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.
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.
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