Sam Mitchell has wasted no time in his first off-season as the head coach of the Hawks, with reports he and the club will part ways with any of their top stars to gain a stronger foothold in the draft.
It’s understood Brownlow Medal winner Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O’Meara and Chad Wingard are among a host of veterans and stars the club will let go should a reasonable deal arrive.
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According to SEN’s AFL reporter, Sam Edmund, Mitchell has been a driving force behind making a deal.
“Hawthorn’s desperation to trade one of its stars for a top draft pick extends to coach Sam Mitchell ringing rival clubs himself in a bid to spark interest,” Edmund tweeted.
“Hawks getting increasingly desperate given there is so far no takers for the likes of Mitchell, O’Meara and Wingard.”
Mitchell was supposed to coach the Hawks in 2023 as part of a succession plan with Alastair Clarkson before the situation quickly deteriorated with the latter opting to sit out season 2022 instead.
Edmund’s report comes after Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes said the club had made any player on its list aged 26 or over available.
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“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.”