Hawthorn pull trigger on trade that shakes up AFL landscape

Hawthorn have lobbed a grenade into the AFL trade landscape after growing impatient with two rivals on a blockbuster move.

Hawthorn grew tired of waiting for West Coast’s Tom Barrass. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Hawthorn got sick and tired of waiting around and opted to pull the trigger on a trade that shakes up the AFL Trade landscape.

The Hawks have thrown a major curve ball into the mix after they parted ways with their first round pick in the upcoming draft.

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A trade with the West Coast Eagles had long been reported with the Hawks keen on luring defender Tom Barrass to the club.

But in the end the Hawks reportedly grew impatient waiting for the Eagles to respond to their trade offer and elected to initiate a deal with Carlton, who came from the clouds to snap up Hawthorn’s pick 14.

“You snooze you lose. Hawthorn had offered West Coast Pick 14 and a F2, with a F3 going back to Hawthorn (for Barrass). Richmond was OK with Pick 14 as the centrepiece (in return for Liam) Baker,” Tom Morris wrote on X.

“But the Hawks were sick of waiting so pulled the trigger with Carlton. Barrass & Baker in limbo. Better now than Wednesday!”

The Eagles missed out. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

While Barrass remains contracted with the Eagles until the end of 2027, rumours he wanted out began shortly after the club axed former coach Adam Simpson.

With speculation he was seeking a move back to Victoria, the Hawks pulling the trigger on a separate trade leaves the defender now in a state of flux.

“Tom Barrass is now in more limbo than he was 24 hours ago,” Morris said on AFL Trade Radio.

West Coast remain locked in negotiations with Richmond for Baker, as their pick 3 continues to be looked at as a potential starting point for a trade.

The Blues are back in the race for Dan Houston. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Baker deal is in limbo now. Pic: Michael Klein

For the Blues the acquisition of pick 14 thrusts them firmly back into the race to secure Port Adelaide star Dan Houston.

Carlton now hold picks 12 and 14 and are now seen as the frontrunner to secure the services of the All Australian defender.

“This is a bombshell from Hawthorn and it paves the way for a bit of movement now in the trade period,” Morris said on AFL Trade Radio.

“Absolutely (the Blues) are back in the ball game (for Houston).

“When you’ve got 12 and 14 in this year’s draft, you could potentially offer one of them and then see if you can be back in the game for Dan Houston.”

The AFL Trade period comes to an end on October 16.