Hawthorn has their sights set on a new “number one trade target” five months after missing out on Bombers star Zach Merrett, according to Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph.
Speaking on the Midweek Tackle, Ralph reports the Hawks mission is simple: “Get Bailey home”.
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Referring to Suns star Bailey Humphrey, who is contracted at the Gold Coast until the end of 2028, it is believed the Hawks loom large for a potential return to Victoria.
“Hawthorn has established him as their very-much number one target,” Ralph said.
“It was Zach Merrett last year … not saying they’ve traded him in for the younger model, but when Jarryd Roughead was the club’s pro-scout – having now moved to Adelaide, his number one priority: Get Bailey home.”
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Humphrey considered a move back to Victoria last year, with his manager reporting “most” Melbourne clubs had reached out.
But the Suns took a firm no-trade stance, describing it as a “line in the sand” for contracted players, and no deal was done.
“Now Sam Mitchell met with him across the trade period as other clubs did as well – he was texting him through that period,” Ralph said of Humphrey on Tuesday night.
“Bailey is very much saying ‘I want to concentrate on playing football and I want to try and settle into this town before I make a decision in the back half of the season about whether I come back after the aborted trade of last year’.”
“He has a Victorian girlfriend who has very strong connections – I think both the parents and also a sister in Queensland which would help.
“But Melbourne, Collingwood, Hawthorn and many others will ramp up their chase. We watch this space.”
Humphrey will be hoping to put his best foot forward on the field after serving his two-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Tiger Maurice Rioli Jnr – with the ban upheld at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night.
“At least Bailey is trying to do the right thing. Suspended for a couple of weeks doesn’t help him, (but) play his best football and then potentially see whether it’s a long-term future (at the Suns),” Ralph said.
“Damien Hardwick is very keen – (saying) ‘you are not effing leaving’, so it’s going to take a lot to drag him out.”
LIONS ‘GENUINE ANGER’ OVER BIG MONEY DEAL
Brisbane are set to face an uphill battle to keep two-time premiership star Zac Bailey amid claims of anger within the club over exactly how much the free agent could demand per season.
Amid reports Adelaide are prepared to offer Bailey a seven-year deal, reportedly worth around $10 million, AFL journalist Caroline Wilson believes the contract talks could fracture the Lions.
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“The senior leaders on and off field at the Brisbane Football Club are not prepared to have a player at their football club earning $1.6 million in Zac Bailey,” she said on 7’s The Agenda Setters.
“They just think it’s going to upset the apple cart.”
The rumours come at a time many of Brisbane’s leaders have sacrificed dollars for unity – opting to sign long-term deals to keep the core together.
Hugh McCluggage is signed until 2031, while Josh Dunkley (2030) and Harris Andrews (2029) are also locked away.
Wilson says Lions coach Chris Fagan “knows he’s going to struggle” to match big money offers for Bailey.
Fagan has already been vocal in his disappointment in St Kilda for their massive money offers for Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (on a reported $2m per year) and Tom De Koning (at a reported $1.7m).
“There is genuine anger, not only from the Brisbane Football Club but specifically the Brisbane Football Club because of what St Kilda have done to inflate the market,” Wilson reported.
Just last month is was reported Brisbane had tabled a six-year deal for Bailey, who comes out of contract at the end of the season.
The former first round draft pick is tipped to receive offers over $1.3m per year when he hits free agency.
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