It’s been more than two decades since Tony Lockett’s departure to Sydney left St Kilda supporters heartbroken, in a move that emphasised the cruel reality of the trade period.

Having booted just under 900 goals in 183 games in red, white and black, and drawn fans in by the thousands just to watch his exploits from the goal square, Lockett ignored lucrative overtures from Collingwood, Richmond, Carlton and just about every other team in the competition, to join the struggling Swans.

At a time when St Kilda struggled both on and off-field, Lockett was the reason why thousands of people flocked to Moorabbin on dreary, miserable Saturday afternoon's in winter. If the Saints lost, but ‘Plugger’ kicked a bag some viewed the outcome as good as a win.

While it was widely tipped throughout 1994 that Lockett would shift to one of the Victorian powerhouses, the 1987 Brownlow medallist shocked the football world by heading north, reportedly lured by the anonymity of playing in rugby league heartland, the lack of media scrutiny and the opportunity to work under the coaching genius Ron Barassi.

Those who worked with him and coached him during his time at Moorabbin believe the media glare in Melbourne and the constant negativity despite his brilliance, reached a breaking point.

So by the end of 1994, Lockett was traded to Sydney in a complex trade that involved Hawthorn. In exchange for the two-time Trevor Barker Award winner, St Kilda received pick No. 5 and No. 13, Robert Neill from the Swans and Hawks pair Glenn Nugent and Josh Kitchen.

While recruiting has come a long way since then, two picks inside the first 13 selections, plus a couple of players was good compensation, particularly when you remove sentiment from the equation.

Unfortunately for the Saints the two players chosen with those picks – Joel Smith and Chris Hemley – didn’t work out in a way the club would have hoped.

Hemley only managed one game, while Smith quit the club at the end of 1997, defecting to Hawthorn where he went on to play 163 more games, winning the best and fairest in 2001.

While St Kilda began a new era after the Lockett trade, which culminated in a grand final appearance in 1997, the Swans received plenty of exceptional service from the legendary key forward.

Lockett added a Sydney best and fairest to his resume in his first season at the SCG, along with three more All-Australian guernseys, and another 462 goals to surpass legendary Collingwood goal kicking machine, Gordon Coventry, setting a new AFL/VFL goal kicking record.

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He may have broken the record dressed in red and white, but no one forgets where he kicked the vast majority of his goals.