and a host of draft picks swapping hands.

As had been long predicted, former Collingwood teammates Brodie Grundy and Taylor Adams have been officially reunited at Sydney, which makes it three clubs in three years for Grundy after his solitary season at Melbourne didn’t work out.

He still has four years remaining on the lucrative contract he originally signed with the Magpies.

The Swans coughed up pick 46 and a future second-round selection for Grundy, while parting ways with pick 33 for Adams.

Carlton small forward-turned-defender Zac Fisher and Sydney’s former top-five draft pick Dylan Stephens have both made their way to North Melbourne.

The Kangaroos gave up picks 21 and 25 for Fisher but also received selection 17 from the Blues as part of the deal, while they sent pick 44 and one of their future first-round assistance picks to the Swans for Stephens. Sydney also gave North pick 25 as part of that trade.

And lastly, out-of-favour key forward Chris Burgess has been traded to Adelaide, along with pick 14, in exchange for picks 23 and 26.

What started out as a well-intentioned move by Grundy to link up with fellow All-Australian star Max Gawn at the Demons finished in disaster for the former Magpie who was dropped late in the season and featured in just one of the Demons’ last seven matches. He missed both of their finals.

But luckily for Grundy, he will face no such rucking hierarchy issues at the Swans and following the retirement of Tom Hickey, he has a golden opportunity to reestablish himself as one of the league’s premier big men in the role of Sydney’s first-choice ruck.

Adams heartbreakingly missed out on playing in Collingwood’s premiership this year due to a hamstring injury. But after spending more time as a high half-forward in 2023, the former Collingwood vice-captain is looking forward to returning to his natural habitat in the midfield with the Swans alongside the likes of breakout youngster Errol Gulden, Chad Warner, veteran Luke Parker, Ollie Florent and James Rowbottom.

“Taylor brings a wealth of experience both on and off the field, and will be a great addition to our team,” Sydney football manager Charlie Gardiner said.

“He is an elite midfielder and an outstanding leader, and we believe his experience will not only help us win games but provide support for our developing young midfield.”

With Joel Hamling and James Jordon also having joined Sydney from Fremantle and Melbourne respectively in the pat week, the Swans have wasted little time bolstering their list significantly.

In other non-player-related deals, Gold Coast gave Melbourne pick 11 in exchange for picks 14, 27 and 35, while the Suns also relinquished pick 18 to the Kangaroos for the second of their two future first-round assistance picks.

It continues the Suns’ strategy of offloading their top picks in order to ensure they get their hands on promising academy prospects Jed Walter, Ethan Read, Jake Rogers and Will Graham at the draft, while North have added to their considerable war chest of first-round picks as they look to potentially snare pick No.1 and the country’s top-rated youngster Harley Reid.

Plenty of other dominoes are expected to fall over the next seven days of the exchange period.

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St Kilda small forward Jade Gresham has nominated Essendon as his next club of choice, although his path to Tullamarine could be made trickier by the Saints potentially matching a bid for their restricted free agent. That would force the Bombers to either trade for Gresham, or wait until the pre-season draft to secure his services.

Port Adelaide youngster Xavier Duursma is also seeking a move to the Bombers, and gun Fremantle forward Lachie Schultz wants to become a Magpie.

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

Essendon on-baller Dylan Shiel has been linked to a potential Gresham trade, and fringe Bombers defender Massimo D’Ambrosio has requested a trade to Hawthorn.

Bulldogs forward Rory Lobb is reportedly 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 another key forward with Mabior Chol in Hawthorn’s sights, the Eagles are keen on Hawthorn’s Tyler Brockman, Hawks forward Jacob Koschitzke has requested to be traded to Richmond, and Melbourne looks like it will be Brisbane ruck Tom Fullarton’s new home.

Carlton midfielder Paddy Dow wants to join St Kilda, the Blues would like to unite Gold Coast’s Elijah Hollands with younger brother Ollie, 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 also shown interest in Port Adelaide’s Orazio Fantasia and Adelaide’s Elliott Himmelberg.

2023 PLAYER MOVEMENTS

12. Zac Fisher (Carl) and Pick 17 (Carl) traded to North Melbourne in exchange for Pick 21 and Pick 25.
11. Taylor Adams (Coll) traded to Sydney in exchange for Pick 33.
10. Brodie Grundy (Melb) traded to Sydney in exchange for Pick 46 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 23 and Pick 26.
**Pick 11 (GC) traded to Melbourne in exchange for Pick 14, Pick 27 and Pick 35.
8. Dylan Stephens (Syd) and Pick 25 (Syd) traded to North Melbourne in exchange for Pick 44 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 24 (Fre) and Future Second-Round Pick (Fre) traded to Port Adelaide in exchange for Future First-Round Pick.
** Pick 5 (GC), Pick 47 (GC), Pick 52 (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 42 (AFL) as compensation.
1. James Jordon (Melb) joined Sydney as an unrestricted free agent. Melbourne received pick 41 (AFL) as compensation.