FROM one vantage point, Ryan O'Keefe didn't get what he wanted. He wasn't traded to a powerful, sexy Melbourne club with a prospect of imminent success.

But, from a financial perspective, the estranged Swan has come up trumps. Wherever he plays in 2009 — and, theoretically, that could be in any of four capital cities — Mr O'Keefe will be highly paid. If he leaves the Swans, he'll get a minimum of $2 million over four years — the irresistible numbers dangled by the rapacious Blues.

Carlton, which was considered the competition's Gordon Gekko the last time the stockmarket collapsed (1987), is reprising its role as cheque-brandishing predator.

It picked off Robert Warnock from an indignant Fremantle, and now has its sights on O'Keefe, whom the Blues reckon they have some chance of landing in the pre-season draft.

They have a few significant hurdles to clear, however, before O'Keefe can give Carlton a forward line with more than just Brendan Fevola.

The first is O'Keefe. He might have wanted to get back to Melbourne, and to play for an attractive club, but jumping into the pre-season draft is like running back with the flight of the ball: you don't always know what's coming.

He must be certain he'll reach Windy Hill or Pratt Park, otherwise there's no point entering the draft. O'Keefe can't "come home" to West Coast or Fremantle.

If he can't get to a Victorian powerhouse, O'Keefe will surely stick with the Swans, who have not given up on him. Players in his position usually reconcile with their club.

Essendon is the other obvious impediment to Carlton. The Bombers have significant room in their salary cap, and while they're not renowned for pinching players from other clubs, one can imagine that they'd enjoy stealing Carlton's thunder.

The O'Keefe non-deal was the central non-deal of a trade week that was like that famed description of Seinfold: "a show about nothing".

Amid the failures to find clubs for players, there were some minor transactions. Six actually, including O'Keefe.

The upshots were:

■ Robert Warnock to Carlton for pick 24: Everyone reckons the Blues have slayed them in this deal, but this will be a slow-burner and a judgement will probably take three years. It was, despite Fremantle's posturing and righteous carry-on, a fair trade, too. Warnock has done nothing to warrant a first-round pick, and, given that no other player delivered a first-rounder, pick 24 was about right.

■ Rhyce Shaw to Sydney for swaps of picks: A shrewd buy by the Swans. Shaw has flawed disposal, but what are the odds of getting a better player at pick 46? Collingwood did the right thing by one of its own.

■ Farren Ray to St Kilda for exchange of second- and third-round picks: Similar deal to Shaw, except that, as a 22-year-old, Ray has the greater scope for improvement, hence the somewhat higher cost. A cheap buy in any other post-season meat market.

■ Geelong midfielder Brent Prismall to Essendon for pick 39: The Cats would feel slightly dudded here. They couldn't get a pick in the 20s because Prismall was out of contract.

■ Anthony Corrie to Collingwood for pick 93: The Pies gave up no more than a spot on their list. Little ventured, so any gain is worthwhile.