Collingwood’s semi-final loss, Jaidyn Stephenson and Adam Treloar (centre) now having left the Pies. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Another AFL trade period has come and gone and, as ever, there are clubs which have emerged from the annual meat market as winners and losers.

When it comes to the club which can lay claim to being most triumphant in 2020, it’s actually hard to split Geelong and the Western Bulldogs.

But it didn’t take much deliberation before awarding the biggest loser of this year’s feeding frenzy, and fittingly it goes to the self-styled “biggest club” in Australia – Collingwood.

In their wildest dreams, the black-and-white army could not have envisaged a more disastrous climax to this year’s trade period – out go established trio Adam Treloar (Western Bulldogs), Jaidyn Stephenson (North Melbourne) and Tom Phillips (Hawthorn). And for what, you ask? Basically, pick 14 and a future second-rounder.

That is a “fire sale” of epic proportions, and just to cap things off, promising youngster Atu Bosenavulagi has also been shipped off to the Kangaroos – a player who quickly endeared himself to Collingwood supporters despite only playing three games in his debut season.

Understandably, most of those Collingwood supporters are absolutely livid with what has transpired on what might forever be known as “Black Thursday” for them.

List manager Ned Guy’s performance during his interview on Fox Footy shortly after the carnage was complete wouldn’t have done a lot to ease their pain, either. Credit to him for trying to spin the club’s glaring mismanagement of its salary cap over the years which has finally come back to bite it in the backside, but it was a far-from-convincing effort.

And where was president Eddie McGuire? Not only is he a Fox Footy employee, so contractually his availability shouldn’t have been a problem, but usually he has an insatiable appetite for media attention. Yet on this occasion, McGuire was conspicuously absent.

Collingwood football boss Geoff Walsh was nowhere to be seen, either. In fact, the only thing resembling a club statement from senior brass on the situation was a tweet from coach Nathan Buckley.

The Cats and the Dogs have no such worries, though, as both clubs now head into the 2021 season with genuine hopes of finishing in the top four, and in Geelong’s case a shot at an elusive flag after a decade full of near-misses.

Geelong has pushed its chips into the middle of the table and is basically “all in” on season 2021 being its best, and potentially last, shot at a flag for a while, after bringing in Jeremy Cameron (GWS), Shaun Higgins (North Melbourne) and Isaac Smith (Hawthorn).

With an average age of 30, the trio collectively will be together at Kardinia Park for a good time, not a long time. But with the Cats coming so close to winning the flag this year (they led Richmond on grand final day by 21 points late in the second quarter), those three quality, mature additions will only strengthen their bid to go one better next season.

And while they did ship off three first-round picks to GWS for Cameron, they saved some face by receiving a pair of future second-round picks as part of the transaction.

The Bulldogs pulled off one of the great heists of the trade period as they not only retained Josh Dunkley, who had asked to be traded to Essendon, but managed to snare Treloar as well in a move which gives them legitimate claims to the best midfield in the competition. Bontempelli, Macrae, Treloar, Dunkley, Hunter, Smith, Liberatore – that’s not bad at all.

Enhancing that engine room is the fact they also recruited Stefan Martin from the Lions, who will provide invaluable support to emerging young ruckman Tim English. And Mitch Hannan isn’t a bad little pick-up, either.

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Other clubs who can consider themselves quite chuffed by their performance during the free agency/trade period are Carlton, St Kilda, Melbourne, Brisbane, Port Adelaide and Hawthorn.

The Blues recruited speed machines Zac Williams and Adam Saad, the Saints further bolstered their list with Brad Crouch, Jack Higgins and Shaun McKernan, Melbourne traded in star North Melbourne spearhead Ben Brown, Brisbane picked up All-Australian forward Joe Daniher, the Power snaffled talented duo Orazio Fantasia and Aliir, while the Hawks only had to part ways with pick 65 to acquire Phillips, a readymade and much younger replacement for Smith.

Essendon is in an interesting case. While it did well to bring some emerging young talent through the door in Peter Wright and Jye Caldwell, as well as mature speedster Nick Hind, it can’t be ignored that the Bombers lost talented footballers entering their prime years in Daniher, Saad and Fantasia.

Based on that, you can’t really classify the Bombers as winners, but having strengthened their draft hand with three top-10 picks now in their grasp, they’re not really losers, either. It’s fair to say they’re the “Even Steven” of this trade period.

The Giants are in a similar boat. While they did bring in Jesse Hogan and Braydon Preuss, and now find themselves with five top-30 picks, losing the likes of Cameron, Williams, Aidan Corr (North Melbourne), Zac Langdon (West Coast) and Caldwell goes a long way to cancelling out the good faith, and probably sets them back in their bid for a maiden premiership.

And while the Kangaroos did get their hands on Stephenson and Corr, it doesn’t exactly make up for losing proven stars like Brown and Higgins.

HOW YOUR CLUB FARED AT THE TRADE TABLE
ADELAIDE
In: Pick 23 (AFL), Pick 36 (AFL), Future Second-Round Pick (Melbourne), Future Fourth-Round Pick (Hawthorn), Future Fourth-Round Pick (Melbourne)
Out: Brad Crouch (St Kilda), Rory Atkins (Gold Coast), Kyle Hartigan (Hawthorn), Pick 33 (Melbourne), Pick 50 (Melbourne)
The Verdict: Took a big step in its rebuild in 2020, and has continued along that path by bringing in three second-round picks while farewelling an experienced trio.

BRISBANE
In: Joe Daniher (Essendon), Nakia Cockatoo (Geelong), Future First-Round Pick (Melbourne), Pick 25 (Melbourne), Pick 53 (Melbourne), Future Third-Round Pick (West Coast), Pick 58 (West Coast), Pick 63 (North Melbourne), Pick 68 (Melbourne), Pick 69 (Melbourne)
Out: Stefan Martin (Western Bulldogs), Alex Witherden (West Coast), Pick 18 (Melbourne), Pick 19 (Melbourne), Future Second-Round Pick (Melbourne), Pick 43 (Melbourne), Pick 70 (North Melbourne), Future Fourth-Round Pick (Melbourne), Pick 86 (West Coast)
On-traded: Future Third-Round Pick (from Melbourne to Geelong)
The Verdict: If Daniher and Cockatoo get their bodies right, the possibilities are endless. A grand final is in reach.

CARLTON
In: Zac Williams (GWS), Adam Saad (Essendon), Lachie Fogarty (Geelong), Pick 38 (Geelong), Pick 48 (Essendon), Pick 78 (Essendon)
Out: Pick 8 (Essendon), Pick 30 (Geelong), Pick 51 (Geelong), Pick 87 (Essendon)
The Verdict: Paid a premium for Saad, but the Blues will be happy to add him to Williams and the promising Fogarty.

COLLINGWOOD
In: Pick 14 (Western Bulldogs), Future Second-Round Pick (Western Bulldogs), Pick 65 (Hawthorn), Pick 70 (North Melbourne)
Out: Adam Treloar (Western Bulldogs), Jaidyn Stephenson (North Melbourne), Tom Phillips (Hawthorn), Atu Bosenavulagi (North Melbourne), Pick 39 (North Melbourne), Pick 42 (Western Bulldogs)
On-traded: Pick 26 (from North Melbourne to Western Bulldogs), Pick 33 (from North Melbourne to Western Bulldogs)
The Verdict: An unmitigated disaster. This trade period could set back the Magpies for years to come.

ESSENDON
In: Peter Wright (Gold Coast), Jye Caldwell (GWS), Nick Hind (St Kilda), Pick 7 (AFL), Pick 8 (Carlton), Pick 44 (GWS), Future Third-Round Pick (Port Adelaide), Pick 77 (St Kilda), Pick 87 (Carlton)
Out: Joe Daniher (Brisbane), Adam Saad (Carlton), Orazio Fantasia (Port Adelaide), Shaun McKernan (St Kilda), Future Second-Round Pick (GWS), Pick 48 (Carlton), Pick 67 (St Kilda), Pick 73 (Port Adelaide), Pick 78 (Carlton), Future Fourth-Round Pick (Gold Coast)
On-traded: Pick 29 (from Port Adelaide to GWS), Pick 74 (from GWS to St Kilda)
The Verdict: Very busy. Lost a lot of talent, but mitigated that with a strong hand at this year’s draft.

FREMANTLE
In: Pick 54 (GWS)
Out: Jesse Hogan (GWS)
The Verdict: Weren’t a big player this year, and didn’t need to be. The youthful, revitalised Dockers are just quietly bubbling along under new coach Justin Longmuir.

GEELONG
In: Jeremy Cameron (GWS), Isaac Smith (Hawthorn), Shaun Higgins (North Melbourne), Future Second-Round Pick (GWS), Future Second-Round Pick (GWS), Pick 51 (Carlton), Future Third-Round Pick (Brisbane)
Out: Nakia Cockatoo (Brisbane Lions), Lachie Fogarty (Carlton), Pick 13 (GWS), Pick 15 (GWS), Pick 20 (GWS), Pick 38 (Carlton), Future Fourth-Round Pick (GWS)
On-traded: Pick 30 (from Carlton to North Melbourne)
The Verdict: Massive winners. Three more quality players arrive at Kardinia Park. The Cats just know how to get things done at this time of year.

GOLD COAST
In: Rory Atkins (Adelaide), Oleg Markov (Richmond), Future Fourth-Round Pick (Essendon)
Out: Peter Wright (Essendon), Future Third-Round Pick (Richmond)
The Verdict: A couple of handy defenders at the expense of a key forward who didn’t play a game this year. Tick.

GWS
In: Jesse Hogan (Fremantle), Braydon Preuss (Melbourne), Pick 10 (AFL), Pick 13 (Geelong), Pick 15 (Geelong), Pick 20 (Geelong), Pick 29 (Essendon), Future Fourth-Round Pick (Geelong)
Out: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong), Zac Williams (Carlton), Aidan Corr (North Melbourne), Zac Langdon (West Coast), Jye Caldwell (Essendon), Future Second-Round Pick (Geelong), Pick 44 (Essendon), Pick 74 (Essendon)
On-traded: Pick 31 (from AFL to Melbourne), Future Second-Round Pick (from Essendon to Geelong), Pick 54 (from West Coast, to Fremantle)
The Verdict: Plenty of early picks now, but it’s hard to ignore the talent that has walked out the door. It’s a familiar theme at GWS now unfortunately for the Giants.

HAWTHORN
In: Tom Phillips (Collingwood), Kyle Hartigan (Adelaide), Pick 42 (AFL)
Out: Isaac Smith (Geelong), Pick 65 (Collingwood), Future Fourth-Round Pick (Adelaide)
The Verdict: Stoppage-time winners, in soccer parlance. The late acquisition of Phillips pushed the Hawks over the edge into the success column.

MELBOURNE
In: Ben Brown (North Melbourne), Pick 18 (Brisbane), Pick 19 (Brisbane), Pick 28 (North Melbourne), Future Second-Round Pick (Brisbane), Pick 50 (Adelaide), Future Third-Round Pick (Western Bulldogs), Future Fourth-Round Pick (North Melbourne)
Out: Mitch Hannan (Western Bulldogs), Braydon Preuss (GWS), Future First-Round Pick (Brisbane), Pick 26 (North Melbourne), Future Second-Round Pick (Adelaide), Pick 53 (Brisbane), Future Third-Round Pick (Brisbane Lions), Pick 68 (Brisbane), Pick 69 (Brisbane), Future Fourth-Round Pick (Adelaide)
On-traded: Pick 25 (from Sydney to Brisbane), Pick 31 (from GWS to Sydney), Pick 33 (from Adelaide to North Melbourne), Pick 43 (from Brisbane to Sydney), Future Fourth-Round Pick (from Brisbane to North Melbourne)
The Verdict: Whenever you land one of the best forwards in the game, you’ve done very well. Not to mention the measly price that was paid to acquire him!

NORTH MELBOURNE
In: Jaidyn Stephenson (Collingwood), Aidan Corr (GWS), Atu Bosenavulagi (Collingwood), Lachie Young (Western Bulldogs), Pick 30 (Geelong), Future Fourth-Round Pick (Melbourne)
Out: Shaun Higgins (Geelong), Ben Brown (Melbourne), Pick 28 (Melbourne), Pick 63 (Brisbane), Future Fourth-Round Pick (Melbourne)
On-traded: Pick 26 (from Melbourne to Collingwood), Pick 33 (from Melbourne to Collingwood), Pick 70 (from Brisbane to Collingwood)
The Verdict: Getting Stephenson could be a boon, but at the expense of Brown, essentially? Hmmm.

PORT ADELAIDE
In: Orazio Fantasia (Essendon), Aliir (Sydney), Pick 73 (Essendon)
Out: Pick 29 (Essendon), Future Second-Round Pick (Sydney), Future Third-Round Pick (Essendon)
The Verdict: Did very well. A couple of second-rounders for two proven performers while the Power’s premiership window is just beginning to open.

RICHMOND
In: Pick 17 (St Kilda), Future Second-Round Pick (St Kilda), Future Third-Round Pick (Gold Coast)
Out: Jack Higgins (St Kilda), Oleg Markov (Gold Coast), Pick 21 (St Kilda), Future Fourth-Round Pick (St Kilda)
The Verdict: The loss of Higgins wouldn’t have been an easy pill to swallow, but the team is so strong, his absence probably won’t be noticed. And the Tigers got a first-rounder for him, so should be happy about that.

ST KILDA
In: Brad Crouch (Adelaide), Jack Higgins (Richmond), Shaun McKernan (Essendon), Pick 21 (Richmond), Pick 67 (Essendon), Future Fourth-Round Pick (Richmond), Pick 74 (Essendon)
Out: Nick Hind (Essendon), Pick 17 (Richmond), Future Second-Round Pick (Richmond), Pick 77 (Essendon)
The Verdict: Another successful off-season under Brett Ratten. Crouch and Higgins loom as key inclusions to a team already on the rise, while McKernan adds list depth. Hats off to the new destination club.

SYDNEY
In: Tom Hickey (West Coast), Pick 31 (Melbourne), Pick 34 (West Coast), Pick 43 (Melbourne), Pick 60 (West Coast)
Out: Aliir (Port Adelaide), Pick 25 (Melbourne), Pick 58 (West Coast), Future Third-Round Pick (West Coast), Pick 62 (West Coast)
On-traded: Future Second-Round Pick (from Port Adelaide to West Coast)
The Verdict: Break even. Aliir seems an odd one, but Hickey provides the ruck depth the Swans so desperately need.

WEST COAST
In: Alex Witherden (Brisbane), Zac Langdon (GWS), Future Second-Round Pick (Sydney), Future Third-Round Pick (Sydney), Pick 62 (Sydney), Pick 86 (Brisbane)
Out: Tom Hickey (Sydney), Pick 34 (Sydney), Pick 54 (GWS), Future Third-Round Pick (Brisbane), Pick 60 (Sydney)
On-traded: Pick 58 (from Sydney to Brisbane)
The Verdict: Did well. A couple of talented players arrive, and a back-up ruck departs. Not too shabby.

WESTERN BULLDOGS
In: Adam Treloar (Collingwood), Stefan Martin (Brisbane), Mitch Hannan (Melbourne), Pick 26 (Collingwood), Pick 33 (Collingwood), Pick 42 (Collingwood)
Out: Lachie Young (North Melbourne), Pick 14 (Collingwood), Future Second-Round Pick (Collingwood), Future Third-Round Pick (Melbourne)
The Verdict: Excellent work. The phrase having cake and eating it too comes to mind. Getting Treloar while holding on to Dunkley was an unlikely masterstroke.