The 2019 AFL trade period has concluded with the West Coast Eagles completing two deals during the nominated time.

The blockbuster trade of the year was the Eagles’ acquisition of star Cat Tim Kelly, the club’s main target for the period.

The complex trade which involved both Geelong and Essendon, saw the Eagles add Kelly, the 52^nd pick in this year’s national draft and a third round selection in next year’s draft.

In return, Geelong received picks 14, 24 and 37 from this year’s draft as well as West Coast’s 2020 first round pick.

“Clearly our main objective was to bring Tim to our football club and we were really pleased to do that in the first week of the trade period,” says General Manager of Football Craig Vozzo.

Kelly finished second in Geelong’s best and fairest in both of his seasons with the Cats and fifth in the Brownlow Medal in 2019.

The 25 year old starred in the Cats’ finals series completing a remarkable second year after being drafted from South Fremantle in 2017.  

“He’s a rare and unique talent, so getting him into the club was our major priority.” Vozzo said.

The Eagles’ second trade saw the club move up six spots in the 2019 draft order by completing a double pick swap with Brisbane.

The Eagles traded their newly acquired 52^nd selection along with the 64^th pick to the Lions receiving picks 46 and 91 in return.

Vozzo noted the work the club’s recruiting team completed ahead of the draft,

“It provides our recruiters with something higher in the third round to aim at, they’ve been good in the past in hitting the target in that area of the draft,” He said.  

The Eagles have snared quality players in the middle part of recent drafts.

Speedster Jack Petruccelle was taken with pick 38 in 2017, while emerging defender Josh Rotham was secured with pick 37 in 2016. Even later in that draft was half forward Jake Waterman, taken with the 77^th selection.  

Defensive duo Tom Cole (pick 36 in 2015) and Tom Barrass (pick 43 in 2013) played in the 2018 premiership as did mature age veteran Mark Hutchings (pick 60 in 2012) and dependable defender Will Schofield (50 in 2006).  

“Our recruiters prepare all year whether they have pick 1 or pick 100, they prepare exhaustively over a long period looking at 100 plus players, so that come the end of the year they are prepared regardless.”  Vozzo noted.

The National Draft will take place on Wednesday 27^TH and Thursday 28^th of November at Marvel Stadium followed by the preseason and rookie drafts.