As difficult as it was for the Brisbane Lions and two-time Merrett-Murray Medallist Joel Patfull to part ways, the outcome proved mutually beneficial.

Patfull advised the Club of his intentions to head to Sydney post-football, and therefore offered himself for a sooner-than-expected move – so long as it worked for both parties.

The Lions were loath to lose the ever-reliable defender, who remained contracted for 2015, but agreed to explore their options.

Had a suitable deal not been struck, Patfull and the Lions would have happily continued their long-term relationship with no lingering resentment from either side.

After all, Patfull had already given the Club nine years of sterling service, over which time he’d played 182 senior matches and received a host of honours – none better than his back-to-back Merrett-Murray Medals triumphs in 2012-13.

Although he was very much a ‘no frills’ defender, his time at the Lions earned him the right to sit among the upper echelon of players to have ever represented the maroon, blue and gold.

The Lions were also aware that at 29 years of age (he turns 30 in December), Patfull was about to enter the twilight of his career.

As it turned out, that type of experienced defender was exactly what the AFL’s newest franchise, the GWS Giants, needed to help settle their backline.

So the Giants offered their end-of-first-round compensation selection at next month’s NAB AFL Draft (Pick No.21 overall) to secure Patfull’s services.

And after what Lions CEO Greg Swann described as “mature dealings” between the two clubs, all parties came away from the trade table happy with the result.

Patfull gets his wish of relocating to Sydney in his preparation for life after football, while the Giants receive an incredibly versatile defender who will never let them down.

The Lions, meanwhile, receive Pick No.21 which they believe could net the Club a long-term prospect who may well go on to become just as valuable a player as Joel Patfull has been throughout his time in Brisbane.

Lions fans need only look back 12 months to see that AFL Rising Star nominee Darcy Gardiner was drafted to the Club with Pick No.22 at the 2013 NAB AFL Draft.

Gardiner, who is now set to take on greater on-field responsibility in the absence of Patfull, looks to be a 10-year player.

Although it may take some time getting used to seeing someone else in the #24 guernsey, the Lions bid farewell to Patfull harbouring no resentment or hard feelings towards their Club Champion.

Likewise, Patfull departs with nothing but fond memories of his time in Brisbane – a place he called ‘home’ for most of his adult life.

His teammates, Lions fans and the Club itself will no doubt continue to follow Patfull’s progress at the Giants closely, and wish him all the best with the next chapter of his football journey (except for when he’s playing against us, of course).