St Kilda welcomed pacy Western Bulldog Farren Ray into the fold on Friday as well as announcing the re-signing of three players in veteran pair Michael Gardiner and Stephen Milne and promising youngster Robert Eddy.
But the Saints also said their final goodbye to veteran Robert Harvey, who has accepted a development coaching role with Carlton in 2009.
Ray, who played 75 games for the Bulldogs over the past five seasons, joins the Saints' in exchange for the club's second round draft pick - selection number 31 overall.
It was one of just six trades completed during an anti-climatic trade week and the Saints also gained an additional third round selection - the Dogs' selection 48 - as part of the deal.
Ray, one of the AFL's quickest players but whose disposal often lets him down, was taken as high as pick four in the 2003 national draft - the same draft in which the Dogs snared this year's Brownlow Medalist Adam Cooney at pick one.
And St Kilda coach Ross Lyon believes Ray, who is still only 22, will be a valuable addition to the Saints' line-up.
"He will really add to our midfield run and our flexibility and he can play at half-back to release (Jason) Gram and (Brendon) Goddard (to other roles) and that was the rationale behind the decision and clearly we still can take six picks into the national draft," Lyon said.
Meanwhile the Saints announced that Gardiner, Milne and Eddy had all signed contract extensions keeping them at the club for 2009.
"They each bring something unique to the team and we look forward to seeing what they have to offer from season 2009 and beyond," Lyon said of the trio.
Milne had a superb 2008 with 60 goals in 24 games and has now kicked 331 goals in 165 games.
The decision to give Gardiner another one year contract is a big show of faith in the injury-riddled 29-year-old, who has played just nine games in two seasons with the Saints after ending his ten year career with West Coast at the end of 2006.
However Gardiner showed glimpses of his best this season and was a member of the Saints' pre-season premiership team.
Eddy meanwhile debuted in round 13 this season and played every game from that point - including the finals - to secure himself a contract extension.
As for Harvey, who retired this season after a club record 383 games, the Saints were both sad and excited about his decision to begin his coaching career at the Blues after a playing career which netted two Brownlow Medals, four best and fairests and eight All-Australian guernseys.
"It is with a heavy heart but excitement and optimism for Robert that he becomes a development coach at Carlton from next season," St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser said.
"Harvs will always be a favourite son of the Saints and while we did offer Robert a full time position at the club next year, he decided to expand his experiences outside the club after 21 outstanding years at the Saints and we wish him every success in his new role."
But for the Blues, the addition of Harvey is yet another coup for a club clearly on the rise.
"Robert's record speaks for itself, he has outstanding knowledge of the game, is respected by everyone in football and he will play an important role in assisting to fast-track the development of our young players," Carlton chief executive Greg Swann said on Friday.