State of the list
Daniel Prins casts his eye over the state of our list and who may survive list lodgements
We are in the throws of the off-season for all clubs who have failed to make the finals, and with that comes rumours, speculation, and contract offers.
There’s a well known saying that a week is a long time in football, and that rings true when it comes to the lead up to the AFL Trade Period.
Hawks Insiders will look to keep its finger on the pulse with who’s coming, who’s staying and who’s already out the door ahead of next year.
Players who have exited on their own terms
Ben McEvoy
Liam Shiels
The time was right, and the writing was on the wall for Shiels and McEvoy to finish up their careers at the end of 2022.
Shiels, always the understated servant, was supporting the development of younger players within the confines of the Box Hill team over the majority of the season, and he bowed out in the way you would expect from a player of his character.
McEvoy had more claim to playing on in 2023, but a serious injury at the start of the season put paid to that and our captain can enjoy spending time on the farm with his family, rather than risk further damage to his surgically repaired neck.
Importantly, as a club we are indebted to these two men and the contributions they made to one of the greatest eras of success in our clubs’ history. They will always be remembered and honoured as Hawthorn Premiership Players.
Players who have been told that their services are no longer required
Kyle Hartigan
Dan Howe
Tom Phillips
Connor Downie
Jackson Callow
It’s curtains for the careers of five more Hawks, with the club confirming that Hartigan, Howe, Phillips, Downie, and Callow would not be offered new deals upon the expiry of their current contracts.
Phillips and Hartigan were brought in on two-year deals in 2020 and played important roles in Clarkson’s last season at the helm, but both found it much harder going under the Sam Mitchell regime.
Howe is the longest serving player of those who were moved on, having joined the Hawks when selected at pick 31 in the 2014 draft. He was used as a typical utility by Clarkson, in part because of his versatility and in part because he always struggled to nail down a spot in the team. He remains an outside chance of finding a home for 2023.
Downie and Callow leave before we really got to see what they could offer. Downie, the first Hawthorn NGA player taken in the National Draft, had two injury interrupted seasons at the Hawks and will be hoping to get his body right and play well at State league level in 2023.
Callow - who was drafted in the Mid-Season Rookie Draft in 2021, played a few games at AFL level this year but couldn’t show the type of consistency required to claim a long-term spot on the Hawks list.
Players who have ink still drying on their shiny new contract
Harry Morrison
Luke Breust
The news broke yesterday morning that Harry Morrison had signed a new two-year deal to remain at Hawthorn until at least the end of the 2024 season.
This is just reward for Morrison, who has played his way to this contract through consistency over the course of the 2022.
Coming into the season there was serious questions asked as to how much Morrison would play, let alone his status on the list at the conclusion of the year, that was all dispelled when he played 21 games while averaging 19 disposals in a career best season.
We thought that would be the big re-signing news for the week but earlier today we received confirmation that Hawthorn’s favourite son Luke Breust was extending his contract to the end of 2024.
This is a statement from the Hawks, with Breust having multiple clubs interested in his services for next season and beyond.
Breust’s leadership and ability will be massive for a young forward line in 2023.
Players who have been linked to moves away
Tom Mitchell
Tyler Brockman
Jack Gunston
First things first, there are some BIG names here. Gunston is Hawthorn royalty and a huge reason behind Hawthorn winning the three-peat between 2013-2015.
He has a decision to make as to whether he wants to stay and be part of the rebuild or leave for ‘greener’ pastures like his good friend Isaac Smith. He has that option as he commands an Unrestricted Free Agent status and Hawthorn would be mad not to put a 2-year deal on the table for him.
Luke Breust signing on for another season will make the Gunston situation an interesting watch over coming weeks.
Brockman is an interesting watch. There have always been rumours around a potential desire to go home, but there has never been anything substantial to back those rumours up. There’s a chance Brockman requests a trade to a WA based club (WCE were desperate for him in his draft year) but there’s just as much a chance he re-signs on a one or two-year deal. One thing is for sure, the Hawks can’t afford to lose all of their three forward options in this player grouping.
Tom Mitchell has one foot out the door, and probably rightly so. Mitchell, a former Brownlow Medallist, is a ball getter who is at his prime when he is free to find the football wherever and whenever he likes.
Unfortunately for Tom, his namesake Sam has other ideas, and needs Mitchell to fit in to the grander plan which includes limited midfield game time, which severely restricts his impact on games.
If a Melbourne based club with a need for midfield reinforcements comes calling, expect the Hawks and Mitchell to part ways in amicable fashion.
Players who are currently in limbo
Seamus Mitchell
Jack Saunders
Emerson Jeka
The first round of cuts has been and gone, and the futures of Mitchell, Saunders and Jeka are still up in the air. It would be surprising if all of them were retained on the list, but it would be as surprising if all of them were let go.
It’s a numbers game and with Amon coming in, and places earmarked for Ramsden and Blanck, who were picked up mid-season, there needs to be flexibility going into the trade period.
The futures of this group of players may well hinge on the futures of Gunston, Breust and Brockman. These are ones to keep an eye on.
And some final thoughts…
Overall, this upcoming trade and draft period is absolutely crucial for Hawthorn and Mark McKenzie and his team must make every post a winner.
They have set the list up to have the potential to go in a number of different directions and only they know what their preferred outcome is.
Whatever the final situation, the long-term success of the football club must be at the heart of the decisions made in the next two months, regardless of how brutal or harsh that might be on individuals.
As North Melbourne’s greatest ever coach, Alastair Clarkson always said, no one person is bigger than a club.
Thoughts on Meek from Freo (wants out) to support Reeves? Very handy player, coming into his prime.
With Callow being delisted could Jerome Lawrence son of Stephen be an option,I don't think he will go top 30 so that's not an issue