Over the course of the 2015 AFL Trade Period, we’ll count down Carlton’s top-10 trades over the past 30 years.
Which stars reinvigorated their careers donning the Navy Blue? And who made Carlton their second home?
Coming in at No.6: Adrian Hickmott
The Trade: In 1995 Carlton traded pick 49 in the National Draft to Geelong, in exchange for Adrian Hickmott. Geelong used that selection to pick up Ronnie Burns who went on to play 134 games at the Cattery.
Having played 50 games between 1992 and 1995 for Geelong, Hickmott left the Cats and made his way to the Blues.
Adrian Hickmott in action for Geelong during the 1995 grand final won by Carlton. (Photo: AFL Photos)
Nicknamed ‘Bluey’ because of his red hair, Hickmott impressed in his first season at Princes Park and was aptly awarded Carlton’s Best First Year Player.
Three years later in 1999, after missing the one-point preliminary final win against Essendon, the No. 9 was selected to play in the grand final. Unfortunately a premiership wasn’t on the cards for Hickmott, as the Blues went down to North Melbourne in the last Saturday in September.
The following season Hickmott won Carlton’s Best Clubman award and in 2001, his first of two-years as vice captain, he came equal first for the Peter Sullivan Memorial Trophy (most Carlton votes in the Brownlow Medal).
From 1996 until he retired in 2003, Bluey regularly polled in the top 10 on the club’s best and fairest night.
Photo: AFL Photos
Former Carlton coach Denis Pagan decribed Hickmott as “very competitive,” while another former coach Wayne Brittain was quoted in 2002 as saying: “I unashamedly say he's one of my favourites, for sure – I love the way he plays”.
Hickmott ended up playing 134 games in a career at Carlton spanning eight years. He was forced to retire due to groin injuries.
The Hickmott name will forever be etched on the No.9 locker at Princes Park – and with his sons Liam and Will Hickmott being part of Carlton’s Peter Dean Father-Son Academy, there may be another Hickmott running around in navy blue in the future!
Top Trades: #10 - Andrejs Everitt
Top Trades: #9 - Corey McKernan
Top Trades: #8 - Sam Docherty
Top Trades: #7 - Ron De Iulio
Who will make up the rest of the top 10? Stay tuned to carltonfc.com.au over the course of the AFL Trade Period to find out!
