2023 Trade Speculation: Deal or Get Real?
A blog of the latest trade speculation in the media
This is where we will keep you updated with all the latest reports linking Hawthorn to trades. Keep checking back to get news and reaction when the Hawks are in the news and be sure to tell us what you think? Go for it or Pass?
Hawthorn emerge as a contender for Western Bulldogs superstar Bailey Smith
Mitch Cleary / 7 News - 28 August
Well what an absolute bombshell - or so you think. Here’s some proof that one particular Insider has been on the Bailey Smith bandwagon prior to the 2023 season commencing.
A Hawthorn supporter as a kid, Smith has always been in the back of the mind as being a hopeful returnee to the club he barracked for - though it has always been considered wishful thinking.
But now that it has become a reality, the thought of having Bazalenko in the brown and gold is indeed a tasty prospect.
Does he want to leave the Kennel? Can a deal get done? And what will it cost? A fair bit to play out in this one.
HI Says: YES. He would be a monster addition to the club, fits the age profile and will give us the extra pace and x-factor our midfield is looking for. But at what cost? Pick 3? First round pick next year? We think one of these picks should do it, and would be open to giving one of them up - preferably next year’s. But will that be enough?
Hawks make a play for dashing Docker
Cal Twomey - 28 August
News started circulating on Monday night that we are well and truly into Fremantle excitement machine Liam Henry, who has been tipped throughout the year as being likely to leave the club in the off season.
A former number nine pick, Henry started the season in the forward line before being unleashed on a win in the later part with great effect.
He also had a huge opening term and good day as a whole against us int he final round of the 2023 season.
HI Says: Buy, Buy, Buy!! Elite talent, good age profile, would be wonderfully well suited to running all day on a wing at the MCG. Biggest question is what will he cost, and can we use the likes of Tyler Brockman (assuming he wants to return home) as a part of any deal.
Fourth club joins race for Roo
AFL Website - 25 August - Callum Twomey, Riley Beveridge, Josh Gabelich
The big gun AFL news reporters dropped a bombshell via their Inside Trading column, stating that we have entered the race for North big name free-agent, Ben McKay.
He’s going to cost a lot in terms of coin, but could he be the answer to our defensive problems?
No doubt he could be the guy together with James Blanck lining up on the opposition big gorillas for years to come, and turning 26 in December is in the perfect age bracket.
HI SAYS: Why the hell not? Sure he will probably be getting paid more than he is worth, and yes it will push our pick three to pick four. But that’s going to happen anyway so we may as well be the team filling one of our premiership list holes by nabbing him. Biggest knock would be his injuries and how often he gets on the park, but we say if the shoe fits…
Multiple Clubs Circling Geelong’s Esava Ratugolea
SEN 20 July
According to SEN and a host of other networks, there are multiple clubs looking to bring in Cat big man Esava Ratugolea as one of the few available defensive keys this summer.
In the article, it states:
“Hawthorn is said to be another very interested party and are said to be eager to bring Ratugolea in to ease the burden on skipper James Sicily.”
It is clear that we need a key defender to assist James Blanck and James Sicily in defence, but do you think Esava is the answer?
HI SAYS: Hard Pass. Not too sure that beneath the hype surrounding big man of Fijian descent, there is enough substance to push this one through. And though Port seems to be in the box seat anyway, his deficiencies and inconsistencies as a defender make him a no.
Trading or acquiring free agents has to be to fill a specific need - getting a player 'because we can' is dumb. We need, in no particular order - a true hybrid who can play forward and midfield (could Duursma be that player in this year's draft), a key defender who marks the ball (could McCabe, who we'll get in this year's draft develop into that player), a fast and skilled small forward to take over from Punky and Brockman, and key position support for Mitch Lewis (could Denver or Ryan become that player). Giving up first round picks, or spending big $$ on a free agent for anything other than an absolute need is silly. It was a needs-based approach to trading and free agent acquisition that was central to our threepeat. We need to be smart and there are value opportunities out there - look at Toby Bedford who GWS acquired for pick 44, he'd be a walk up start in our best 22 and has just turned 23.
Bailey Smith has some great attributes, but he is a shocking kick - one of the worst in the competition. He says he wants to play midfield, yet, despite losing Dunkley and playing Macrae as a high half forward, he played midfield for less than half the 2023 season, which is not something to be dismissed when looking at him as a midfielder. He is definitely not worth our pick 3 in this year's draft. In recent drafts, Denver aside, we have targeted midfielders with our high picks - Day, Ward, MacKenzie and McDonald - which has added to the existing group of Newcombe, Worpel and Nash - and seen Ward have to become a winger and McDonald a high half-forward, not roles for which they were drafted. In addition, we've really liked what we've seen with Hustwaite in his two games. Just how do you see our midfield looking with Smith added to it?
Not sure how many Freo games you've seen this year, but living in WA, have seen plenty, both live and on tele. Don't be fooled by his possession numbers - Liam Henry is a very poor kick and decision maker and is one of the most outside players in the competition. There's also scuttlebutt about off field issues. We have Amon and Ward as the incumbents, CJ, who despite in the eyes of many now being seen as trade bait, has the potential to play wing and Weddle who, when recruited was flagged as a potential winger. And while Bramble has struggled to be consistent in the seniors, he is typically among the best few with Box Hill and we shouldn't be too ready to discard him as a prospect.
Ratugolea is a big NO. Showed on many occasions this year that when he's the man in their defence, which with injuries was often the case, he just wasn't up to it and even got dropped this year. Persevering with James Blanck at much lower cost and with more upside is a superior option. Esava has played 59 games in 7 years, which, even allowing for Geelong's strength over that period says something.
McKay is probably worth a look as he fills a real need and his numbers this season in a poor team are impressive. Having said that, he's played ~70 games in 8 seasons, which is a concern, even allowing for injuries, and does have a buyer beware warning to it. But he's a great size, fits a genuine need and if his body was sound, is one to look at.
A player that I'd like us to really look at is Kai Lohman at Brisbane. He was a first-round pick in the 2021 draft and just cannot get an opportunity in their forward line. Whenever he gets a run, often as the sub, he looks like a quality player. And with Punky nearing the end and Brocky heading home, that position is a real weakness.
Sam Mitchell pre game on 3AW Saturday said the list we have is largely the list that will be in the team for our next bit of silverware. He went on to say the gaps are a bigger forward to support Lewis, a big back to support Sic and a midfielder with “X factor”.
So based on that I think Mackay is in the frame (hopefully Peter Burge can give him a good soundness check), pick 3 fir Zane Dursma or if he slips through Curtain, and then an X factor midfielder....is that Bailey Smith...arguably yes but at what cost and do we need him? If Conor Rozee is free that’s the X factor I’d take!