Wednesday was a pretty busy day for the Hawthorn football club. They landed one of their major targets in Tom Mitchell, but in news that shocked the league, they appear set to move on a legend of the club.
AFL fans woke up to new AFL trade rumours on Wednesday morning that a deal to see Sam Mitchell traded to West Coast was all but certain. It was a pretty confusing thing to see right off the bat, but as details emerged it has started to make a bit more sense.
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It seems that Mitchell has already made an agreement with the Eagles some time ago that he will move to the club as an assistant coach when he finishes his playing career.
However, a few weeks ago he was approached by Alastair Clarkson asking him if he might consider moving to the Eagles as a player this off-season, and finishing his playing career in the west.
Why? There hasn’t really been a good reason given just yet. The Hawks appear to be the source of the idea – and both West Coast and Mitchell have bought in – but they’ve not yet given an explanation of why they would recommend such a move in the first place.
They’ve stated that it’s not part of their goal of securing all three of Tyrone Vickery, Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara, but personally I suspect that is simply the party line and may not reflect the reality.
After all if you’re going to make the suggestion a club legend – and there are few names bigger in the Hawthorn history book than that of Sam Mitchell – you’d better have a damn good reason for doing it.
Making some significant room in the salary cap, and just maybe getting something handy in the deal from West Coast to on-trade, is the only explanation that makes any sense at the moment.
So, wrap your head around that one, because the language being used around it suggest it’s happening. Sam Mitchell will be an Eagle in 2017. What a bizarre time of year the trade period is.
They seem to have done so incredibly cheaply, giving up only their first-round draft pick, No.14 overall – although, the Hawks and the Swans have agreed to swap around some draft selections next week, which will no doubt see the Swans get a bit more back.
Still, it looks like a huge win on the face of it. And the Roarers agree – from the early numbers in our rate-the-trade poll, a massive 70 per cent of you believe the Hawks won the exchange, while less than 10 per cent believe the Swans came out the victors.
Fremantle got – brace yourselves, people – pick No.23 for Mayne, a second-round compensation that is tied to the finishing order. That pick will soon belong to Hawthorn is the word, in a straight swap for Brad Hill that could be finalised as soon as tomorrow.
The majority of the rest of the news on the day was things being ruled out – and many of them were wild scenarios that seemed implausible to start with.
The manager of Liam Shiels and Charlie Cameron confirmed that neither player was going to move clubs this off-season despite reportedly being targets of Gold Coast and Carlton respectively.
However a potential move for Josh Caddy was notably not ruled out, suggesting he could still move to Richmond in a Brett Deledio if the Cats acquiesce.
Jack Riewoldt was reportedly approached by Essendon but after conversations with the big wigs at the Tigers has decided he definitely won’t move this year.
Despite reports, Collingwood aren’t looking keen on Tom Rockliff. He met with new coach Chris Fagan for the first time on Wednesday and looks likely to remain with Brisbane.
Zac Clarke seems likely to re-sign with Fremantle despite being an unrestricted free agent, though it’s believed he has received an offer to join West Coast that he could still pursue.
North Melbourne have put some interest in to both GWS’ Jarrod Pickett and the Bulldogs’ Nathan Hrovat. Hrovat is open to going to either Carlton or North Melbourne, the two clubs pursuing him, but Pickett has his heart set on the Blues.
In what would’ve been the most left-field news of the day were it not for the Sam Mitchell story, Damian Barrett reported that Collingwood threw up the names of recent recruits Levi Greenwood and James Aish in trade discusions with at least one club.
Who knows how serious that is, but I certainly look forward to two years from now when they’ll be trying to trade away Chris Mayne.
kick to kick
Guest
This year's draft is apparently deep- especially for midfielders. Swans say they are confident they will get two good players at 14 and 17. Also don't think they really need more defenders. Grundy has a couple of good years left and if his foot mends Talia, last season's trade remains a prospect. There's even the hope that Alex Johnson will be back which would be like getting a new high level draft pick. Aliir Aliir, Zak Jones, Marsh and even Nic Newman from the NEAFL side are young prospects. I agree that another medium forward prospect would be useful. If Heeney moves to midfield in place of Mitchell the Swans will need another marking target. Reid is an option if he is healthy but thats a big if! You have to think that not fighting for Mitchell is keeping room to re-sign Heeney in 2017. Interestingly there's hint that the Swans are open to moving another player out for draft picks. Tom Harley is quoted as saying: “We are confident we would get two very good young players at 14 and 17. We are also open to moving us further up the draft list to get more talent."
Paul D
Roar Guru
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Paul D
Roar Guru
What a load of rubbish. 19 for Hartung may be slight overs, but not by much. He was drafted with pick 24 and has certainly improved. Plenty of draftees regress badly and struggle once they're in the system. Hartung has a great work ethic and Fagan clearly rates him. If 19 is what it takes to get him then we should just pay 19, much prefer we do that than take a punt on drafting someone unknown. You're one to talk on frittering away draft picks, Freo have a reputation for spending like a sailor hitting town after a 6 month deployment. Neither Fagan nor I or any Lions supporter is interested in your anti-Hawks bile. Thanks for the trade advice. How's that working out for Freo? Got some superstars queueing up to all make the long trip out to Freo? I would have thought you of all people would appreciate the difficulties in attracting superstars to a club out on the periphery.
Don Freo
Guest
It would be strange if the numbers being thrown around actually unfold that way. The talk of Hartung for 19 is bad enough. If Brissy lets Rocky go for 35, that's crazy. Hartung better than Rockliff? If all that happens, 2 things are clear. 1. Brissy should have its priority pick revoked. 2. Fagan is a Hawthorn plant. If he can't say no to Clarko's wiles, he will fail in this job. Brisbane must not take any more ordinary players. Use draft picks or trade for superstars only.
Paul D
Roar Guru
As far as the Lions are concerned I would much rather see Hartung than Hill at the club, I think he's more the sort of player we need. Hill is a bit of a luxury item.
Don Freo
Guest
19 for Hartung? Matt Stevic is arranging all this. He is worth 39 or 49!
Nineteen
Guest
@Sammy - I can't recall who it was from Geelong but an official said that it was the first time someone had toured their facilities and thought that they were substandard (in particular the gym) and that was a contributing factor to the deal not coming to fruition. It surprised the Geelong official and was a bit of a wake up call for them to make sure the stadium redevelopment was top notch.
Nineteen
Guest
The monster forwards salivate over that prospect. Not too sure you can have two whipping boys in the one team: Scheonmakers and Vickery
Nineteen
Guest
@Paul D Do you rate him more than Hill? You're right about his character. I think he's got a good head on his shoulders
Paul D
Roar Guru
The Lions are after Hartung. I would be ecstatic if that happened. Has pace, great work ethic, would be a fantastic addition.
jhawker@y7mail.com
Guest
Hawks are so ruthless. It not like he was out of form.All I can say is Clarkson must have a smooth tongue
alicesprings
Guest
Whats going on at Collingwood?!
alicesprings
Guest
What is going on at Collingwood!
13th man
Guest
Yep massive win... so far this trade period has been fantastic for Freo... and if we get Hamling and Kersten as well as snatching SPS in the Draft I will be over the moon! Collingwood on the other hand.... what are they doing??? Wells is too old and Mayne is simply not that good... $2 million over 4 years is staggering for a player that wouldn't be in the third bottom teams best 22 next year. Classic example of two clubs at very similar stages (in fact Freo probably slightly worse) going in completely different directions! Freo will finish above Collingwood next year guaranteed
13th man
Guest
I'm not sold on English.. would rather them get SPS or otherwise maybe Bolton or Powell-Pepper
Paul D
Roar Guru
You guessed it - the Lions are wanting Hartung from Hawthorn. Pick 19 on the table for him.
Don Freo
Guest
If you think Mayne is no good, how will it save Bucks' career? You can't have it both ways.
mds1970
Roar Guru
No doubt about it - it keeps the trades in the news cycle; and gives us something to speculate on during the quietest time of the sporting year.
Macca
Guest
Is anyone else starting to get the impression the AFL likes to have just 1 or 2 trades done per day so it can dominate the news for the whole 10 days? I wouldn't be surprised to see another announcement in the next 1/2 hour or so in time to catch the 6 pm bulletin - the last couple of days there has been a flurry of activity late.
Birdman
Guest
apparently not true. Lewis staying put after some interest from Dees