Gary Buckenara analyses Hawthorn’s needs and potential players to target during off-season

TRADE SPECIAL: HAWTHORN will have plenty of room in the salary cap to target the top trade and free agency players according to GARY BUCKENARA who helped build the club’s three-peat flag list.

WATCH this space — Hawthorn could be the sleeper in the race for Dustin Martin.

The Hawks’ dramatic fall this season has been stunning and I didn’t see it coming.

After winning three premierships in a row it appears some of the players aren’t playing with the same intensity and hunger as previous years. But there has also been mitigating circumstances behind their fall down the ladder.

Injuries to key players in key positions definitely hasn’t helped. James Frawley, Grant Birchall and Ben Stratton have all missed a large portion of the season and that’s half the Hawks’ premiership backline. Plus superstar Cyril Rioli is out long-term. It’s tough to overcome.

Hawthorn need their recruits from last year to stand up.

The Hawks desperately need Jaeger O’Meara’s body to hold up. Picture: Michael Klein

Tom Mitchell has been a great pick-up and is probably leading the best and fairest but Ty Vickery and Jaeger O’Meara have huge exclamation points next to their names right now.

The Hawks recruited Vickery in a bid to fill the David Hale role, and from a structure point of view I can see why they did it, but it hasn’t worked out and it doesn’t look like it will unless there is a major turnaround.

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There are alarm bells sounding around O’Meara. His body must stand up — the recruiting team would be feeling a bit nervous right now given he has barely played and when he did, he was in and out before being sidelined indefinitely with knee problems.

It’s a massive worry.

Hawthorn also needs to get back into the first round of the draft. I don’t think the Hawks will want to make it a continuous cycle where they’re not in the draft early, that’s a dangerous cycle to go down.

Ty Vickery has not delivered at Hawthorn. Picture: Michael Klein

The Hawks are lacking midfield depth and there is a need for speed. The loss of Bradley Hill has been huge.

Hill’s departure has left Isaac Smith as the player the Hawks rely on to break the lines but the upshot of that is he has copped more attention from the opposition this year, while Billy Hartung has been unable to perform consistently at AFL level.

Hartung is turning the ball over too much but his endurance and pace must be used in a role similar to the one Hill played previously.

The benefit of the bad injury run is the Hawks are getting a look at the youngsters who have been on the list for a while but haven’t been given an opportunity in the past, including Kaiden Brand, Tim O’Brien, Dallas Willsmore, Kurt Heatherley and Teia Miles.

Could the Hawks lure Dustin Martin?

It’s important Hawthorn find out whether these guys can play at the level.

Luke Hodge and Josh Gibson will more than likely retire at the end of the season, which would free up a lot of money, but I could see Shaun Burgoyne being given another year if he wants it and his body is holding up.

Add the likely Hodge and Gibson departures to Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis leaving last year and that leaves plenty of room in the salary cap for the Hawks to chase some big names.

WHO THE HAWKS SHOULD TARGET

Hawthorn is yet to be linked to any of the big three — Dustin Martin, Josh Kelly and Nat Fyfe — and to me that’s a warning sign. I’ve got a feeling they’ll be in the marketplace and they’re the quiet sleeper in the race for Martin.

Remember when the Hawks made a late play for Jake Carlisle out of nowhere?

With Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis gone, the Richmond star is like a combination of both those guys because he’s tough and hard inside but can also win the ball outside.

Martin will be the No.1 target, followed by Josh Kelly. Both are extremely good players who would fit in perfectly.

Hawthorn should be keeping a close eye on Josh Kelly. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Should the Hawks be unable to lure one of Martin or Kelly, Lachie Whitfield would be an ideal fit as an outside ball carrier with speed and who uses it well.

Zak Jones from Sydney would also be a nice fit.

Given the Hawks need pace that would put them in the market for Jason Johannisen and Jasper Pittard to give them more zip.

Tom Rockliff would be an interesting option as a free agent. I think he could definitely slot into the Hawthorn midfield.

UNTOUCHABLES

Jarryd Roughead, Tom Mitchell, Ryan Burton, Grant Birchall, Isaac Smith, Cyril Rioli, Jaeger O’Meara, James Frawley, Daniel Howe, James Sicily, Luke Breust, Ben Stratton, Ben McEvoy, Kaiden Brand, Billy Hartung.

Please note: AFL clubs have a list of a number of players they are targeting at the end of the season and this is the list Gary Buckenara would have in the hope of luring at least one to the club.

Gary Buckenara was Hawthorn’s sole full-time recruiting staff member from 2004 before the Hawks brought in Chris Pelchen and then Graham Wright as recruiting and list manager and expanded the recruiting department.