Trade HQ: Check out all the big list calls Hawthorn faces this off-season
Hawthorn faces one of the biggest off-seasons in its recent history. If the club is about to go down the rebuilding path, where does Jon Patton fit?
Trade HQ
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If Stephen Coniglio’s top priority is winning football games, he should think long and hard about crossing Hawthorn off his free agency meeting list.
While joining the Hawks would give him the opportunity to play under one of the game’s greatest ever coaches in Alastair Clarkson, I’m seeing massive red flags when it comes to the club’s list.
Following a disappointing season, it’s time for the decision makers at Hawthorn to answer some tough questions. Most importantly, what direction they see the club going and whether they are on the same page as Clarkson.
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After years of topping up at the trade table, the lack of elite young talent on the list is concerning.
While Clarko might prefer to back himself in and turn the list around without bottoming out, even for someone of his calibre, that is going to be a massive challenge.
The best young player on their list was traded away at the end of last season in Ryan Burton.
James Worpel burst onto the scene and looked like he could provide that next generation spark but his development has stalled.
Realistically, the Hawks have between 6-10 guys getting regular games who should really fit into the fringe player category. You can afford to play a few players in that bracket but Hawthorn’s reliance on them is way too high.
In terms of getting that top talent in, it might be time to return to the trade table but this time as a seller rather than a buyer.
Jack Gunston is still in his prime and would be the perfect fit at a club searching for a second or third key forward.
For guys like Luke Breust and Isaac Smith, it might be worth having similar conversations to the ones had with Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis.
It’s unlikely these guys will get long term deals at Hawthorn but they could snap up some extra security by moving elsewhere.
Hawthorn’s dynasty was built on top picks in Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Lewis. It’s time to start the next one the same way.
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THREE HAWKS RIVAL RECRUITERS ARE WATCHING:
Stephen Coniglio
The Hawks were one of the first to move on Coniglio last year and have a strong case through his best mate Jaeger O’Meara. But how much trouble is the list in? Their on-field decline this year and lack of up-and-coming star talent could be enough to turn Coniglio off Waverley. Giants confident he stays, anyway.
Jon Patton
The No. 1 draft pick could be a replacement for Jarryd Roughead. There is no longer any room in the GWS forward line due to the emergence of Jeremy Finlayson and Harry Himmelberg. This is another one of those deals where the Hawks could get Patton (after three knee reconstructions) on the cheap.
Stephen Hill
The Fremantle free agent is flying under the radar amid a nightmare run of soft-tissue problems including his latest hamstring strain. Like Tom Scully last year, Hill would be a brilliant pick-up, for nothing, as a free agent. He has links to the Hawks through his brother, Bradley, who was a key premiership player in brown and gold.
THREE PLAYERS HAWKS RECRUITERS ARE WATCHING:
Isaac Smith
Western Bulldogs are sniffing around the 30-year-old wingman who could command a second-round draft pick in the trade period. He has had some foot problems but says he hasn’t thought about switching clubs. But that could change if Alastair Clarkson shows up on his front door post-season. Would add some polish and experience at the kennel.
Shaun Burgoyne
Like Jordan Lewis, Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell, Burgoyne could play a key leadership role across half back for any club, such as Melbourne, looking for some more class. He’s already had two hamstring injuries and one more would make Hawthorn’s decision at the end of the year more difficult. Burgoyne wants to play on.
Marc Pittonet
Is the back-up big man the answer to Essendon’s ruck shortage? If St Kilda poach Sam Draper, the Bombers are going to have to get a new big man from somewhere. Pittonet has played only seven games in the past four seasons for Hawthorn. Ben McEvoy and Jon Ceglar will juggle the No. 1 ruck duties next year at Hawthorn.
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What a mixed bag.
On one hand, Hawthorn pulled off the best-value trade in a long time, securing Tom Scully for a future-fourth round selection.
Even Chris Scott called it the “trade of the century”, if Scully’s body holds up in coming seasons. The running machine has been more than decent on the wing, averaging 19 disposals across 13 matches.
Yet on the other hand, Alastair Clarkson’s crew gave up talented youngster Ryan Burton, and first and second-round draft picks for misfiring forward Chad Wingard.
That’s a lot for a bloke who was confronted by teammates midway through the clash against Melbourne this season, about sticking to the team’s plans.
Almost everyone in that chat, including veterans Jarryd Roughead and Paul Puopolo, looked a bit frustrated.
Wingard snagged three goals in his first game for the Hawks to knock off North Melbourne, but it has otherwise been a pretty lean run over his first seven games.
At this rate, Wingard won’t finish in the top-20 of the Hawks’ best and fairest, having missed the past three games with another hamstring problem.
Meanwhile, Burton has taken steps forward this year averaging 20 possessions across 12 games.
As a general defender, Burton rates above average for disposals, intercepts, metres gained and pressure, according to Champion Data.
The surprise packet has been ex-Gold Coast Sun Jack Scrimshaw who has stepped straight into Grant Birchall’s role on the half back line, in his first season at Waverley.
Taylor Duryea also made his way to the Bulldogs and has played six games amid some injury issues.
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