There have been a number of players who were starved of opportunity at their first club before going on to carve out wonderful careers.
Which players made a really good fist of it at their second (or third) club after failing to make an impression at their first?
These are the top 5 according to Matthew Lloyd.
5. Jarryd Lyons
Adelaide -> Gold Coast -> Brisbane
“He played 55 games at the Adelaide Crows and he played 37 games at the Suns,” Lloyd told AFL Trade Radio's The Early Trade.
“How good would he be for the Gold Coast Suns right now in that midfield?
“What a wonderful player he’s been for the Brisbane Lions.
“It’s amazing how it’s one person’s opinion. If you’ve got one coach who doesn’t rate you, it’s going to be pretty tough and you don’t have a career versus someone who does rate you and go on and have a wonderful career.”
4. Tom Lynch
St Kilda -> Adelaide
“He played six games with St Kilda.
“He looked under Ross Lyon that he had no confidence in himself whatsoever. I thought, ‘This bloke can’t play’.
“Then he gets traded across to the Adelaide Crows and what a brilliant player. One of the hardest running half-forwards the game has seen.”
3. Tim Membrey
Sydney -> St Kilda
“In his few years at the Swans, 'Buddy' (Lance Franklin) didn’t even know his name.
“Just got one game in his time at the Swans and St Kilda said we’ll take you.
“What a player he has been at St Kilda through that time. He’s just so important, a bit like Tom Lynch.
“He just hits up, he kicks goals and he’s been magnificent for St Kilda over a long period of time.”
2. Bachar Houli
Essendon -> Richmond
“He spoke about how he didn’t enjoy his four years at Essendon.
“He had checked out, then James Hird replaced Matthew Knights. Hird made a plea, ‘Bachar, I’ll play you’, but by that time Bachar’s head was with the Richmond Football Club.
“Three-time premiership player. He went on and had a great career.
“I’ll admit, I didn’t think Bachar would be the player he became at Richmond from what I saw.
“I didn’t think he was hard enough and competitive enough to make it, but it was a lack of confidence that I think the coaching staff and Matty Knights had in him at the time.
“Gets some love from Richmond and just blossoms into an amazing player.”
1. Josh Kennedy
Hawthorn -> Sydney
“He played 13 games for Hawthorn from 2007 to 2009. He was told for the benefit of yourself, it’s best we make a trade for you.
“I remember Ben McGlynn and Josh Kennedy were the two that went up to the Swans and one became a premiership player.
“He’s the best (of this lot). What a player he has been for the Sydney Swans.”