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Could two Hawthorn veterans be out the door?
And are West Coast prepared to swoop on a Suns rising star – or at the very least force Adelaide’s hand?
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HAWKS DUO A ‘WATCH THIS SPACE’
Hawthorn could lose both Jack Gunston and Luke Breust for 2023, according to the AFL trade whispers.
AFL Media’s Callum Twomey says Breust is “open to opportunities” this trade period, despite being contracted for another season.
“There’s a real watch this space on the Hawks star,” Twomey said.
“Rivals are aware he is keen to extend his AFL career beyond 2023. That could mean there are clubs who are willing to look at him during this trade period.
“I think he’d be open to the opportunities that’d be put to him over this year trade period. This is a really interesting watch on Breust and Hawthorn’s side of things.
“I think other clubs will come knocking this time around.”
Breust famously knocked back interest from GWS last trade period on deadline day.
Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said earlier this year he was glad Breust opted to stay given the experience he brought to the squad.
“I don’t see any slowing down in him,” Mitchell said on SEN last month.
“His form across the course of the season has been really strong and we’re really pleased with what he does off the field.
“He’s a fantastic mentor for some of our younger players.
“When a guy like Sam Butler turns up to the club, he has no idea how to kick a left-foot snap. You would’ve seen a Will Day left-foot snap last week. All of that comes from a Luke Breust coaching session.
“He’s a fantastic person.”
Former Fremantle great Paul Hasleby says Jack Gunston is a player the Dockers should be considering at the end of the season.
Gunston has played 224 AFL games for Adelaide and the Hawks, kicking 426 goals.
He’s out of contract at the end of this season and remains an unrestricted free agent – something that should appeal to Freo, according to Hasleby.
“He’s the missing piece for Fremantle taking their game from sixth to having a real crack next year at the premiership,” he said.
“Look in the absence of another player, and ideally he’s probably not the right guy for them, you’d love to pick somebody up that’s 24 or 25 coming into the prime of their career that’s a bit taller.
“But in the absence of that player and the fact he’s unrestricted, I think that makes it more attractive for the Fremantle Dockers.”
DO THE CROWS DO ANOTHER DAWSON OR CAN EAGLES SWOOP ON RISING SUN?
Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew this week admitted Izak Rankine had a big decision to make on his future, with the Crows reportedly offering big money to bring the 22-year-old home to South Australia.
Journalist Michelangelo Rucci says he has “no doubt” Rankine will play for Adelaide next season.
“It’ll be a first-round draft pick and Matt Crouch, or walk Izak Rankine through the pre-season draft. It’s exactly the Jordan Dawson moment all over again,” Rucci said.
But could West Coast simply be waiting in the wings?
Rucci said the Eagles are sitting pretty waiting for the Rankine call to be made.
They have the second pick in the pre-season draft, should Rankine decide to depart the Suns and a deal fail to stick with Adelaide.
“The trade has to be done, Gold Coast are going to demand a fair bit,” Rucci said on SEN.
“Who’s going to have the number one pick in the pre-season draft? North Melbourne, but you don’t expect them to go down that path. Number two is West Coast.
“I’m hearing West Coast are quite prepared to call Rankine’s name in the pre-season draft if they have to.
“They (Crows) have to do the deal.”
It’s believed the Suns are offering Rankine around $650,000 per season to stay.
But that’s well below the reported $800,000 per season from the Suns.
Rankine is the biggest name out of contract at the Gold Coast, after four seasons at the club.
He’s played 48 games and kicked 57 goals for the club since being snapped up with pick three back in 2018.
Rucci also said by holding onto one first round draft pick, the Jason Horne-Francis deal is still a possibility.
“They go to North Melbourne and say, ‘well you know what Jason Horne-Francis is going to do at the end of the year. He’s not going to be here. Here’s your chance to do a deal now or we’ll walk him next year’.
“Has Jason Horne-Francis burnt too many bridges at North Melbourne?”
IS HENRY HOLDING OUT AT COLLINGWOOD?
Geelong product Oliver Henry remains without a new deal for 2023 and beyond.
Henry, who was snapped up with pick 17 in the 2020 Draft, has managed 24 games in two seasons, kicking 28 goals.
But he’s “fallen out of favour” since the Round 18 win over Adelaide and now sits down in the pecking order, with Lion’s forward Dan McStay also likely to push him further down with his expected arrival.
SEN’s Sam Edmund says Henry remains “a watch” for off-season movement.
“Twenty year old promising forward, fallen out of favour late in the season where he also falls out of contract,” he said.
“Dan McStay coming in, (GWS’) Bobby Hill too very likely, (Mid-Season recruit) Ash Johnson stepping up, (Jack) Ginnivan and (Beau) McCreey playing senior footy not on big bucks.
“It’s a great option for the Pies but it makes for a bit of dilemma for Henry who is highly, highly rated by the Magpies faithful.
“An offer has been made and a counter offer has been given in response.
“The Pies have some cap concerns – or at least a desire to open up some space hence the Brodie Grundy situation. Nothing urgent at this stage but he remains a watch.”
THE RIVAL PLAYERS WEST COAST SHOULD SET SIGHTS ON
Ex-Docker Paul Hasleby says West Coast should be looking across town to help their squad woes, with two Fremantle foes “fitting the bill”.
Dockers defender/forward swingman Griffin Logue is in demand on the east coast, with the Western Bulldogs and reportedly Essendon showing interest.
Logue was forced to bide his time in the WAFL to start season 2022, before cementing himself in the line up due to his versatility to play back, forward and at times in the ruck.
Logue is out of contract at the end of this season, but remains a non-free agent.
Hasleby said the Eagles could be interested if he did slide to the pre-season draft.
“Could they get access to him cheaper because of the pre-season draft selection that they may have?” he said on SEN.
“If he’s uncontracted and Fremantle can’t do a deal, they could either pick him with their first selection in the pre season draft or use that as leverage to get him at a cheaper trade value price? Talking about 30s onwards.
“He fits the bill a bit at the West Coast Eagles because of the fact they’ve had a lot of issues with those small forwards from other clubs. He can do that alongside (Jeremy) McGovern, and alongside (Tom) Barrass.
“If you did get Logue, I don’t think you’d need to keep going ahead with Shannon Hurn – which is a tough call.”
The other player Hasleby said West Coast should approach is ruckman Lloyd Meek.
Meek remains anchored in the WAFL as Sean Darcy dominates and Rory Lobb or Logue serve as his back up.
Given Fremantle’s reported interest in Melbourne’s Luke Jackson, Meek is set to be pushed even further down the pecking order should that deal go ahead.
“The West Coast Eagles should be targeting Lloyd Meek. He had 40 hitouts on the weekend and he’s now improved. He’s a big man, he’s got big guns. He can get around the ground and take marks,” Hasleby praised.
“Knowing that he’s going to be the number one, you’ve got one more year.”
The Eagles are looking for a replacement for veteran Nic Naitanui who is coming to the end of his career. They’ve played Bailey Williams this year with little success along with young Callum Jamieson.
Tim English turned his back on a return home to WA to remain with the Bulldogs earlier this year and Jackson is reportedly the focus of the Dockers should he depart the Demons.
Meek still has another year to run on his deal at the Dockers.
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