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Gary Ablett returns to Geelong, while Lions pick up Luke Hodge

AFL

Dual Brownlow Medal winner Gary Ablett, No.1 draft picks Bryce Gibbs and Luke Hodge and premiership forward Jake Stringer all found a new home as all the major mooted deals of the AFL Trade Period were wrapped up on Thursday.

Ablett will combine with Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood in a blockbuster Geelong midfield next season as he seeks another premiership to crown his glorious AFL career. He played 192 games for the Cats before joining the Suns in 2010 on a multi-million-dollar deal. 

The 33-year-old, mourning the recent death of his sister Natasha, had long sought a return to Geelong to be closer to his family but had been denied a trade last season.

"We are very pleased to have Gary return to the club and the Geelong community," Cats football boss Simon Lloyd said.

"Gary is still playing exceptional football, and we believe he improves our team.

"He obviously has a long association with the club and, to have Gary back, playing so well, is an exciting day for everyone involved with the club.

"We know in talking to Gary that he is thrilled about coming back to Geelong."

Negotiations went down to the wire, with the Suns initially seeking a Geelong player as part of the deal.

Gold Coast chief Mark Evans issued a statement on Thursday saying he wished the best for Ablett and wife Jordan.

"On behalf of everyone at the Gold Coast Suns, we thank Gary for his contribution to our football club," Evans said. "He played a significant role growing the game of AFL throughout Queensland and, as our inaugural captain and first ever Brownlow Medallist, he will be forever celebrated at our club.

"We respect and understand the circumstances of Gary's decision and wish Gary and Jordan all the very best in the coming years and look forward to welcoming them both back to our club in the years to come."

Like Ablett -- who unsuccessfully sought a trade home last season -- Gibbs also won a move back to his home state. The Blues' 2014 best-and-fairest winner will bolster the losing grand finalists' midfield in 2018 after the Crows agreed to deal two AFL first-round draft picks to Carlton. 

Stringer was the last of three major signings to fall into place for Essendon, after Greater Western Sydney's Devon Smith and Adam Saad from Gold Coast.

Bombers list manager Adrian Dodoro declared it a great day for the club.

"We're extremely happy and really excited with Jake .. it caps off a marvellous trade period for the club to get three high-quality players," he said.

"They're three players we think have got the ability to be All Australian players in years to come."

Hodge's move to Brisbane, where he will work with ex-Hawks mentor Chris Fagan, had been widely telegraphed but it was finalised only in the last hour of the trade window. The Hawks received pick No.75 for Hodge, who backtracked on retirement plans to sign a two-year deal with the Lions.

Player manager Robbie D'Orazio said the deal was a win for both Hodge and the Lions.

"I won't go into the ins and outs of that but Hodgey is happy to go to Brisbane and we've got some good young players at Brisbane who are really excited," D'Orazio said. "I think it's a great story for footy that Hodgey gets to play another two years."

Hodge said Lions coach Chris Fagan, who spent nine years with him at Hawthorn in various roles, sowed the seed to play on.

Brisbane also signed Charlie Cameron in the final 20 minutes of the trade window, when Adelaide accepted their offer of pick No. 12. The Lions did lose promising tall Josh Schache in the final minutes, with the Western Bulldogs giving up picks 25 and 40.

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