When Ross Lyon crossed from Sydney at the end of 2006 to take up the senior coaching position at St Kilda, the master coach’s connections would lead the Saints to receive more than it initially bargained for. Although that wasn’t known at the time.

Not only did the Saints secure a senior coach that would take the club to two consecutive Grand Finals, but at the end of his first season at the helm, it also traded in two remarkable players who had worked closely with Lyon in the harbour city.

The deal included Adam Schneider and Sean Dempster; two players who featured in the Swans 2005 premiership, and two players who would go on to carve out glittering careers in red, white and black, on the back of impressive starts in New South Wales.

With Sydney’s salary cap bursting at the seams, the acquisition of the pair cost the Saints only pick No. 28 as the Swans looked to reduce the stress on their total player payments. Talk about a phenomenal recruiting coup.

At 23, the lure of continuing to work under Lyon was enough for the pair to pack their lives up and head south to continue their football odyssey, despite being contracted to the Swans at the time.

Now, more than eight years on, with Schneider in the early stages of retirement following 130 games with the Saints and 228 in total, and Dempster on the eve of his 150^th club game (203 in total), the dynamic small forward with the classy left foot has told saints.com.au how the trade eventuated for the pair.

“We were both separately away with our partners at the time when the trade all went through. Obviously working with Ross at the Swans we had a strong connection with him,” Schneider said ahead of Dempster’s milestone match in Round 1.

“It was something that we didn’t really speak to each other about right at the time because you’re so caught up in the emotions and trying to get your head around what is going on with everything. It ended up being a good package deal.

“It was just good knowing that I had a mate to come down with me. It definitely made it easier. It shouldn’t really contribute to your decision, but I knew Sean pretty well, plus having Ross and Dave Misson down there it definitely made it a lot easier for both of us.

“I know ‘Shinner’ thought the same as me: let’s go down there and put ourselves in an uncomfortable position and make ourselves better as a person and a player. I think it’s been better for both of ourselves the way it’s resulted.”

Widely regarded as one of the most underrated players in the competition, Dempster’s football resume would surprise many outside the St Kilda fraternity. An All Australian guernsey sits next to his premiership medallion, and in the last five seasons he has finished third in the Trevor Barker Award on four occasions. Dempster is the definition of consistency.

Reticent with media, Dempster prefers to shy away from the attention that is typically thrown upon footballers, particularly those of his ilk. Schneider believes his premiership teammate would much rather remain anonymous and says Dempster’s desire to keep out of the spotlight is why he is so underrated.

“‘Shinner’ won’t mind me saying this, he’s an introvert, he likes keeping to himself. He hates doing anything with media, hates any bit of publicity,” Schneider said.

“If he could play footy and there was no TV, no one knew who he was, he’d love it – he doesn’t like any of that kind of stuff, he’s extremely humble.

“For me, I believe he’s a very underrated player because of that – he doesn’t get as much publicity as he should and he’s happy with that, he prefers that. He likes to sneak under the radar, that’s why I think he’s a really underrated player.

“I know training on him, if he had to play on me I was bloody shattered because he is such a good player and such a hard player to beat one-on-one.

Ask anyone inside Linen House Centre how to sum up Dempster and an overwhelming theme emerges: professionalism. His meticulous approach to life as a full-time athlete borders on obsessive and it is a reason why so many young players look to adopt Dempster’s habits.

“He’s one of the most professional players I’ve ever seen. At times he embarrassed other people with the way he goes about it. If you ever thought you were going about it well you only had to look at him to realise you still had a lot to improve in that area,” Schneider said.

“You see a lot of his professionalism at the club, but it’s probably the stuff he does at home. Everything revolves around football and his body being well and that’s the reason why he is so durable. He ticks every single box. I don’t think there’s much more ‘Shinner’ could do.”

Softly spoken, but as dependable as they come, Schneider said Dempster’s ability to get the job done week-in, week-out, was almost always a certainty. And his capacity to go above and beyond as not only a teammate but also as a friend is why he is held in such high regard by those that know him best.

“The best thing about him is when you’re on the same team as him and you look across at him, you look at his opponent, and you know that bloke’s going to work for every kick today. You can just tick that box already,” Schneider said.

“As a player that’s probably the biggest complement you can get from a teammate. He would do anything for you as a footballer, but also as a person and that’s why I rate him so highly, not only as a footballer but as a person.”