Hawthorn should consider trading Jack Gunston if it can get a first round draft pick, says ex-recruiter Gary Buckenara

HAWTHORN needs to make a tough call on triple-premiership hero Jack Gunston, says the man who helped build the Hawks’ golden era, to accelerate the club’s rebuild.

Jack Gunston has struggled this season. Picture: AAP

HAWTHORN should consider trading triple-premiership hero Jack Gunston, according to the man who helped build the club’s golden era — former recruiter Gary Buckenara.

In the wake of the Hawks’ 51-point loss to Port Adelaide, coach Alastair Clarkson conceded his side is no longer in premiership contention.

Gunston failed to kick a goal on Thursday night and gathered a season-low seven disposals.

The performance underlined his struggles this season, which has produced just 10 goals from 11 matches.

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Gunston has been held goalless five times.

Essendon great Tim Watson suggested the Hawks should trade Gunston in a bid to get back into the first round of the draft.

The Hawks traded this year’s first-round selection last year (currently No.5), handing it to St Kilda to help secure Jaeger O’Meara.

Hawthorn should consider trading Jack Gunston, but only for a first-round draft pick. Picture: Michael Klein

Buckenara, who was part of the Hawks’ recruiting team when Gunston was traded to Hawthorn from Adelaide, supported the move — at the right price.

“Given what Jack has done for the footy club and been part of a really successful era, maybe that decision (is a good one) … to get back into the draft,” Buckenara told the Herald Sun.

“You have to give up something to get something. You’re not going to be able to do it any other way unless you just want to back yourself in to be able to pick up the players you need with the picks that you’ve got.

“If someone came to you and offered a first-round (pick) then you’d look at it.

“But at the end of the day if you’re only going to get a second-round pick then you’re better off keeping him.”

The Hawks did not have a first-round draft pick last year either, trading their selection to Sydney for midfielder Tom Mitchell.

While Buckenara would move Gunston on at the right price, he rejected suggestions the Hawks should offload more premiership players to rebuild the list.

“It’s not desperate (times) but ideally you do want to have picks in the first round of the draft because each round the success rate of first round picks to second round picks is quite significant and so on,” Buckenara said.

“I don’t think they’ll have to do that because Hawthorn has always been very good with recruiting and list management.

“They’ll have a good plan in place and even though they don’t have any early picks, Hawthorn has always been able to pick players later in the draft.”

Buckenara played in back-to-back premierships with Hawthorn in 1988-89 and won four flags during his 154-game career.

The Hawks gave up a first-round pick for Tom Mitchell. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

He has been in the same position as the current multiple premiership Hawks and says it’s obvious they’re not playing with the hunger and passion required to win.

“The second tier hasn’t stood up as they have in the past,” Buckenara said.

“Overall the team isn’t playing with that fanatical desire. We’re seeing a team that can get up occasionally to do it but if you’re going to be a top four side you need to do it week in, week out.

“It doesn’t seem that they are able or they’re not doing that at the moment. They can set themselves for a particular task and do well but then it seems to take its toll and the following week it’s a completely different performance.

“To me that means that burning passion and desire to compete is waning a little bit within the group.

“Watching them play, that’s the thing that’s missing. That fanatical will (to compete).

“The reasons for that could be that they’re just a bit satisfied with what they’ve achieved.

“The talent, if they were all doing that, is there to be a top four side challenging for the premiership but without that fanatical desire that’s the thing that, watching them play, is the missing piece of the puzzle.”

Originally published as Hawthorn should consider trading Jack Gunston if it can get a first round draft pick, says ex-recruiter Gary Buckenara