Hawthorn are not hunting for another premiership player-in-waiting from a rival club in the trade period this year, turning instead to players inside the club.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hawks football manager Chris Fagan said the club would be unlikely to do anything in this trade period due to a very tight salary cap – even after the retirements of Brian Lake and David Hale – and the need for younger players to be given their chance.
The Hawks' three premiership sides have been built on mining for players from other clubs to complement the drafted talent, but this year the Hawks will not be active in the trades.
"We won't be doing anything in the trade period this year, I would not have thought," Fagan said.
"We are tight in our cap and we are just looking at going to the draft, not bringing in players from others clubs.
"We have young players inside the club now that we just need to start playing, otherwise you run the risk of losing them.
"They start to get frustrated and other clubs are looking at them and asking the question. We have put time into those players and they have put time into the club and you need to play them, so I would not think we will be doing anything about bringing players in from other clubs."
Hawthorn are in negotiations with centre half-forward Ryan Schoenmakers over a new deal, having presented him a contract a month ago and then a revised offer after his impressive finals series.
The Hawks expect to re-sign him after he was able to hold his spot in the finals and be part of the premiership team. Essendon have joined Sydney and Fremantle in pursuing the versatile out-of-contract key-position player.
Even if players were to leave, Fagan suggested the club was looking to the draft, not an exchange of players.
Free agents Matthew Suckling and Brendan Whitecross are yet to re-sign and are looking at options to move.
Suckling was courted bythe Brisbane Lions mid-year but they withdrew interest, in part due to concern about diluting potential free agency compensation they would receive for Matthew Leuenberger.
Whitecross, who has overcome two knee injuries, played four senior games this year.
He is looking for more opportunities, whether that is at Hawthorn or elsewhere and has had interest from Brisbane.
