The last hour on deadline day is the most pressure-filled of the season
Forget the on-field pressure of the grand final - the most intense time of the entire AFL season is when the clock winds down on deadline day.
Whether the AFL trade period lasts one week, a fortnight or even a month - stacks of deals always go down to the wire as clubs make last-gasp decisions to improve their lists.
This year was no exception, with a flurry of last-minute moves resulting in Brett Deledio, Jaeger O'Meara, Koby Stevens, Caleb Marchbank, Jarrod Pickett and Rhys Palmer finally being put out of their misery, as the clock struck down to midnight.
Oh to be a fly on the wall as club officials, and players and their managers go toe-to-toe during that pressure-cooker final hour.
Eight trades involving Marchbank, Pickett, Palmer, O'Meara, Deledio, Stevens & 27 picks were lodged in the last 16 minutes of trade period.
— Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) October 20, 2016
In that last 16 minutes of trade period, 12 round one, round two or future round one /future round two picks changed hands.
— Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) October 20, 2016
2016 - 34 players traded, 4 free agents move, 113 total picks traded inc.19 future picks.
— Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) October 20, 2016
'15 - 44 players, 4 FA, 103 picks inc.14 futures .
The Suns have to follow the Giants' path
Gold Coast must look at the progress of GWS with absolute envy.
The League's two newest clubs were gifted incredible resources and draft assistance ahead of their introductions in 2011 and 2012 respectively but have tracked at wildly different directions.
The Suns lost Jaeger O'Meara and Dion Prestia during the trade period but are armed to the teeth heading into what experts believe is one of the best drafts in recent years - holding picks 4, 6, 8 and 10, as well as four second-round picks next year.
This cache of high-end picks represents an opportunity for them to start again. Bring in elite young talent, develop them better, get 'buy-in' from the whole group, and who knows - the Suns may be feared like the Giants currently are.
All Gold Coast need to do is draft the right kids. No pressure.
Adelaide's lack of a Plan B could cost them
Adelaide had one key mission heading into trade week - grab an elite midfielder to bolster their one area of weakness.
When Carlton's Bryce Gibbs announced he wanted to head to the Crows, it appeared a match made in heaven. It ended up a nightmare for the Crows, though.
Carlton had every right to drive a hard bargain, and Adelaide also had every right to baulk at the price the Blues demanded for the former No. 1 draft pick. But why on earth would the Crows not have a back-up plan if the Gibbs deal fell through?
Add to that the fact Adelaide let improving midfielder Jarryd Lyons head to the Suns for pick 43, and it's no wonder so many Crows fans are furious at the club's performance through the trade period.
GWS is a breeding ground, for the Blues
Speaking of Carlton, the Blues now have a staggering nine former GWS players on their list.
Six ex-Giants had already found new homes at Carlton, and three more (Caleb Marchbank, Jarrod Pickett and Rhys Palmer) joined them as the two clubs' trading relationship strengthened.
The Blues have had mixed success with their previous GWS trades -- Jed Lamb, Andrew Phillips, Liam Sumner, Kristian Jaksch, Mark Whiley and Lachie Plowman -- but there's no doubt Marchbank and Pickett, both top-six draft picks two years ago, are serious talents.
Palmer, meanwhile, is the definition of bargain-basement after costing the Blues a triple-figure draft pick: No. 135.
There's a stack of pressure on Jaeger O'Meara and Tom Mitchell
Until about 1.55pm on deadline day, the Hawks' chase for O'Meara looked to be in danger of falling through, with a plateful of eggs poised to splash all over Hawthorn's face.
In one of a handful of trades that went down to the wire, the Hawks eventually got their man - one of the most talented yet injury-prone players in the league.
The eventual price was pick 10 in this year's draft and two future first-round picks. Talk about high risk, high reward.
Mitchell, the prolific Swans midfielder, cost the Hawks selection No. 14, as well as a late-pick shuffle.
Considering Hawthorn basically gave up any presence in this year's draft (their first pick is No. 88) and will be without a first or second-round selection next year, that's a lot of eggs in two baskets.
Mitchell and O'Meara -- who hasn't played at AFL level in more than two years -- must prove that they were worth the investment.
The Saints are coming
St Kilda, one of the league's biggest improvers in 2016, nailed their trade period and loom as a likely finalist next year.
As well as regaining Bombers recruit Jake Carlisle next season, the Saints have also added highly regarded GWS midfielder Jack Steele, rugged Bulldogs ball-winner Koby Stevens and Collingwood free agent Nathan Brown.
St Kilda knew they had two areas of the ground they had to improve in -- defence and midfield -- and went out and got their men, at relatively insignificant cost.
The cherry on top though, was an astute trade that saw a desperate Hawthorn send their future first-round pick, plus two second-round picks, to St Kilda for their 2016 first and fourth round selections.
This all points to the Saints improving further in 2017, before holding an extremely strong hand at next year's draft as well.
The Giants by how much?
GWS have been installed as clear-cut favourite for next year's title, and with good reason.
Already bursting at the seams with talent, the Giants added Richmond gun Brett Deledio and shuffled their way up to No. 2 in the draft.
While some former high-end draft picks headed for new homes, GWS also brought in two future second-round picks and also have several Academy prospects on the cards for this year's draft.
The AFL's monster just got scarier.
Geelong must win a flag in the Dangerwood era
Geelong's moves during the trade period left many scratching their heads.
They accepted 'unders' for Josh Caddy's move to Richmond (picks 24 and 64 from Richmond for the 24-year-old and Geelong's selection 56) and appeared to cough up 'overs' for Carlton's Zach Tuohy (a future-first round pick and selection 63 in this year's draft for Billie Smedts and a future second-round pick).
Trading out Caddy, possibly Geelong's third-best midfielder behind Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood, is a strange move, considering Geelong's over-reliance on the star pairing this year.
In the past two trade periods, the Cats have clearly loaded up for a premiership tilt, an aim they fell short of this year.
But they must strike next year or soon after, as Geelong have no first-round picks in 2017 - the third-straight year they'll go without top-end draft picks.
Fremantle could play finals next year
If St Kilda received an A+ for their trade period, the Dockers wouldn't be far behind.
Ross Lyon's men from the west secured four walk-up best 22 starters, the quartet strengthening areas of weakness across the ground. And none cost the world.
Cam McCarthy and Shane Kersten will be solid key forward targets for a team that has lacked scoring power for so long, the Bulldogs' Joel Hamling will lock down a key defensive post, and Bradley Hill will add outside run on the wide Subiaco expanses.
Freo will also back themselves to grab the draftee they want at pick No. 7 (after sliding back from the third selection), meaning they've killed two birds with one stone this trade period.
North's low-risk play could reap big rewards
The Kangaroos made their intentions clear towards the end of last season when they sent Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Nick Dal Santo and Michael Firrito off into retirement.
With a clear rebuild on the way, the Roos were also happy to let Daniel Wells and Aaron Black walk for little in return.
But, they made a couple of moves in the past week that could result in massive wins from minimal outlays.
Paul Ahern - a former No. 7 draft pick who has suffered two ACL injuries - could end up being a massive bargain after the Roos only gave up pick No. 69 in return, while Nathan Hrovat and Marley Williams are both young and could also walk into North's best 22 with big preseasons.
North also have three picks in the top 33 to play with at this year's draft, meaning they can set the platform for another premiership tilt in a few years.