Patrick Lipinski has officially joined Collingwood with the Western Bulldogs receiving pick 43 in return.
The 23-year-old requested a trade to the Pies after failing to cement his spot in the Bulldogs' jam-packed midfield, playing 54 games in his five years at the club and just 11 in 2021.
His best season in 2019 saw him average 22 disposals and two inside 50s per game.
The trade had been likely to get completed once Collingwood secured more draft points to match a bid on father-son Nick Daicos in the 2021 National Draft.
Lipinski was reportedly keen on getting to Collingwood to secure more midfield minutes.
Upon learning of the trade, St Kilda champion Brendon Goddard praised Lipinski’s “brave” decision.
“It is brave in a sense, clearly the Bulldogs are in a sustained window of success and a lot of players would back themselves in to squeeze into the team, but he’s essentially seen the writing on the wall,” he told AFL Trade Radio’s Trade Mornings.
“He’s made the decision, a brave decision.
“There will be an argument that it was an easy decision, and he was being selfish, well that’s the business we’re in, that’s how clubs treat you so now players are taking responsibility for their own careers.”