The Jesse Hogan era at Melbourne is over.
Long-heralded as a key pillar of the Demons' rebuild, Hogan was a symbol of hope for many long-suffering fans, but he was traded to Fremantle on the final day of the AFL trade period.
Lachie Neale's contentious move to Brisbane set the wheels in motion.
The Dockers got pick No.6 as part of that transaction then sent it to Melbourne with pick 23 to claim the key forward they have long coveted.
Melbourne paid a steep price for the sublimely talented junior - pick three and 13 at the GWS mini-draft in 2012 - and he departs after 152 goals in 71 games.
After suffering through the bad times, he'll miss out on the good that looks to have arrived under Simon Goodwin, but the timing felt right for both parties.
The 23-year-old has battled injuries, as well as testicular cancer, and also had to cope with the death of his father.
It was time for him to go home to Perth.
"Jesse came to our club as a 17-year-old. He's done everything possible as a young player," Demons football boss Josh Mahoney said.
"He's had some injury concerns throughout that time and some personal issues but we leave on really good terms.
"He's spoken about it publicly ... if Melbourne Football Club was in Perth he'd play there. It was all about going back to Perth."
Hogan was contracted for next year but hadn't shown any inclination to stay beyond then.
While sympathetic to Hogan's desire to return to Perth, the Demons were determined to extract what they deemed fair value from the Dockers.
The deal hit a major hurdle on Friday when Peter Bell sensationally broke off negotiations, claiming Fremantle wouldn't be able to meet Melbourne's asking price of two first-round draft picks.
"You learn pretty quickly through this period to just go about your business and see how things pan out," Mahoney said of the Bell's tough talking club statement.
"In the end trades get done. All you can do is stick to your guns and what a good trade is for you.
"That was the way it played out.
"... We walk away really happy with the deal that we've done."
Melbourne got a window into life without Hogan, who was injured for the club's run to the preliminary final, and deemed the deal worth doing.
With Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman set to hold down key posts up forward, Hogan was expendable and his departure allowed the Demons to send pick No.6 to Gold Coast for key defender Steven May and winger Kade Kolodjashnij.
Ruckman Braydon Preuss also arrived from North Melbourne during the trade period, while Dom Tyson (Kangaroos) and Dean Kent (St Kilda) departed.
