THE final day of the NAB AFL Trade Period has wrapped with Melbourne recruiting three new players and a suite of draft picks to the Club.

Gold Coast defenders Steven May and Kade Kolodjashnij, along with North Melbourne ruckman Braydon Preuss will join the red and blue for 2019.

The acquisition of the trio fulfils the club’s pre-trade objective to bring in a tall defender, a speedy half-back and a backup ruckman.

At the same time, Melbourne were also able to strengthen their draft position, obtaining two relatively early picks in number 23 and 28 as part of trades with Fremantle and St Kilda.

Late draft picks at number 62 and 65 also made their way to Melbourne.

Leaving the Club will be forwards Jesse Hogan and Dean Kent and midfielder Dom Tyson, who were traded to Fremantle, St Kilda and North Melbourne respectively.

Kent’s move to St Kilda last Friday was Melbourne’s first involvement of the trade period, with pick 65 making its way to the Demons as part of the deal.

Shortly after, Melbourne’s wish to secure a backup ruckman was granted, with Braydon Preuss, plus pick number 62, traded for Dom Tyson.

Preuss, who played seven games with the Kangaroos in 2017 – including one against Max Gawn in a game in Hobart – will provide a valuable secondary ruck option for Melbourne.

Behind the scenes, negotiations continued with Fremantle on a swap for Jesse Hogan. This was held up by a separate deal involving Docker Lachie Neale and Brisbane

Fast forward to Wednesday and it was the Neale deal that got the dominoes falling at 2:24pm.

Neale was traded by the Dockers to Brisbane for pick number six.

Nine minutes later, the Dockers bundled pick 23 with pick six and traded them to Melbourne in exchange for Jesse Hogan.  

Melbourne held onto pick number six for all of 22 minutes, before trading it to the Suns for defenders Steven May and Kade Kolodjashnij.

The addition of Kolodjashnij will enhance Melbourne’s transition play from the backline, while defender May is one the biggest names switching clubs this off-season.

While player trading has concluded for 2018, draft picks may still be exchanged between clubs up until mid November. Draft picks will also be available to trade live during the NAB AFL Draft on November 22 and 23.