Your club's best trade of the 21st century: Part 5 - West Coast and Western Bulldogs

Welcome back to the final instalment of this series, which has provided for some enthralling discussions.

West Coast – Jamie Cripps (183 games and 230 goals, 2013-today)
The hard-running small forward arrived from the Saints during the 2012 trade period along with pick 45 (Brent Colledge), in exchange for picks 40 (Brodie Murdoch) and 43 (Josh Saunders).

Considering Cripps remains a vital component of the Eagles’ forward line, and neither of St Kilda’s draft picks from this deal prospered, this was a bona-fide trade win for West Coast.

Cripps’ biggest weapon is his elite aerobic capacity, with his exceptional work rate and ability to cover the ground ensuring he remains the link-up player between the Eagles’ forwards and midfielders.

Statistically speaking, he has been one of the leading inside-50 tacklers over the past few seasons, providing a great foil for the more offensively-gifted forwards such as Josh Kennedy and Liam Ryan.

Cripps has also booted at least 25 goals in seven of his last eight seasons (with an injury in the COVID-affected 2020 season restricting him to nine games), which is a fair return for someone who often plays a selfless role and pushes high up the ground.

In another sign of consistency, he has also finished in the top ten in the club’s best and fairest count in five of the past eight seasons.

The small forward’s most notable achievements are becoming a premiership player in 2018, and being awarded West Coast Eagles life membership in 2020.

(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Other candidates: Elliot Yeo, a part of the ‘go-home five’ exodus from Brisbane at the end of 2013, arrived in exchange for pick 28 (Lewis Taylor).

After a permanent move into the midfield, Yeo has become a premiership player, dual All Australian (2017 and 2019), and two-time best and fairest winner (2017 and 2018) while at the Eagles.

A recent string of injuries, and the fact Lewis Taylor made a valuable contribution at the Lions, means that Yeo narrowly misses selection.

Premiership ruckman Nathan Vardy came to the club for just pick 72 (Timm House, who never played a game for the Cats), and provided good depth for the club’s ruck stocks.

Western Bulldogs – Easton Wood (188 games, 2009-2021)
During the 2007 trade period, the Bulldogs finalised a trade with Adelaide, which saw ruckman Ben Hudson and pick 43 head to the kennel for pick 30 (Jarrhan Jacky) and pick 38 (Myke Cook). The Dogs would subsequently use this draft pick to select Wood in the national draft.

Making his debut in late 2009, Wood quickly became known as an athletic, versatile defender who had the capacity to play on a vast range of different forwards, as well as being a renowned intercept mark.

Unfortunately, various soft tissue injuries hampered Wood early in his career, restricting him to just 45 games in his first five seasons.

Looking to make up for lost time, Wood experienced a breakout season in 2015, playing all 22 games (for the first time in his career), winning the Charles Sutton Medal, and earning selection on the half-back flank in the All Australian team.

In the following year, he became club captain. In the absence of the injured Robert Murphy, he inspirationally led the Bulldogs to their first premiership since 1954.

(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

After being a driving force in the club’s drought-breaking premiership victory, Wood was appointed as captain for the following three seasons.

Not to be forgotten as part of this trade, Ben Hudson was also a great pick-up for the club, helping address the Bulldogs’ ruck crisis ahead of the 2008 season before proceeding to play 88 games across four seasons.

Other candidates: Barry Hall arrived in the 2009 trade period in exchange for pick 47 (which was on-traded to another club) and provided great fire power up forward during his two seasons at the kennel, kicking 135 goals in just 39 appearances, while also earning All Australian selection in 2010.

Jason Akermanis arrived at the club at the end of 2006 for pick 34 (Chris Schmidt), producing a few trademark, match-winning performances during his time in the red, white and blue.

Tom Boyd also deserves a mention for his heroics in the 2016 grand final victory.

In the next series, I might flip the coin and delve into each club’s worst trades.