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Opinion

242 games, 432 goals, three flags: The trade target every club should want

Roar Guru
2nd July, 2021
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Roar Guru
2nd July, 2021
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With the rapid decline of the Hawks in recent years, its easy to forget the stars that still contribute for the brown and gold each week.

And one of those stars should be on the radar of every club in the competition come this season’s trade period.

Somehow after 242 games, 432 goals, three premierships and nine of his ten seasons kicking more than 30 goals, fans have forgotten just how good Luke Breust is.

And as the Hawks launch into a rebuild, Breust should be the target of every AFL club in the land.

His don’t-argue alone should be enough to be on the radar, it’s the best in the competition. Yes, you read that correctly, Richmond fans.

Think about it: a club chasing a winning culture in their rebuild could use his services. And a club in the window needing an impressive finisher could most definitely use him.

By the time the silly season comes around, the power forward will have turned 31, leaving plenty in the tank for a change of scenery.

Luke Breust

(Photo by Will Russell/AFL Media/Getty Images)

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Looking at both end of the spectrum right now, let’s compare both the first-placed seed at this point in time (Melbourne) and the last (North Melbourne).

While their back line earns the credit it most certainly deserves and the Dees sit pretty atop of the AFL ladder with just two losses, Melbourne’s forward line still leaves plenty to be desired.

With just one premiership in the last six decades, the Demons also don’t have a wealth of premiership-winning experience.

His addition would be two-fold on the surface, but a premiership-defining move behind the scenes.

Now let’s take a look at North Melbourne at the other end.

Admittedly, the Roos have made inroads in recent weeks, claiming a win over the Suns and sneaking away with a draw against the Giants.

But they could definitely use a three-time premiership player to guide the young crop they’re building.

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North Melbourne – albeit at the bottom of the table – are probably not a prime example. The Roos’ decline in performance may be concerning on the surface, but as history has shown us with Brisbane, if a club gets a crop of kids all around the same age, the rise often comes in a rapid way.

However, for discussion’s sake, the Roos – given ladder position – will be used.

All the premiership experience aside, North Melbourne are in desperate need of a forward.

Breust has 24 goals to his name at this point in the season, on track to kick 30 goals again, making it ten from 11 seasons.

Forwards that consistent don’t come around often and if the Hawthorn decline could demonstrate anything of Breust, it could imply that his consistency shows he has the ability to perform in a winning team and a losing team.

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Using Melbourne and North Melbourne for discussion’s sake makes for an interesting concept.

But imagine he returns home to his home state of New South Wales and joins up with the Giants. Breust and Toby Greene in the same forward line? Get the popcorn ready.

Or he could join the fellow Harbour City side with Tom Papley, Lance Franklin, Isaac Heeney and Breust all kicking goals. It would be hard not to consider the Swans a premiership fancy.

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