Sam Mitchell pushed out of Hawthorn to fit recruits Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara

HAWTHORN’S desire to clear as much as $600,000 of salary cap room from Sam Mitchell’s contract has emerged as a key factor in his trade to West Coast.

Sam Mitchell could soon be playing alongside Luke Shuey in West Coast’s midfield.

HAWTHORN’S desire to clear as much as $600,000 of salary cap room from Sam Mitchell’s contract has emerged as a key factor in his trade to West Coast.

Mitchell is certain to find his way to the Eagles. Both clubs are determined to make a deal in return for a late draft selection.

The Hawks are three-quarters of the way to nailing a huge off-season of change after signing Sydney’s Tom Mitchell and Richmond’s Ty Vickery.

Now the final leg will be to secure Gold Coast’s Jaeger O’Meara. The salary cap room saved from the departure of Mitchell will be a critical component in that.

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Mitchell revealed on Wednesday that coach Alastair Clarkson’s Brownlow Medal day chat about him playing at West Coast had “blindsided” him.

Mitchell, who turned 34 yesterday, will undergo a medical with West Coast when he returns from a family ­holiday in New Zealand.

“I’m in a bit of a funny spot, because if I stay at Hawthorn, that’s great and I’ve had a great career there and will continue to do so,” Mitchell said.

Sam Mitchell’s move to West Coast will clear salary cap space for the Hawks. Picture: Getty Images

“If the move is to West Coast, I’d be excited by the prospect, and I feel like I’ve done the right thing by Hawthorn if that’s what eventuates,’’ Mitchell said.

“It’s the first time, in my 15-year career, that I’ve ever been a chance to be involved in a trade so it’s a bit of an awkward situation at the moment and I can’t jump into either camp.”

Despite speculation, Mitchell did not take a savage pay cut this year when he signed a one-year extension.

He signed early after blistering form, but when fellow Hawk veterans Luke Hodge, Shaun Burgoyne and Josh Gibson also signed, it created a salary squeeze.

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It meant Hawthorn’s determination to bring in Tom Mitchell (more than $500,000 a year), Vickery ($500,000 a year) and O’Meara (more than $700,000 a year) was going to be challenged.

The Hawks believe they could have found a way to secure O’Meara without losing Mitchell’s salary, but his departure makes a formidable challenge much easier.

They will receive only a late pick for Mitchell, who will move into a coaching role at West Coast when he retires.

Tom Mitchell will be at Hawthorn next year. Picture: AAP

But moving that salary off the books is a massive bonus for the club.

Mitchell would likely have a best-and-fairest bonus written into his contract as well as a clause relating to the collective bargaining agreement pay rise.

The Hawks are also eager to reboot their midfield and plan for a new era of success as well as stagger the retirements of their veterans.

Sydney’s Tom Mitchell was on Wednesday made a Hawk, with the clubs needing only to sign off on a swap of later picks for the agreement to be official.

Hawks list manager Graham Wright said the deal had been agreed in principle, with the Hawks’ No.14 selection going to the Swans.

“We are excited to have an in-principle deal done with the Sydney Swans for Tom Mitchell to join the Hawks for the 2017 season and beyond,’’ he said. “Tom has had a fantastic season for the Swans.”

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Originally published as Sam Mitchell pushed out of Hawthorn to fit recruits Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara