Now that the trade is done and dusted, let’s find out a little bit more about Jesse White, Collingwood’s latest recruit.

What sort of player is he?
A powerfully built key position player who can take a turn in the ruck when need be. White averaged more than a goal per game in his 71 outings for the Swans between 2008 and 2013, returning a career-high 22 goals in 2010. The 25-year-old was used in the ruck for much of the first half of 2009 and returned 122 hitouts in 111 games. White’s unique athletic talents are underpinned by his basketball background which saw him represent Queensland as a junior.

What was his form like in 2013?
In his 15 senior games, White ranked second at Sydney behind Adam Goodes for marks per game (4.8), third for contested marks (1.5) and fourth for goals per game (1.3). He broke the 20 possession mark for the first time in his career in the Semi- and Preliminary Finals and kicked three or more goals in five games, peaking with four against Richmond in round 18. White kicked a goal in 11 of his 15 games and played less than 80 per cent of the game only once.

Key 2013 AFL Statistics (averages in brackets):
Disposals: 190 (12.7) Marks: 72 (4.8) Tackles: 26 (1.7) Inside 50s: 36 (2.4) Score Assists: 18 (1.2) Marks Inside 50: 26 (1.7) Tackles Inside 50: 9 (0.6) Contested Marks: 22 (1.5) Hitouts: 34 (2.3) Hitouts to Advantage: 29.4% Clearances: 11 (0.7)

So he has spent a bit of time in the NEAFL. What’s his record like there?
In the last two years, he has played a total of 26 matches (nine in 2013) in the north-eastern seaboard’s state competition. In that time he has kicked 48 goals from 78 scoring shots and has contributed 38 score assists. White has averaged 21.0 disposals over the last two years at NEAFL level and, interestingly, he won 64.9 per cent of his possessions in the midfield in 2013. He also took the ball inside 50 on an average of five times per game this year and averaged 32.7 hitouts, 24.8 per cent of which went to advantage.

Key 2013 NEAFL Statistics (averages in brackets):
Disposals: 191 (21.2) Marks: 65 (7.2) Tackles: 26 (1.7) Inside 50s: 45 (5.0) Score Assists: 21 (2.3) Marks Inside 50: 26 (2.9) Tackles Inside 50: 3 (0.3) Contested Marks: 17 (1.9) Hitouts: 294 (32.7) Hitouts to Advantage: 24.8% Clearances: 30 (3.3)

What did they say when he was drafted back in 2006?
The AFL’s Phantom Draft in 2006 had White going to the Swans with pick No. 65. It noted: “Sydney is likely to sound out a ruckman in this draft and it is understood to have shown some interest in White, who is looming as a late selection. Melbourne is another that has sounded out the big Queenslander. The Swans delisted developing ruckman Earl Shaw in the lead-up to the draft, yet he could also come into calculations with one of the red and white's late selections. Highlights/achievements: Strong and mobile big man who was a former state basketball representative. Showed he can play forward/back or in the ruck at representative level for QLD over past 2 years.”

What are the punters saying?

And something else to consider...
It wasn’t long ago that White was considered to be hot property by Gold Coast on the eve of their entry into the AFL. On 21 August 2009, the Sydney Morning Herald trumpeted the signing of White’s new two-year contract with a headline that read: “Sydney secure golden boy White.”

The author, Richard Hinds, went on to write: “White was impressive in the first half against Geelong on Saturday night, taking some strong marks against the game's premier full-back Matthew Scarlett and, having been trialled as a back-up ruckman earlier in the season, demonstrated he could be a long-term key position forward as the Swans look to fill the void created by Hall's brain-snaps and the retirement of Michael O'Loughlin.”