Hamish Hartlett trade a good move, says Darryl Wakelin — but only for proven talent

PREMIERSHIP defender Darryl Wakelin says underachieving Port Adelaide is right to aggressively shop vice-captain Hamish Hartlett but a path remains to an amicable re-union at Alberton.

Port Adelaide players Jackson Trengove and Hamish Hartlett at the Bath Hotel in Norwood for their end of season drinks. Picture: Tom Huntley.

PREMIERSHIP defender Darryl Wakelin says underachieving Port Adelaide is right to aggressively shop vice-captain Hamish Hartlett but a path remains to an amicable reunion at Alberton.

However, Wakelin cautioned against handing out five-year contracts, with the Power testing midfielder Hartlett’s market-worth despite his being tied to Port until 2020.

Wakelin says an elite distributor is coach Ken Hinkley’s priority with the proceeds of any Hartlett move. Port’s disposal inefficiency and reliance on its only superstar, Robbie Gray, must be tackled with Greater Western Sydney’s Jack Steele, 21, an attractive target. “You have to get a guy who can use it well with a bit of poise,” said Wakelin, with Port having relinquished prime draft picks in recontracting Hartlett and ruckman Matt Lobbe last season.

“There’s Robbie and Sam Gray, Darcy Byrne-Jones, but you need some more guys with a bit of finesse.

“Give me Western Bulldogs’ Caleb Daniel any day, the way he uses it.”

It can be revealed Hartlett, 26, is at peace with his trade table fate but has stipulated joining a future premiership contender as recompense for tearing up his Power deal.

A cross-town switch to Adelaide for Hartlett is remote.

Hartlett would add a hard-bodied, on-ball presence to Gold Coast which has tremendous upside with a healthy list led by Gary Ablett and Tom Lynch.

Gold Coast, which finished 15th this season, could accommodate Hartlett with Jaeger O’Meara coveting a rejuvenating switch to Hawthorn.

Port and Hartlett will reunite next season if a mutually beneficial trade can’t be found for the 127-game midfielder. Sydney’s Ryan O’Keefe was refused a switch to Hawthorn for 2009 before winning a second flag in 2012.

Hartlett and Giant Josh Kelly battle for the ball. Picture: Tom Huntley.

“There have been some high-profile ones over the journey, like Ryan O’Keefe, who played in another flag for Sydney,” Wakelin said.

“The club would draw a line after trade period if Hamish didn’t go. He would still be paid well so you just get on with it.”

Port Adelaide general manager, football, Chris Davies said discussions were ongoing with all players — including Hartlett — in the fallout of two years without finals participation.

“The reality is, given our results over the past two seasons, we need to look at how we’re going to improve,” Davies said.

“It’s only right that we seriously consider anything that we see as benefiting us as a club.”

Contracts now mean little in football but handing out five year deals can be counter-productive, warned Wakelin.

“It’s human nature, you have to be a bit on edge as an athlete, three years should be max,” said Wakelin.

“I played my last four seasons on one-year deals. That was OK, you live with it. They have to keep you guessing.”

Wakelin wonders how Lobbe will fit in with the return of Paddy Ryder alongside Charlie Dixon next season.

“His stocks were a bit higher last year, there was still a bit of that afterglow from 2014. I am not sure how the balance will go with Dixon and Ryder,” said Wakelin.

Originally published as Hamish Hartlett trade a good move, says Darryl Wakelin — but only for proven talent