Speaking after placing third in the Copeland Trophy count on Friday night, Crisp added that he would likely speak to former teammate James Aish about the prospect of the young Lion following his lead. Crisp, 22, was a surprise component thrown in to trigger movement in what had become an impasse between the Lions and the Magpies 12 months ago. The 190cm midfielder was packaged up alongside picks 5 and 25 and sent to the Magpies in exchange for Beams and pick 67 at the end 2014. Pick 25 (Daniel Nielson) was subsequently sent to North Melbourne as the Pies acquired midfielder Levi Greenwood. Beams was one of four co-winners of the Lions' best and fairest, but Crisp's efforts, combined with those of Jordan De Goey – taken with the fifth pick – means the Magpies have emerged well from the deal. De Goey was named the Pies' best first-year player on Friday night.

Crisp played every game in 2015, averaging 22 disposals and nearly four marks per game. He said he didn't like some of the language used to describe the deal. "The whole 'steak knives' reference I didn't like too much," Crisp said.

"Just refer to me as a normal; trade or a normal recruit. Everybody kept referring to me as the 'steak knives', I just don't like it that much."

Crisp was pleased with his first year under Nathan Buckley.

"12 months ago I wouldn't have imagined anything like this. All I was coming down here for was new opportunity, just to play round one and go from there.

"22 weeks later and there we are."

The Victorian said said his time in Brisbane had prepared him to make an immediate impact at the Pies. "When I did get traded I just thought I'd come in as a completely different person to the one I was at Brisbane. Obviously,. straight out of high school, didn't know much and never played AFL before. Three years in the system, coming down to Collingwood, I had a fair idea about it, coming in as a confident young player so that's really where I lifted off from there.

"There's only a small number of people throughout the whole AFL league that played the full 22 games so I guess i should thank my body and all the physios that helped me get through it. It's just a blessing in disguise really, what everyone does behind the scenes to help me get up for those games, because I know there was definitely times when I was pulling up sore with my hamstrings, my calves, my back, and I was able to get up for games."

The Lions plan to play hard ball on Aish, refusing to make a deal on the teenager. Crisp said he hadn't spoken to Aish yet. "I'm sure when it's probably made more clear, I'll give him a message and see how he's going. Obviously looking forward to seeing him come to Collingwood if he does come to Collingwood.

"He's probably looking for more opportunity because he didn't have such a good year as he would have hoped. That was like me, looking for more opportunity, and it worked out for the best."

Crisp thought his own season may have helped persuade Aish that Collingwood was a good fit. "I think it might be because obviously he was there last year when I was there, didn't get an opportunity until the end of the season.

"He might be looking to do the same thing."