What started as picks No. 6, 59, 76 and 82 heading into the 2019 Trade Period became the all-star acquisitions of Bradley Hill, Dan Butler, Zak Jones, Paddy Ryder and Dougal Howard.

One year on from the game-changing haul that helped thrust St Kilda back into the finals equation, we've wound back the clock to see how it all went down.

One becomes two...

St Kilda traded… pick No. 6 and pick No. 59 to GWS
St Kilda received… pick No. 12 and pick No. 18 from GWS

Current hand: Picks No. 12, 18, 76 and 82

St Kilda made its first move of the trade period two days in, swapping pick No. 6 and and pick No. 59 with GWS for first-round selections No. 12 and No. 18.

The surprising trade gave the Saints the flexibility they needed to help bring key players to the club; two of which would officially put pen to paper five days later.

Power couple join Saints...

St Kilda traded… pick No. 12 and pick No. 18 plus a future third-round selection to Port Adelaide
St Kilda received… Paddy Ryder, Dougal Howard, pick No. 10 plus a future fourth-round selection from Port Adelaide

Current hand: Picks No. 10, 76 and 82
Acquisitions: Dougal Howard, Paddy Ryder

Future selections: Future fourth-round selection (from Port Adelaide)

After nominating St Kilda as their club of choice earlier in the Trade Period, Port Adelaide duo Dougal Howard and Paddy Ryder found a new home at RSEA Park after a deal was reached between the two sides.

The Saints gained Ryder, Howard, pick No. 10 and a future-fourth round selection in exchange for pick No. 12 and pick No. 18 (attained from GWS), plus a future third-round selection. 

With two key talents in the bag and a first-rounder still up their sleeve for an impending big-name signing, it was now just a matter of striking a deal.

Steven moves closer to home...

St Kilda traded… Jack Steven to Geelong
St Kilda received… Pick No. 58 from Geelong

Current hand: Picks No. 10, 58, 76 and 82
Acquisitions: Dougal Howard, Paddy Ryder
Departures: Jack Steven

Future selections: Future fourth-round selection (from Port Adelaide)

After 11 seasons at St Kilda, four-time Trevor Barker Award winner Jack Steven formally requested a trade to Geelong to be closer to his hometown of Lorne.

Steven played seven matches in 2019 after spending time away from the game to focus on his mental health.

The Saints facilitated the club champion's move back to the coast on the last day of the Trade Period, receiving pick No. 58 from the Cats as a result. 

The big fish lands...

St Kilda traded… Pick No. 10, Blake Acres, pick No. 58 plus a future second and fourth-round selection to Fremantle
St Kilda received… Bradley Hill plus a future third-round selection from Fremantle

Current hand: Picks No. 76 and 82
Acquisitions: Dougal Howard, Paddy Ryder, Bradley Hill
Departures: Jack Steven, Blake Acres

Future selections: Third-round selection (from Fremantle), fourth-round selection (from Port Adelaide)

Days of extensive negotiations between the Saints and Dockers finally came to a head minutes after the Steven trade, with prize recruit Bradley Hill officially joining the red, white and black's ranks.

With Hill still under contract at Fremantle, St Kilda handed over Blake Acres, pick No. 10, pick No. 58 plus a future second and fourth-round selection in order to strike a deal between the two sides.

The exchange left the Saints with just a fourth and fifth-round selection on the table, but there were still a few more deals to come.

Bruce departs to the Kennel...

St Kilda traded… Josh Bruce to the Western Bulldogs
St Kilda received… Pick No. 32 and pick No. 51 from the Western Bulldogs

Current hand: Picks 32, 51, 76 and 82
Acquisitions: Dougal Howard, Paddy Ryder, Bradley Hill
Departures: Jack Steven, Blake Acres, Josh Bruce

Future selections: Third-round selection (from Fremantle), fourth-round selection (from Port Adelaide)

With Josh Bruce confirming new residency at the Western Bulldogs for Season 2020 and beyond, the Saints had just a frantic one-and-a-half to complete its ambitious trade scenario.

St Kilda acquired picks No. 32 and 51 for the key forward, and with the added two picks in the bag, it was the ammunition the Saints needed to pull the trigger on the final two deals.

A boyhood dream...

St Kilda traded… Pick No. 32, Pick No. 76 plus a future third-round selection to Sydney
St Kilda received… Zak Jones, pick No. 56 plus a future fourth-round selection from Sydney

Current hand: 51, 56 and 82
Acquisitions: Dougal Howard, Paddy Ryder, Bradley Hill, Zak Jones
Departures: Jack Steven, Blake Acres, Josh Bruce

Future selections: Two fourth-round selections (from Port Adelaide and Sydney)

The fourth selection from the club's trade bonanza was Zak Jones, a lifelong Saints fan who wanted to return to Victoria and be closer to family.

Jones' wishes were granted with just minutes to spare, joining St Kilda along with pick No. 56 and a future fourth-rounder for pick No. 32, pick No. 76 and a future third-round selection (on-traded from Fremantle as part of the Hill trade).

Now, for the icing on top of the cake... 

As cheap as chips...

St Kilda traded… Pick No. 56 to Richmond
St Kilda received… Dan Butler from Richmond

Current hand: 51 and 82
Acquisitions: Dougal Howard, Paddy Ryder, Bradley Hill, Zak Jones, Dan Butler
Departures: Jack Steven, Blake Acres, Josh Bruce

Future selections: Two fourth-round selections (from Port Adelaide and Sydney)

The cherry on top of a stacked Trade Period – and the one who would go on to arguably pack the biggest punch in 2020 – was landed with just moments to spare.

Premiership Tiger Dan Butler swapped his sash for stripes to close out the mammoth week-and-a-half, confirming an all-star trade blitz from the club that hadn't been seen in almost 20 years.

And if it sounded good on paper then... well, we'll let you be the judge on Season 2020.

The final result...

Starting hand: Picks No. 6, 59, 76 and 82
Final hand: Pick No. 51 (Ryan Byrnes) and 82 (Leo Connolly, readjusted to pick No. 64)
Acquisitions: Dougal Howard, Paddy Ryder, Bradley Hill, Zak Jones, Dan Butler, Ryan Abbott (delisted free agent), Ryan Byrnes (National Draft), Leo Connolly (National Draft), Jack Bell (Rookie Draft)
Departures: Jack Steven, Blake Acres, Josh Bruce, Jack Newnes (delisted free agent)

Future selections: Two fourth-round selections (from Port Adelaide and Sydney)

Future selections at the 2020 draft and where they sit:

• Future second-round (traded as part of Hill trade): Pick No. 32, Richmond (tied to St Kilda, on-traded by Collingwood, Fremantle in 2019)
• Future third-round (traded as part of Jones trade): Pick No. 44, Adelaide (tied to Fremantle, on-traded by Sydney, St Kilda in 2019)
• Future third-round (traded as part of Ryder/Howard trade): Pick No. 51, Port Adelaide
• Future fourth-round (received as part of Jones trade): Pick No. 58, St Kilda
• Future fourth-round (traded as part of Hill trade): Pick No. 69, Collingwood (tied to St Kilda, on-traded by Fremantle in 2019)
• Future fourth-round (received as part of Ryder/Howard trade): Pick No. 71, St Kilda

St Kilda's 2020 draft hand 

Pick No. 15 (first round)
Pick No. 58 (fourth round)
Pick No. 71 (fourth round)
Pick No. 87 (fifth round)