Hawthorn eyeing trade trifecta with Jack Scrimshaw, Tom Scully and Chad Wingard captures
HAWTHORN is closing in on Gold Coast’s Jack Scrimshaw as the club looks set to land a trade trifecta of former top-10 draft picks.
HAWTHORN is closing in on Gold Coast’s Jack Scrimshaw as the club looks set to land a trade trifecta of former top-10 draft picks.
Scrimshaw is contracted until 2020, but is in Melbourne this week seeing family and friends and preparing to be traded to the Hawks.
Recruiters likened Scrimshaw to Hawks veteran Grant Birchall in his draft year and the lightly-framed Sandringham Dragons product could transition into coach Alastair Clarkson’s backline.
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Scrimshaw’s exit would continue the Suns’ loop of doom.
The talented youngster was drafted at pick No.7 two years ago, the selection received in exchange for Richmond premiership midfielder Dion Prestia.
Offloading Scrimshaw, 20, would help the Suns ease their salary cap squeeze.
Despite Gold Coast’s ordinary list, the club has a tight salary cap, partly due to its eagerness to re-sign draftees on big dollars as a retention strategy.
The Suns re-signed their four top-10 picks from the 2016 draft - including Scrimshaw - on rich contracts before they had even played a game.
But Scrimshaw never settled up north and a return home is seen as a key way to help unlock his potential.
He played four AFL games in 2017 and did not add to that tally this year as it became clear Gold Coast was never the right fit for him.
Scrimshaw (pick No.7 in 2016) would join Chad Wingard (No.6 in 2011) and Tom Scully (No.1 in 2009) at Hawthorn.
While emerging star Ryan Burton is in play for Wingard, the Hawks are likely to secure both Scully and Scrimshaw for late draft picks.
The Suns are likely to prefer a selection in the 2019 draft given they boast five top-30 picks and have already filled two list spots with state league players.
A deal is unlikely to be reached until close to Wednesday’s 8.30pm trade deadline.
Meanwhile, Essendon and Greater Western Sydney are haggling over which 2019 draft pick should be used to clinch Dylan Shiel.
The Bombers are certain to trade their No.9 pick in next month’s draft for Shiel and want to package that up with their third-round pick next year.
The Giants are instead asking for Essendon’s first-round pick next year.
Shiel also received offers from St Kilda, Carlton and Hawthorn but is sacrificing about $3 million to join the Bombers.
Originally published as Hawthorn eyeing trade trifecta with Jack Scrimshaw, Tom Scully and Chad Wingard captures