It sucks when you first hear the news but taking a step back I'm not too upset.
Remember, Buddy was drafted to us as an 18yo kid from WA, he had no choice or particular allegiance to the Hawks (he was a Demons supporter IIRC).
He gave us his all.. 9 amazing years, including multiple Colemans, AAs, two flags and a B&F in the premiership year. No way we would have climbed the peak twice without Buddy (which makes it harder to let him go), but all in all he more than repaid our investment of a #5 pick.
At the end of the day, he's out of contract, he wants to move to Sydney (remember, he has no real tie to Melbourne - family from WA, best mate moved back to Perth, girlfriend in Sydney), and who can blame him for not wanting to go to GWS. So the Swans it is. Don't think it's relevant that we lost the GF to them in 2012 - they beat us fair and square. Is there some rule that our players can never go to a club that we've had a painful loss to? How many times have we pipped North Melbourne and we still got Gibbo and Hale, thrashed Bulldogs in the QF in 2007 and got Lake a few years later etc.. His manager is doing the best deal he can for his client.
Remember, if he'd gone to GWS, we wouldn't have got any better compensation (in fact our bargaining position would be worse, as (1) we wouldn't be able to match their base offer and (2) they have pick 1 in the PSD anyway, so no need to trade).
It hurts, but we have to let the big guy go... thanks for the memories, and GO HAWKS.