Hawthorn will be the team to watch in the final stages of this year’s AFL Trade Period.
After an email sent out by club president Jeff Kennett indicated that they could make a surprising move before the deadline, Kane Cornes has revealed more regarding the situation.
Cornes said on SEN’s Captain’s Run on Friday that teams around the competition have been made aware by the Hawks that any players 26 or older are available for trade should the right offer be presented.
“Other clubs have been told in their dealings with Hawthorn … that anyone at Hawthorn above the age of 26 is on the trade table,” Cornes told SEN’s The Captain’s Run.
“That may be the surprise he was alluding to. We’ve all spoken about Tom Mitchell, we’ve spoken a little bit about Jaeger O’Meara, Jack Gunston and Luke Breust, but 26 and above if you are of that age you are on the table right now.
“If you put an offer that is satisfactory to Hawthorn, they will trade a player that is 26 and above.
“Those names – Luke Breust, Jon Ceglar we know about, Sam Frost, Jack Gunston, Jarman Impey would be a surprise he’s 26, Ben McEvoy the captain, Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O’Meara, Liam Shiels, Chad Wingard and James Sicily as well is 26.”
Cornes doesn’t understand why Hawthorn would put their players through a situation like that, saying it can fracture the club.
“Hawthorn fans, your club is a mess. What is going on with the president releasing an email saying we may be surprised with some of the decisions, then backtracking on radio with Garry and Tim (on SEN Breakfast),” he said.
“We’ve since found out that everyone above the age of 26 is currently on the trade table.
“The damage that this does to a football club and how you become focused on yourself and you’re ringing your manager this morning as this information comes out … this is not the way to run a footy club.
“I’m not sure what the strategy is at Hawthorn, but how far they have fallen from such a mighty club and the decisions they’ve made and a president going rogue a little bit and a new coach dealing with all of this and a previous coach absorbed in your soft cap, it’s nothing but a mess.
“They are a club in a bit of trouble I reckon. This information has shone a light on that.”
SEN Chief Reporter Sam Edmund elaborated on Cornes’ story on Trade Radio.
'Hawthorn are not going to clubs saying 'please take this guy', but there is a league-wide understanding that should an offer come, they'll absolutely entertain it.'
— AFL Trade Radio (@traderadio) October 7, 2021
- Sam Edmund#AFLTrade