AFL trade news: Hawks set to rival Power in chase for Esava Ratugolea

The Power have long been considered the frontrunner for Esava Ratugolea’s services, but a Victorian club with cash to splash is set to join the hunt for the Cats utility.

MELBOURNE, AUGUST 5, 2023: 2023 AFL Football – Round 21 – Geelong Cats V Port Adelaide Power at GMHBA Stadium. Esava Ratugolea of the Geelong Cats in a action. Picture: Mark Stewart

Hawthorn will use its significant salary cap space to try to muscle in on Port Adelaide’s year-long fight for Geelong defender Esava Ratugolea.

The Hawks are prepared to be aggressive in this year’s trade period with Sam Mitchell’s men armed with two top-30 choices and room in their cap to land the Cat to bolster the Hawks’ defence.

Hawthorn wants to find a prime key defender to help partner James Sicily in the back half and beef-up a defence which has been ranked bottom-four for the past four seasons.

Port Adelaide has long been considered the frontrunner to land the 25-year-old after unsuccessfully trying to strike a deal for Ratugolea last year.

But 12 months on from that trade request Ratugolea is expected to exit the Cats this time after holding off on attempts to sign a new contract offer at Geelong.

The Hawks are keen to bring in the Cats utility. Pic: Michael Klein

It means Ratugolea will have the choice between moving interstate and heading to the Power or remaining in Victoria with Hawthorn.

But Geelong list boss Andrew Mackie will target a future first-round pick from Port or something similar from Hawthorn as part of a trade.

Port is hopeful its long-held interest in the athletic big man combined with the quality of its list and premiership window will win his signature.

But the Hawks are expected to make a more lucrative offer for Ratugolea using some of the money the club has saved on trading Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara last season and a reduced deal for Chad Wingard next season.

Ratugolea had a strong campaign for the Cats despite being dumped to the VFL for a period in the back half of the season.

He ranked above average for intercept marks and spoils and ranked 12th in the competition (39 per cent percentage) for one-on-one contest wins, according to Champion Data.

The Ratugola interest comes as Hawthorn prepare to strike a deal for departing small forward Tyler Brockman to West Coast or Fremantle and field interest for former pick six Denver Grainger-Barras.

The Eagles are considered the frontrunner for Brockman, while the Hawks could also try a longshot attempt to include pick three and Brockman in a deal to West Coast for pick one.

Denver Grainger-Barras could be on his way out of Hawthorn. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Grainger-Barras has struggled to establish himself in the Hawks’ back six and was swung forward at times this season with mixed results.

Grainger-Barras averaged 7.5 possessions a game over his 28 matches.

Fox Footy analyst and St Kilda great Leigh Montagna said Hawthorn need “another key defender” to provide more balance to their attacking and high-scoring game plan.

The Hawks conceded the third most points in the AFL this season.

“Everyone has loved their offence and their flair … and they’ve challenged the best teams, but to be consistently good, that (defensive) profile without the footy has got to improve next year,” Montagna said.

Ratugolea played 16 games for the Cats this year before hurting his hamstring in the Round 23 loss to St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.

The Hawks have pick three as well as pick 29 (from Western Bulldogs) in the draft to make moves and bring in some top talent.

But those choices will be pushed back several places to fit in other academy selections including three possible top-10 picks to Gold Coast.

Pick three could be used on exciting small forward Nick Watson if the club is unsuccessful in a deal with West Coast for No. 1 in a bid to secure outstanding Bendigo product Harley Reid.

Originally published as AFL trade news: Hawks set to rival Power in chase for Esava Ratugolea