But the two best mates from Belconnen will do just that after former Port Adelaide defender Austin was traded to the Saints on Thursday.

Austin has joined St Kilda in a move that will form a Canberra trio at the Saints alongside Steele and club leadership group member Josh Bruce.

Port Adelaide traded Austin and a future fourth-round AFL draft selection to the Saints in return for a future third-round pick.

Austin was contracted to the Power until the end of 2018 but has been promised more game time at St Kilda as they look to bolster their defensive stocks.

Lacing up the boots alongside Steele was something Austin thought may never happen again after they both went their separate ways after leaving Belconnen in 2014.

But now they both have a chance to realise a childhood dream and play in the AFL together.

"We always joked and just said to each other 'we'll end up playing together' but it was tongue in cheek," Austin said.

"To be at the same club is obviously going to really exciting for both our families. It's an exciting time at the moment.

"It's kind of funny how it all works really, both of us getting drafted to two separate clubs, and a few years later both getting traded to a different club, and it happens to be at St Kilda, obviously me a year later.

"It should be good to play with Jack again. We're really good friends and it's just funny how it all works."

Austin was drafted by Port Adelaide with pick 69 in the 2014 AFL draft, having already watched Steele get picked up by Greater Western Sydney.

The 11th hour trade deal landed 22-year-old Austin at the former home of his cousin Sean Dempster, who retired early in 2017 due to repeated concussions.

Austin played 13 games for Port Adelaide but just two of them came this year, and the club has been willing to move on players seeking greater opportunities elsewhere.

"I loved my time here at Port, I loved all the players and the coaches and everyone, it was just the opportunities this year were a bit thin," Austin said.

"I felt my my football, my career and where I want to get to, it was my best decision to move across and find a home somewhere else.

"I'm glad it's St Kilda - obviously my cousin played here for a fair few years and Jack obviously plays for them. It's good to be a St Kilda player."

St Kilda list manager Tony Elshaug said Austin will add important key position depth as the Saints look to return to the finals.

"One of our major objectives during the trade period was to strengthen our key defensive stocks and we feel Logan Austin fulfils that need," Elshaug said.

"He is player that our recruiting team have tracked for a while now and someone we believe has plenty of upside.

"He has outstanding character and while we think he will improve, importantly he is ready to play a key defensive role immediately when called upon."

The deal that got Austin to Moorabbin wasn't the only one between the two clubs late in the trade period.

The Saints acquired pick 34, Adelaide's future fourth round selection in exchange for picks 59, 63 and St Kilda's future second round selection in a last-ditch deal with Port Adelaide.

St Kilda will now take picks 7,8, 34 and 45 to November's draft.