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Hawthorn’s Ambitious Move Unveiling Their Strategy to Land ‘A-Grade’ Talent in Next AFL Trade Season
Hawthorn is unveiling their strategy for the 2024 trade and free agency period, appointing returned premiership hero Jarryd Roughead to attract top-tier talent to the brown and gold. Roughead, a four-time premiership player, Coleman Medal winner, and two-time All-Australian, rejoined Hawthorn in January after coaching at St Kilda for four years.
His unexpected departure from the Saints in the preseason has sparked speculation of a significant move back to Hawthorn, leveraging his revered status both within the club and across the AFL. Known for his resilience in overcoming cancer and admired league-wide, Roughead is now tasked with enticing “A-grade” stars to bolster Hawthorn’s rebuilding efforts, as reported by News Corp.
Since acquiring Jaeger O’Meara from Gold Coast in 2016, Hawthorn has struggled to secure another high-profile free agent, with their unsuccessful pursuits of Esava Ratugolea, Ben McKay, and Bailey Smith last offseason serving as reminders. However, the upcoming 2024 season presents a promising opportunity, with notable players like Errol Gulden, Hugh McCluggage, Liam Baker, Cameron Zurhaar, Tim English, and Bailey Smith yet to commit to their current clubs.
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Hawthorn is expected to renew their pursuit of Bailey Smith, who has not yet signed a reported two-year offer from the Bulldogs, and may target Zurhaar to complement Mitch Lewis in the forward line, particularly with Jamarra Ugle-Hagan intending to stay at the Western Bulldogs.
While All-Australian ruckman Tim English seems unlikely to be a target due to his ties to Western Australia, reports suggest Roughead’s role may include incentives for securing major signings, making any successful recruitment a significant achievement for the club.
As Hawthorn prepares for their Easter Monday clash against Geelong with a potential 0-3 start highlighting their bottom-four potential, the prospect of strengthening their list with a high-profile draft selection looms large.