Unofficial Preview 2025 Hawk's Hypothetical Trade Discussion...now with added DFA spitballing!

[Strapping Young Lad]

This thread is becoming increasingly popular, and to keep some sort of order, we will have some….

Rules of engagement:

1. Bring valid news or links to Twitter posts from notable sources. Don’t post screenshots or “some bloke just said on SEN” or what some “trade whisperer” has posted on a Facebook page.

2. Ignore what other team boards are putting up as trade offers. Don’t quote or bring them here either.

3. Don’t post “buckle up” for the lols.

4. If you can’t say anything nice about Worpel or CJ, don’t say anything at all. The continued slaps and backhanders are just going to be deleted.

 

[Arkadia]

The scum are the most backward, hypocritical, organisation i have ever encountered...
That includes business dealings with its former entourage who have a big say behind the scenes...
Former presidents and so called philanthropists split into small factions who rule the scum...
Andrew Welsh

Andrew Welsh

Age

42

Ht

188cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.4

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

6.7

4star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

9.6

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.6

5star

, James Hird belong to one faction and they get their orders from these former identities who wield great influence behind the scenes...

Todays shenanigans especially towards the closing period of the trade was an utter shammozle and confusing...

We can read whatever we think may have occurred, however the deal was almost done....
Very frustrating indeed...
That organisation has no integrity...
The scum will never amount to anything and may it long continue..

As for us, we acted and adhered to the principles that we stand and uphold...
We acted with honesty and integrity...

This could very well be a blessing in disguise....

Let's all move on and put this behind us...

 

[perrdan86]

I am the only one that agrees with you, even one first was enough to be honest.

no you're not

 

[burger09]

But we did go for Petracca, he met with us, and wanted us....but then his manager decided we couldn't get both he and Merrett done(once that broke) and didn't like being 2nd in line.

Ha, ha,

The truly deluded thought we could stump up for both.

We couldn't even land one of them. (We prioritised the wrong one. Not because of the players, just the clubs we'd have to deal with).

 

[StackedHunch]

Someone mention pulling a JUH here on his team mate.

I reckon he’d have just reason to pull a JUH on Welsh and Scott. That should see him delisted.

Wouldn't be pulling a JUH on a property developer. Yes. You know what I'm getting at.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

VERY LUCKY.

Lucky with McKay and Rat in hindsight.

Lucky also that North wanted Duursma (who I was advocating for), as we absolutely would have taken him if he was available.

But who knows how any of them would have looked in our side - we are certainly a more stable environment than North, Essendon and Port, and we are better at developing players.

The offer for Zerrett may have been overs on paper. But if he was the difference between finishing 3-8 and a flag then it would have looked like a bargain.

The coach, MM, board and club in general wanted to take that chance to make us a better side.

This wasn't like when Clarko and Wrighty were at odds (for years) about trading everything for experienced players or rebuilding. Clarko won out and Wrighty made the deals, begrudgingly. The club was aligned.

 

[Snoref]

I think bombers still would have said no. They told us what to offer, then sat on it till 15 minutes at upped it again.

They didn't want a deal. They intentionally wasted out time. Joke organisation.

Dumb club, 3 first for a 30 year old is a great deal and helps with their rebuild. Instead they keep a disgruntled captain/player.

If i was merrett i would relinquish the captaincy and fein injuries and sit out most of 2026 keep my body fresh for 2027

 

[MazHawk]

I'm kinda torn.
If Dons had accepted the deal it would have been great for us - a clear win, losing only Huss. Pick 22 is a gamble in a weak draft and a future 1st would have been, after academies etc, in the 22-25 range.

On the other hand I'm SOOOO glad we didn't sacrifice our future for one player that would have cost us all that draft collateral plus Mackenzie or Lewis. Stupidity losing either of those plus draft picks for one guy.

I'm happy going to the draft with 10 & 22 or seeing how we might trade these.

 

[cyrilweatherby]

HUGE upside.
You're so wrong.

Consider it a sign of his football intelligence that a highly capable mid has carved out a role for himself as a HFF at AFL level from his first season. He has played +20 games every season in that role since being drafted.

Don't look at him playing hff as a reflection of his limitations, rather, he is the only one of our junior mids capable of playing there. That's why he didn't have a spell at BHH like Ward and Mackenzie - who can only really play as mids.

I appreciate your reply and I hope I am so wrong.

 

[HeHateMe]

Soooo how about that draft?

 

[HeHateMe]

I actually think Sweid sounds like a grouse option for us, but are we that petty?

"fights combatively for possession and is clean when navigating packs, able to power to the outside or dish off to teammates. Sweid’s work rate lends to a strong defensive appetite, but also sees him ran hard in the attacking phase to get on the end of forward forays and hit the scoreboard."

 

[chippie]

Well, I guess Zach can keep working on getting his memoir published when his contract is finally up

 

[fpm84]

Can’t believe I’m a Geelong supporter trying to make you feel better but there are quite a few parallels with our failed chases of Merrett and Curnow.

We both offered to clear ourselves out of any meaningful draft picks for the next couple of years, but Essendon and Carlton demanded player/s from our best 15 or so who would walk in and make them immediately better.

The problem for us both - nobody with any trade value wanted to leave.

Take it as a feather in your cap that you’ve created a positive, winning and united culture.

 

[hawkinoz]

Should do.

Twomey has him at 16. our pick will land about 14 After the Uwland, Patterson and Annable, Harry Dean bids.

Harry Dean is rated at 8 and Carlton have traded with us to slide up to 9 and 11 likely hoping the get a pick in before the bid. I think they are going to bundle those picks to try and either move up OR move them into next year for some 20s picks back.

But assuming Carlton's picks remain as is (they wont) AND they match a bid before 9 and 11 we move up anyway.. Pick 22 will come into 17 as Carlton 9, 11, GC 15,18 and Brisbane 17, picks will disappear in the matching.

So looking like excluding academy prospects, we get the 10th and 17th best prospects.

Good try but not really.. all those picks can be still traded, so North may trade 25& 26 for 15 or 18 or 17 as an example which means those picks don't disappear. Suns as of now don't have enough points for their academy picks if they get picked as per draft rankings

Port may trade their F1 on draft night if a talent is still on board for any one of those picks.

We should actually be looking to do the same for offers that are well overs to set up for next year. Would have preferred to keep Pick 9. Trade with Blues don't look good now but whats done is done.

Since we have not got Merrett, I would assume a few clubs may think we may miss the 8 and so our f1 likely has good value( if we drive that narrative in media)

Pick position as as below

 

[stevehawkington]

Worpel was an average footballer at best. Attach whatever accolade you want to him.
We lose worpel makes us use someone else.
We really haven't lost much to my thinking.

HH or Cam Mackenzie would have been pushing into the midfield in 26 keeping worps out of the side. Worps knew it, so he found a new home.

 

[halfback dasher]

Just thought I'd jump on to congratulate you boys on weakening your midfield this trade period. A job well done. Keep up the good work lads, cheers!

How ?

 

[StackedHunch]

More Tullamarine gold:

"Hawthorn should takes notes from Sydney on how to trade for players."

Carlton offered pick 11 plus Will Hayward

19

Will Hayward

Age

27

Ht

186cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.4

3star

T

2.8

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

9.0

2star

K

4.3

2star

HB

4.7

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.7

4star

D

9.4

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.4

5star

, plus some pick upgrades. For a younger player, in a far harder to find role.

 

[Endorphin Machine]

Sorry to intrude just wanted to say the deal you guys offered Essendon was absolutely amazing, incredibly fair and probably overs.

I cannot believe they turned that down, crazy decision by them.

I just cannot understand clubs like Essendon. Do they just have no interests in being anything but mediocre?

The phrase that comes to mind is “to cut off your nose to spite your face”.

 

[badboybobba]

I think there’s a good chance we trade this years first pick for a future first next year and try and package them up for another A grader next trade period

Future firsts during the 2026 trade period aren’t worth much for a team expected to finish at the pointy end of the ladder so trading next year is going to be hard work
It makes sense to trade out of this draft as by all accounts is a weaker crop

We also have to go hard at free agency with Butters being the main target

 

[satan1]

Guys. We didn't trade out our best player either.

This is how it works right?
A+

 

[GinniAndTonic]

We won’t take 10 and 22 to the draft i guarantee it.

 

[Hawkk]

All good my man.

Congratulations on giving up your shot at assembling a decent list before Tassie enters.

What’s another decade when it’s already been two.

See you in 2034, how many days will it be by then?

I mean they have got Andrew Welsh though. The dude with a slicked back comb over who has never seen Essington win a final. lol.

 

[GinniAndTonic]

I think there’s a good chance we trade this years first pick for a future first next year and try and package them up for another A grader next trade period

Future firsts during the 2026 trade period aren’t worth much for a team expected to finish at the pointy end of the ladder so trading next year is going to be hard work
It makes sense to trade out of this draft as by all accounts is a weaker crop

We also have to go hard at free agency with Butters being the main target

We won’t be getting butters for 1 he wants the dogs and 2 managed by TP.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

All they cared about was humiliating us in the deal.

This was the most embarassing thing to happen to them for years and they couldn't get past it.

List management, their culture had nothing to do with their decision making. Would prefer to burn their own house down than get a deal that suited everyone.

Yep.

Notice how they weren't linked to literally any other players or trades? (aside from Fiorini)

Hawthorn was 100% the entire focus of their trade period.

 

[Faraway Hawk]

We are lucky the AFL doesn't allow more than 2 x FF or else the Bombers would have asked for a FFFFFF from 2030 plus rights to any of our father son picks from 2031-2041 draft.

 

[BIGHAWK23]

We won’t be getting butters for 1 he wants the dogs and 2 managed by TP.

TP wont be burning bridges

He still manages Sam

He stuffed up by not going earlier with things