Another golden era? How Hawks are about to get even better in scary AFL reality

Hawthorn was the AFL’s biggest riser (and just about the biggest story) in 2024.

And in a scary prospect for the rest of the competition, they’re about to get even better.

The Hawks in next month’s trade and free agency window are set bolster their defence with key pillars Tom Barrass and Josh Battle. Even just getting one would’ve been huge for the only real position Sam Mitchell’s side is currently wanting.

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The duo would’ve been handy in last weekend’s narrow semi-final loss to Port Adelaide given Hawthorn was without experienced defender Sam Frost, leaving its already undersized defence further undermanned.

It’s impossible to know how it might’ve changed their prospects, but they’ll clearly help moving forward and free up James Sicily and Jack Scrimshaw more.

The beauty of the Battle addition is that, as a free agent, he’ll cost nothing in a trade sense. The 26-year old does come at a steep price though, reportedly crossing on a six-year deal worth around $900,000.

As Battle is an unrestricted free agent, St Kilda can’t match the deal, though the club is reportedly confident of getting a first-round pick as compensation (not that it affects Hawthorn in any way).

The Barrass deal is more complex.

West Coast is reportedly set to ask for two first-round picks from Hawthorn in a hefty asking price for a player about to turn 29 years of age.

Barrass is contracted until 2027 and a known quantity as one of the premier key defenders in the competition. So you can understand why the Eagles wouldn’t let him go cheap, even if they’re in a rebuild and prioritising bringing in draft picks and their long-term future.

Hawthorn’s rise this season has also hurt it from a negotiation standpoint with the way its first-round pick has gradually moved back. Currently the No. 13 selection, that could move even back to the late teens following father-son and academy picks plus free agency compensation (including their own bid for Battle).

Most would acknowledge a pick in the 15 to 20 range is unders for Barrass. And if the Hawks continue to improve next year, their 2025 first-round pick mightn’t be much better, if at all.

And so the most likely outcome is Hawthorn gives up two first-round picks and gets a second rounder back from West Coast. It’d effectively mean the Hawks would give up a first-round pick and move back a few spots with their second pick — given the difference between Hawthorn’s first rounder and West Coast’s second rounder shouldn’t be drastic.

Of course, if push came to shove, West Coast could say no to Hawthorn and hold Barrass to his contract, so it’s largely on the Hawks to get it and ensure they get their man.

But Hawthorn should and almost certainly will make sure that happens given the finite opportunity to add one of the best key defenders and interceptors in the game to give it a major upgrade.

It’s a position that’s largely been slated for Denver Grainger-Barras, who’s currently without a contract for 2025 and from Western Australia. The former Pick 6 hasn’t quite kicked on as Hawthorn would’ve hoped including injuries effectively wiping his 2024 campaign.

At just 22 years of age, Grainger-Barras like James Blanck (23), fits Hawthorn’s long-term timeline. And given how valuable key defenders are, the Hawks would want retain the Grainger-Barras.

But Grainger-Barras could also see the writing on the wall with Battle and Barrass coming across and seek a move the other way and return to his home state for more opportunities at West Coast. Maybe one to watch.

Hawthorn’s off-season plans has similarities to when the club added Josh Gibson and Brian Lake all those years ago and when Melbourne acquired Jake Lever and Steven May – key defensive duos coups that really completed those premiership-winning lists.

Gibson (joined Hawthorn in 2010) and Lake (joined 2013) were more staggered than Lever (joined Melbourne in 2018) and May (joined in 2019), but they’re similar in principle in the way they straightened those sides up and took them to another level defensively.

Both Gibson and Lake were a part of — and integral to — all three of Hawthorn’s three-peat of flags from 2013 to 2015, while Lever and May were of course crucial to Melbourne saluting in 2021.

Could Sam Mitchell’s Hawks be on the same path?

The Hawks needing to simply round out their list is quite extraordinary considering the young age profile of it – a profile closer to a rebuilding side than a contender.

It’s a list that didn’t look nearly as good this time last year, but a combination of development and smart recruiting really set things up and has the Hawks arguably better positioned than any side.

Even if Hawthorn had no clear AFL caliber midfielders when it sensationally off-loaded Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara at the end of 2022, there was a myriad of options – most of which have flourished with more opportunities – which was clearly the long-term strategy for Sam Mitchell’s engine room.

As Conor Nash told foxfooty.com.au last week, there was around 10 Hawks in the mix to play inside mid going into the 2023 season. That would’ve included the likes of the Nash, Will Day, Jai Newcombe, James Worpel, Cooper Stephens and Finn Maginness, while the club has also invested in on-ballers in the national draft in recent years by bringing in Josh Ward (Pick 7 in 2021) and Cam Mackenzie (Pick 8 in 2022) with early picks as well as Henry Hustwaite.

The Hawks only needed some of the aforementioned names to emerge, but multiple have, in an area of the ground they’re now settled and should only get better and better.

Even looking ahead to next year, expect the likes of Mackenzie and Ward to get more inside mid opportunities, while Day is primed to reach another level if he can stay injury free.

They also recruited Lloyd Meek, Karl Amon and Massimo D’Ambrosio to fill out their ruck and wing spots respectively – moves that cost the Hawks very little in a trade sense – and crucially cleared salary cap space in recent years to set themselves up for right now.

The forward line is just about Hawthorn’s most stacked area after last year’s trade and draft moves saw it add Mabior Chol, Jack Ginnivan, Jack Gunston, Nick Watson and Calsher Dear to a suddenly potent mix.

They still have a Coleman medallist calibre forward in Mitch Lewis to come back too to further strengthen that attack and spearhead its future.

Put it all together and the one area they’ve needed to fill is that key defensive spot. And after missing out on the likes of Ben McKay and Esava Ratugolea last year, they’re now set for a double boost.

Don’t discount what other moves the Hawks could make down the track either now it’s a clear destination club again.

As cliche as it sounds, all the pieces of the puzzle are coming together. Hawthorn fans have been blessed with seeing multiple golden eras … and another one could be loading.