Scully completes Hawks move as deadline looms on big trade deals

Once again a late flurry of almost all of the biggest swaps between clubs will be squeezed in before tonight’s deadline.

Tom Scully has left GWS after 121 games to join Hawthorn. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Once again a late flurry of almost all of the biggest swaps between clubs will be squeezed in before tonight’s deadline of the 10-day player-exchange period.

The final day should lead to new clubs for Dylan Shiel (from GWS to Essendon), Jesse Hogan (Melbourne to Fremantle), Lachie Neale (Fremantle to Brisbane), Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide to Hawthorn), Steven May (Gold Coast to Melbourne), Rory Lobb (GWS to Fremantle) and Marcus Adams, who will cross from the Western Bulldogs to the Lions.

Just as 16 players changed clubs in the final five hours of last year’s trade period, the majority of trade deals will again occur on the final day.

However, the odds are against contracted Geelong midfielder Tim Kelly getting to his chosen club West Coast.

But Dayne Beams may get his wish to leave Brisbane and rejoin Collingwood.

Hawthorn yesterday took the gamble on the fitness of Tom Scully by recruiting him when the Giants accepted the meagre exchange of the Hawks’ fourth-round pick in the 2019 national draft.

Hawthorn received that pick from the Suns yesterday.

After seven years with Greater Western Sydney, Scully, who was taken by Melbourne with the No 1 selection in the 2009 draft, requested a trade to the Hawks.

Hawthorn general manager of football operations Graham Wright said the 27-year old will be a valuable addition to the Hawks midfield.

“He’s an exceptional player and his endurance and work rate is second to none,” he said.

“We understand Tom has been suffering with an ankle injury, however we are fully confident our medical team will help get him back to full fitness.”

Following surgery early this year for a fractured ankle, there remains some confusion as to when Scully will be able to start 2019 after a series of setbacks post-surgery that left Scully disillusioned with his treatment.

Scully’s only game this year was in round two when he made a cameo appearance before badly damaging his right ankle in the opening quarter.

He played 121 games for GWS after playing his first 31 with the Demons.

Five low-profile swaps were also completed yesterday, headed by Hawthorn premiership player Taylor Duryea, who crossed to the Western Bulldogs in return for a future selection. Duryea, who was not taken as a free agent, played in the Hawks’ premiership sides of 2014 and 2015.

Gold Coast’s 21-year-old Jack Scrimshaw was traded to Hawthorn. He played four games for the Suns last year, but none in 2018.

Geelong’s George Horlin-Smith has joined Gold Coast to bolster their midfield and Aaron Hall is now a North Melbourne player after seven years with the Suns.

Richmond teenager Tyson Stengle has joined Adelaide after two senior games in two years as a rookie-listed player at Punt Road. The Tigers accepted the Crows’ fourth-round selection (No 68) in return.

Geelong exchanged Horlin-Smith for the Suns’ pick No 59 in next month’s draft.