New Hawk Sam Frost set to play alongside Ben McEvoy in Hawthorn’s defence in 2020
New Hawk Sam Frost is expected to play alongside Ben McEvoy in Hawthorn’s defence next season as coach Alastair Clarkson continues to experiment with the ruckman after late-season success.
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Hawthorn believes new acquisition Sam Frost and premiership ruckman Ben McEvoy will both slot in as defensive mainstays under Alastair Clarkson’s 2020 plans.
Hawthorn swooped on Demons defender Sam Frost after Melbourne failed to offer him a contract despite 22 games last year.
He is a player the Hawks believe can play on talls and smalls, releasing James Sicily to play as a more attacking defender
The Herald Sun understands the Hawks are on track to secure Sicily long-term over the summer, earning him a significant pay rise given his blend of intercept marking and penetrative kicking.
Frost was able to play on the stars of the competition and keep them in check, playing this year on Ben Brown (two goals), Lance Franklin (one goal), Jack Riewoldt (one goal) and Taylor Walker (one goal).
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The Demons gave up Frost, pick 42, 61 and their future fourth-round selection in return for Hawthorn’s pick 50 and future second-round selection.
Now the Hawks can call on any of Frost, Sicily, James Frawley, Tim O’Brien or Kaiden Brand to play as key defenders.
Hawks football boss Graham Wright said the club planned to retain McEvoy in defence after a successful late-season experiment, wanting to keep Marc Pittonet alongside the re-signed Jon Ceglar.
Pittonet has been linked to the Blues as they consider life after Matthew Kreuzer and back-up Andrew Phillips considers options including Essendon.
“We played Ben McEvoy back at the end of the year. As far as I understand from our coach, he’s pretty keen to keep going with that, which would leave Jon Ceglar in the number one ruck role right at the moment,” Wright said.
“(Frost) has good size, speed, agility, he can play on smalls and talls and we think he will fit in really well. At Melbourne he was one that gets forced out a little bit but we are really happy he came to us.
“He can go to Eddie Betts or Robbie Gray, but primarily he’s a genuine key position player. Whether we play McEvoy down there as well, we have got a number of options.”
The Hawks again made clear that Isaac Smith was going nowhere despite links to rival clubs, saying he was determined to remain at the club.
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And while they will never say never on a late trade, the expectation is they will take their No.11 pick then consider father-son candidate Finn Maginness.
The Hawks will also secure GWS key forward Jon Patton, but are yet to hit upon a draft pick to hand over given the Giants want more than the fourth-rounder they secured for Tom Scully last year.
The Hawks are still undecided on whether to offer Paul Puopolo a contract, having seen a changing of the guard when the last 2008 premiership player in Grant Birchall left for Brisbane.