Brendan Fevola is flawed, comes with a ton of baggage and can be a self-confessed "dickhead", but Brisbane coach Michael Voss has his man.

While sad to leave Carlton, the AFL club where he made his formidable on-field reputation, Fevola can smell an impending premiership at the Lions.

The goalkicking machine is determined to make the most of this new footballing life, a dramatic change that no one would have seen coming before his appalling behaviour late last month at the Brownlow Medal function.

The blockbuster Fevola trade was the only deal completed on Friday before trade week's 2pm deadline.

It capped off an extraordinary five days, where the impact of the AFL's upcoming expansion to the Gold Coast and western Sydney prompted clubs to trade 23 players.

This time last year, just six players were traded.

Fevola continues to weather the fallout from his Brownlow disgrace - on Friday morning, around the same time his trade was confirmed, it emerged a female journalist had alleged he sexually assaulted her on the night.

Even though he is a two-time Coleman Medallist and three-time All-Australian, who has kicked 575 goals in 187 senior games, the 28-year-old is well aware he has much to prove at Brisbane.

"I have to earn a lot of trust, especially with Vossy, the coaching staff and the players," Fevola said.

"I have to be humble and go about my business, hopefully footy does all the talking for me.

"My last four or five years have been pretty good for me in footy terms, if I can just do that and not be a dickhead out of the footy field I think everyone will be happy."

The obvious effect of Fevola's trade is the creation of a formidable forward line featuring himself, Lions captain Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw.

Fevola was originally to be traded for Bradshaw and Michael Rischitelli, but the deal fell through.

Eventually, Fevola went along with draft pick 27 in exchange for young key position player Lachie Henderson and pick 12.

"We've been able to get our man," Voss said.

"When I reflect back on what I saw at the grand final, I saw two very, very good football teams and as a coach you say 'Can we get there with the list that we've got, can we compete against these guys, tomorrow if we had to?'

"I have to be honest, at that particular time I didn't think that we could.

"This is about finding the players who can help us get to the next level and I think we have accomplished that."

Fevola certainly agrees, saying he did not want to go to a team that was not on the rise.

"I wanted to go to a team that has a fair crack at winning the premiership and I think Brisbane is that team."

Like Fevola, Carlton president Stephen Kernahan was sad about the split and said the full-forward would be welcome back at the club at any time.

"Our members and supporters are going to take this pretty hard," Kernahan said.

"Everyone loves Fev, the kids - my kids won't talk to me now he's gone.

"It is a bit surreal.

"He's a popular player and he'll be sorely missed by a lot of our members and supporters, no doubt."

Coach Brett Ratten strongly denied rumours that captain Chris Judd was involved in Fevola's departure.

Asked if he was relieved that Fevola was gone, Ratten quickly turned to the future.

"I think it's more exciting for our football club to think that Henderson to play forward for us and some of the young players that we have down there will get some real opportunities," Ratten said.

"It will be interesting now Matty Lappin, our forwards coach, has the challenge to try and get something out of some of the players down there."

Then came a massive understatement about Carlton's forward line next season.

"We might play a little bit different," Ratten said.

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