All AFL clubs strive to build premiership-winning lists through the development of players selected via the draft system, but what often separates the best from the 'also-rans' is their ability to recruit ready-made players from the opposition.

You need only look at this year’s Grand Finalists, Hawthorn and Sydney, to see how shrewd off-season recruiting can help turn an already quality side into a legitimate premiership threat.

From their triumphant Preliminary Final sides, Hawthorn and Sydney boasted eight and six players respectively who had previously been part of rival clubs – most of whom played considerable roles in helping their team get over the line.

The Hawks’ side featured David Hale (North Melbourne), Jack Gunston (Adelaide), John Ceglar (Collingwood), Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide), Josh Gibson (North), Brian Lake (Bulldogs), Matthew Spangher (Sydney/West Coast), and Jonathan Simpkin (Geelong).

And that’s not to mention former St Kilda ruckman Ben McEvoy who can’t seem to find a place in Hawthorn’s senior line-up, such is the quality of their list.  

Meanwhile, all of Lance Franklin (Hawthorn), Joel Tippett (Adelaide), Josh Kennedy (Hawthorn), Ben McGlynn (Hawthorn), Rhyce Shaw (Collingwood), and Ted Richards (Essendon), played key roles in the Swans’ big win over North Melbourne.

It’s a real credit to both clubs that they’ve been able to identify, attract, and then strike a suitable deal to secure these players.

The Brisbane Lions have had their own success stories, with Martin Pike (formerly Melbourne/Fitzroy/North Melbourne) and Mal Michael (formerly Collingwood) joining the Club on the cusp of the historic hat-trick of premierships.

Pike and Michael were both recruited at the end of 2000, and went onto play key roles in each of the Lions’ premiership triumphs from 2001-2003.

Like every other club, the Lions spend a great deal of time scouting the opposition to find players that could potentially make an impact in the maroon, blue and gold – however encouraging them to move interstate can often prove challenging.

When the Lions lined up against Geelong in Round 23 this year, only two players – Stefan Martin (Melbourne) and Jackson Paine (Collingwood) – had spent time at other clubs, although a handful of others were unavailable due to injury.

Martin was arguably the team’s most improved player in 2014, posting career-best figures in a remarkable second half of the season.

There’s no doubt the recruiting success of both Hawthorn and Sydney, combined with the introduction of free agency, will see even greater movement of players between clubs in the future.