GWS have refused to trade Bobby Hill to Essendon, with the Giants retaining the speedy AFL forward as cover for superstar Toby Greene.
Hill was determined to end up at the Bombers, despite being contracted at GWS next year, but the Giants shut down any negotiations well before Wednesday night's trade period deadline.
GWS were caught off-guard with the 21-year-old only informing them of his wishes to leave the club five days ago.
Giants football boss Jason McCartney said the Bombers were unable to offer the club anything substantial for Hill, and GWS were adamant on keeping him at the club.
"We rate Bobby really highly ... obviously we haven't got many small forwards on our list and Toby Greene will unfortunately be out for the first five games of the season," McCartney told Trade Radio.
"We need Bobby at his best next year and we look forward to welcoming him back at the footy club with open arms."
Player agent Colin Young, who works with Hill's manager Andrew McDougall, said the trade request was for personal reasons.
"The Indigenous network that can assist him bringing up a child is in Melbourne, and as a 21-year-old for his football, his livelihood and for his parents' wishes, he feels that's the best place to play his footy," Young told Trade Radio.
"We've been talking to Bobby for the last two years about him leaving, he's always wanted to go to Melbourne to be with (cousin) Brad (Hill) and family."
Geelong wingman Jordan Clark's trade to Fremantle was finally agreed on in the last 30 minutes of the trade period.
The relationship between the former No.15 draft pick and the Cats became untenable and he ends up at the Dockers on a four-year deal back in his home state.
Contracted Port Adelaide ruckman Peter Ladhams, as well as the Power's pick 16, is off to the Sydney Swans.
Port received pick 12 and a future third-round selection for giving up Ladhams, who played 32 games with the Power.
A number of fringe ruckman moved clubs, with Hawthorn veteran Jon Ceglar heading to the Cats.
But the Hawks were able to bring in another big man, securing Collingwood's Max Lynch.
The Brisbane Lions boosted their ruck stocks by picking up Darcy Fort from Geelong.
Despite the prospect of trading out contracted stars like Chad Wingard and Tom Mitchell, Hawthorn ended up as a minor player in the trade period.
Earlier on Wednesday, Sydney finalised the Jordan Dawson trade through gritted teeth, saying the deal with Adelaide doesn't reflect the classy utility's true value.
But the Crows had threatened to use the pre-season draft to secure the utility, so the Swans were left with little choice.
Adelaide gave up a future first-round draft pick, tied to Melbourne, to secure the services of Dawson.
Dawson, who played 64 games for the Swans, wanted to return to SA for family reasons.
