Geelong has created history by using its 2016 first-round pick to secure Lachie Henderson from Carlton. 

It is the first time a club has used a future draft pick to make a trade.

The value of the pick will be dependent on where Geelong finishes on the ladder next season. 

It is 25-year-old Henderson's third club.

Cats list manager Stephen Wells told NAB AFL Trade Radio on Wednesday that Henderson would be used in both attack and defence, before settling in the backline over coming years.

"Lachie's a versatile player, so he'll be (at) both ends of the ground," Wells said.

"But over the next couple of years as guys finish up in our backline … that are into their 30s now, we see Lachie playing his best footy down back for us."

Originally drafted by the Brisbane Lions, he played 15 games for the club in 2008 and 2009. He then landed at the Blues as part of a trade that saw Brendan Fevola move to Brisbane. 

Henderson played 102 games for Carlton, finishing third in the best and fairest in 2013.

However he had a very ordinary 2015 and Carlton requested he leave the club with three games remaining after he told them he wanted a trade. 

"I’m excited to join the club and return to Geelong, which is an area I know well,” Henderson said from New York.

"I have always respected the way they go about things. It will be great to line up with them and play whatever role they need me to play. The club has a great history of success and I want to help continue that tradition."

His acquisition means Geelong have secured Henderson, Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Selwood in the first three days of the trade period.

Under the rules Geelong will not be able to trade any more of its 2016 draft picks during this trade period. 

Wells acknowledged it would have been more challenging to secure Henderson if the future draft-pick initiative was not in place.

"I don't know how we would've got this all done if the future picks weren't there," he said.

"Obviously it would've been a little bit more difficult to do what we did with Patrick (Dangerfield) and Lachie – we would've had to try and find another way."

The Cats also have Gold Coast ruckman Zac Smith in their sights.

They are likely to have seven players who have played with other clubs on their list in 2015.