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.

 

[Yardie]

I would be keeping Seamus Mitchell

I've been wondering if he could play wing.

 

[sinkintins]

We're blessed in that we've got 5-6 who could really have a big say on 2026 for us.

Weddle
Dear
Watson
MacKenzie
Butler
Ward

What happens if they all have career best years?

Reeves a watch as well.

 

[HairyO]

Couldnt agree more

I know this is an unpopular opinion but trade period should be the entire summer period, open early to mid October until preseason

This forcing trades over a 1.5 weeks is farmer league BS

No matter how long trade period is, most trades will happen in the last 2 days.

Also, how do you have the draft if clubs are still trading players and picks ?

 

[Kuuz]

Missed on Reid, Petracca, Merrett. We’ve had a shocker of a trade period. Granted, many of the outcomes were out of our hands but there must be some accountability. In MM we trust, yes but not blindly anymore.

“I tried to work it out with my gf and even though she stabbed me with a fork, it really is my fault for trying”

MM gave it as good a crack as you can. If we offered more like a “good player” or a 4th F1, that is just dumb.

Kinda excited - there is nothing stopping someone stepping into the mid spot left by Worps. It’s there for the taking - can’t wait to see who it is.

Good thing is we have plenty in HH, French, Butler and even a shift from Moore or the raw Beast from the East to stake a claim at it

 

[5minutes_of_Dew]

We're blessed in that we've got 5-6 who could really have a big say on 2026 for us.

Weddle
Dear
Watson
MacKenzie
Butler
Ward

What happens if they all have career best years?

100%

I'm a HUGE Dear fan, even in his first year I was telling my mates that he straightens our attack up so much.

If Dear can stay healthy all year, we are so much more dangerous. His aerial ability is absolutely fantastic and I love the relationship he and gunners have formed.

 

[Elhawko]

Missed on Reid, Petracca, Merrett. We’ve had a shocker of a trade period. Granted, many of the outcomes were out of our hands but there must be some accountability. In MM we trust, yes but not blindly anymore.

It didn't turn out well but really I'm not sure if MM could have done much more. We threw a lot at Reid by all accounts and it wasn't enough. We can be sure we weren't the only ones who had a swing and a miss there. Petracca would have been hard to secure over GC because they can throw first round picks at any trade and know southern teams won't be able to match them. They gave up pick 6,7 and the future first to get him and despite that they will still get a top five player from this years draft due to their academy concessions. We can't compete with that. And that leaves Merrett, who wasn't even on the table until we at least tried to open up a negotiation. Didn't work out but it wouldn't have even been a chance if we hadn't asked. I'm glad we never agreed to the exorbitant price the Bombers were asking.

We have been a bit stiff in that no gun mids have been out of contract and looking to move in recent years except Smith, and I don't regret not having that f'wit in our squad.

If we let Worps go without a fight because we were over-confident re Merrett then that is a bad mistake, even if Worps isn't the A-grader we need.

But the real issue for us is that the football department thought it was worth giving up what is more or less three first round picks for a 30 year old mid. I reckon that says a bit about their confidence in our existing stocks. Ideally we'd be using those draft picks to select/trade in replacements for Amon and Jars now, so we can groom them to take over in two or three years when Amon and Impey are maybe getting a bit slower. That our coach/list manager is so concerned about our midfield stocks that he'd sell the farm for a 30 year old is my biggest concern.

Having said that maybe this year MM will find a young gun in the draft who solves our midfield woes and in that case, we'll actually be better off for missing out on Merrett.

 

[Dont_be_a_Plonka]

My lord that video was atrocious. Felt bad for Harry being stuck with that clown.

As other posters have mentioned, most of the players (and coaches) could not stand Ryan Burton. FIGJAM of the highest order.

The cringe factor in that video outdoes anything Ricky Gervais has ever made.

 

[Dewnior]

Please spare a thought for MazHawk who took one for the team without reward.

 

[Dewnior]

When they come asking to trade for it: ‘Five first rounders’

 

[The Seaword]

Having a backup ruckman in #7 just does not feel right to me. Ward feels like a good match for #7.

But maybe I'm a bit brainwashed by how Soccer teams dish out numbers.

Moore would be a good candidate for #5.

Calsh to 13?

 

[tommyk72]

Maybe Welsh was never going to sign off on the deal. But Rosa and co. did, and everyone thought it was going to go through - until Welsh stepped in.

I fully agree. That's exactly what I said in my post. Not sure if you're reiterating or trying to say something different?

 

[play2win]

It didn't turn out well but really I'm not sure if MM could have done much more. We threw a lot at Reid by all accounts and it wasn't enough. We can be sure we weren't the only ones who had a swing and a miss there. Petracca would have been hard to secure over GC because they can throw first round picks at any trade and know southern teams won't be able to match them. They gave up pick 6,7 and the future first to get him and despite that they will still get a top five player from this years draft due to their academy concessions. We can't compete with that. And that leaves Merrett, who wasn't even on the table until we at least tried to open up a negotiation. Didn't work out but it wouldn't have even been a chance if we hadn't asked. I'm glad we never agreed to the exorbitant price the Bombers were asking.

We have been a bit stiff in that no gun mids have been out of contract and looking to move in recent years except Smith, and I don't regret not having that f'wit in our squad.

If we let Worps go without a fight because we were over-confident re Merrett then that is a bad mistake, even if Worps isn't the A-grader we need.

But the real issue for us is that the football department thought it was worth giving up what is more or less three first round picks for a 30 year old mid. I reckon that says a bit about their confidence in our existing stocks. Ideally we'd be using those draft picks to select/trade in replacements for Amon and Jars now, so we can groom them to take over in two or three years when Amon and Impey are maybe getting a bit slower. That our coach/list manager is so concerned about our midfield stocks that he'd sell the farm for a 30 year old is my biggest concern.

Having said that maybe this year MM will find a young gun in the draft who solves our midfield woes and in that case, we'll actually be better off for missing out on Merrett.

Yeah I’m thinking they have planned for this outcome anyways (maybe accidentally?). When was Merrett a chance, the timing of this is relevant? No doubt the list management team have been keeping an eye on this draft over the year. And the picks we have ended up with are fortuitous when the talent pool is very even in the top 25-30, we could pick up a steal with our first two picks. So I don’t think trading into these picks was reckless, whilst the internal view may think the organic growth of this list may suffice, why would they only rely on this outcome? This essentially was the fall back with having a crack at Merrett.

Realistically ward/cam may need another 1-3 years to become hardened and consistently reliable mids, so maybe the thinking was Merrett would get us in the frame faster than waiting for the collective development of our youth (weddle, Watson, dear, croc etc.) and hence worth trading out of the next 1-2 years.

imo the list we have isn’t peaking next year, but in the years thereafter. Having said that, I don’t rule out our chances in the next 1-2 years but we are somewhat relying on internal growth and how quickly that manifests.

 

[Hawk88]

No matter how long trade period is, most trades will happen in the last 2 days.

Also, how do you have the draft if clubs are still trading players and picks ?

The same way the yanks do it

 

[cyrilsez]

We're blessed in that we've got 5-6 who could really have a big say on 2026 for us.

Weddle
Dear
Watson
MacKenzie
Butler
Ward

What happens if they all have career best years?

Number 14 sounds about right!

 

[Hawks_Footy]

3 x 1st round picks was bordering on irresponsible but we'd come so far we probably had to put it on the line.. short term pain for longer term gain..

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

3 x 1st round picks was bordering on irresponsible but we'd come so far we probably had to put it on the line.. short term pain for longer term gain..

If we can manage to pull Hollands, that will go a long way to easing the pain. I rate him so high, and we have the environment for him to thrive

 

[Hawks_Footy]

If we can manage to pull Hollands, that will go a long way to easing the pain. I rate him so high, and we have the environment for him to thrive

I'd rather we didn't, 2 clubs have let go a high talent that says something

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

I'd rather we didn't, 2 clubs have let go a high talent that says something

We are not them and third time is a charm.

 

[DearJai]

I've been wondering if he could play wing.

Played HF and wing as a Junior I think.

Was considered to be on the path to becoming an attacking midfielder.

 

[bigmaxi]

Played HF and wing as a Junior I think.

Was considered to be on the path to becoming an attacking midfielder.

Here he is.
Mitchell is an interesting prospect in this year's AFL draft, providing clubs with the potential for a high-upside small-medium forward who has scope to progress into the midfield. He has a penetrating kick to go with those athletic traits, and has the footy smarts to use the ball well inside and outside the forward 50. His creativity is largely his greatest weapon with ball-in-hand, which lends itself to his footy smarts.

Looking at his ability with ball-in-hand, Mitchell has a short, sharp, penetrating kick that is highly effective when piercing through opposition zones looking for a target inside 50. When he has the ball, he can set plays up and given his burst speed - recording 2.88 seconds on the 20m sprint at the Victorian Draft Combine showing that off - he can also escape the clutches of opposition players.

He has similar top-end athletic traits with his vertical leap - 91cm running - and his agility as other features that stand out. Basically as good as he can be with ball-in-hand, his athletic traits are what make him eye-catching on the field. He is not a huge natural ball-winner, though it has to be said he played purely as a forward last season in his bottom-age year with the hope of pushing up and spending more time on a wing in 2020. Whilst that did not happen, and he does need to add that string of midfield ability to his bow, Mitchell has shown enough to suggest he could easily be that forward at the top level.

 

[LRobbo]

Moving on from ZM…. Until next trade period!

We are going to have unearth a young player or two next year.
Didn’t have a debutant in 2025, now it’s not like we’re Collingwood and have an absolute gaping chasm in young talent, they are a mess list wise but we are going to need to expose some players to senior footy in 2026

Ryan, Mraz and potentially McCabe should all be pushing for senior selection and played at some point you’d hope in 2026 with one at least hopefully breaking into the senior team permanently

 

[QuietB]

Are there any Cyrils hiding in this draft that might get to pick 10?

The more I think about it the more I think Hawthorn should target small forwards - at least with pick 22.

Wiz needs some help and it would allow Moore and Wiz more midfield time. Add natural improvement from Ward and Mackenzie and add Will Day and hopefully the Hawks midfield can be competitive.

 

[offtherails9]

Reeves a watch as well.

Do you think he will go past Meek? I can't see him getting a game

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Do you think he will go past Meek? I can't see him getting a game

Sounds like with the 5 on the bench, he will play.

 

[QuietB]

Do you think he will go past Meek? I can't see him getting a game

No. And I don't think teams will play two rucks next year either - they will simply play another mid.

Geelong just made a grand final not playing a ruck at all (I know they brought Stanley back for the GF and got smashed for it).

If you analyse the top 8 from this year there is not one marquee ruckman in any of the teams - at least not one earning anything close to $1m (ignoring Luke Jackson who may or may not be first ruck).