AFL Trade news: Hawthorn not interested in off-contract Magpie Jamie Elliott, Grant Birchall eyes move to Brisbane
Hawthorn list boss Graham Wright says rumours of the Hawks' interest in Collingwood forward Jamie Elliott were news to him as a four-time premiership star looks to follow in Luke Hodge's footsteps to Brisbane.
Hawthorn says it won’t be recruiting Jamie Elliott as the Collingwood forward wrestles with where to play next year.
Elliott, an unrestricted free agent, has received a three-year contract offer from Melbourne, with his manager Adam Ramanauskas claiming he has “got a few options”.
The 27-year-old had also been linked to Hawthorn, but the Hawks on Friday ruled themselves out of the running.
“I heard us linked with Jamie Elliott, but we haven’t spoken to him and his management,” Hawthorn list manager Graham Wright told the club’s website.
“Rumours go all over the place at this time of year and you can’t control it and if you try to answer them all it becomes a nightmare as well.”
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Elliott had talks with the Pies on Thursday and was also spotted at a South Melbourne cafe in conversation with Pies president Eddie McGuire.
The Pies are eager to keep the goalkicker, but they face a tricky scenario satisfying his contract needs while also needing to stash the cash for the likes of Brodie Grundy and Jordan De Goey, who will command lucrative extensions.
Hawthorn will, however, bring in GWS forward Jon Patton and Melbourne defender Sam Frost, while ruckman Marc Pittonet is set to accept a new deal and Isaac Smith will almost certainly stay in brown and gold.
Grant Birchall remains a chance to move to the Brisbane Lions having been given approval by the Hawks to explore his options.
The Lions are wrestling with whether to add another elder statesman after Luke Hodge retired, conscious of the need to develop youth given they’re poised to bring in Adelaide’s Cam Ellis-Yolmen after the addition of mature-age types like Marcus Adams, Lincoln McCarthy and Jarryd Lyons in recent seasons.
Birchall met with Brisbane coach Chris Fagan last month, with Wright admitting the difficulty in phasing out the four-time premiership defender, along with three-time premiership forward Paul Puopolo.
“You have to have change, it’s part of the game and it’s unfortunate because we’re dealing with people’s livelihoods,” Wright said.
“We understand it; we know it and it’s one of the uncomfortable parts of the job.
“They’re highly decorated players at our club. One is a four-time premiership player and the other a three-time premiership player, so it’s not easy.”
Originally published as AFL Trade news: Hawthorn not interested in off-contract Magpie Jamie Elliott, Grant Birchall eyes move to Brisbane