2. Brad Ottens to Geelong for picks 12 (Danny Meyer) and 16 (Adam Pattison) in 2004
Pattison or Meyer may reward the Tigers yet, but All-Australian Ottens took little time to thrive at the Cattery. Disgruntled after 129 games and 152 goals, and with a stronger emphasis on playing as a forward than in the ruck, it has been quite the opposite at Geelong. Ottens paired well with Steven King, and even emerged as the preferred ruckman as the Cats claimed their first flag in 44 years. Despite missing the first nine games of 2008, Ottens returned for an impact and, just 28, more success could await him.
That is a very generous appraisal of Brad Ottens. He was AA with us, not Geelong, and for the first two years the trade was considered a dud - Thompson had to ask the media to back off. He wasn't disgruntled with his playing position, it was simply that RFC wanted to reduce his package after some poor years and Geelong offered him a substantial increase. He has had one good year with Geelong - good luck to him, but let's not get carried away.
The players we got for him have been a poor return, but he was always leaving once Geelong got into his ear.