Tom Scully is determined to move back to a Melbourne based club in the trade period

HAWTHORN is confident of restoring Greater Western Sydney gut-runner Tom Scully to peak form but faces a dilemma convincing Ryan Burton to leave in a trade for Chad Wingard.

Tom Scully wants a trade to Hawthorn. Picture: Getty Images

HAWTHORN is backing in its renowned rehabilitation program to restore Greater Western Sydney gut-runner Tom Scully to peak form.

But the Hawks face a dilemma in convincing Ryan Burton to leave as part of the Chad Wingard trade, with the contracted young gun weighing up whether to refuse being used as bait.

Burton was told by Hawthorn on Thursday night that it was willing to trade him to get Wingard across the line.

BUCKY: WHICH PIES WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE?

BUCKY: DO THE DEES REALLY NEED MAY?

BUCKY: SAINTS MUST PUSH ON WITH CLEAN OUT

Scully, 27, will join the Hawks on what is likely to be a four-year deal after meeting with coach Alastair Clarkson on Thursday.

The 2009 No.1 pick passed a medical examination on the same day, despite not playing since Round 2 when he suffered a season-ending broken ankle and syndesmosis ligament damage against Collingwood.

The Hawks could yet secure one of the AFL’s most powerful runners for as little as a third-round pick.

Hawthorn currently holds picks 15, 35 and 53.

Fitness guru Andrew Russell has defected to Carlton, but the physios and doctors who helped solve Jaeger O’Meara’s knee issues remain at the club.

Scully was keen to return to Victoria and is one of four Giants leaving a club in the grip of a major salary cap squeeze.

Scully had three years to run on a deal at GWS, renegotiated after joining the expansion club as the game’s “$6 million man”.

Teammates Dylan Shiel and Rory Lobb are leaving for Essendon and Fremantle, respectively, and would have been on big bucks if they stayed in western Sydney.

Young Giant Will Setterfield, who has played only two AFL games in two years because of a knee reconstruction, was traded with pick 71 to Carlton in exchange for the Blues’ pick 43 and a future second round selection.

Setterfield was set to earn about $400,000 at the Giants next year — a deal given to him in an attempt to ward off interstate raiders.

Tom Scully wants a trade to Hawthorn. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Despite the player fire sale, GWS is adamant its premiership window remains open with an abundance of A-grade talent stillat the club.

After a quiet start to the exchange period Hawthorn has come out swinging, with Wingard nominating them as his club of choice and a shocked Burton told he needs to join Port Adelaide to get the Power forward to the club.

The Power have sent a medical team to the US to conduct tests on Burton, who is currently in Las Vegas.

But the 21-year-old, contracted until the end of 2020, can choose to dig his heels in and stay at Waverley.

Burton will use the weekend to assess his options with his family and manager Marty Pask, with a decision expected early next week.

Originally published as Tom Scully is determined to move back to a Melbourne based club in the trade period