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Jack Gunston’s trade request back to Hawthorn – one year after leaving for Brisbane – blindsided the Hawks and is no certainty to eventuate.
Gunston, who is holidaying overseas, including playing golf in the United States with Hawthorn captain James Sicily and Lions teammate Charlie Cameron, has not spoken to the Hawks about his intention to return.
It is almost an unprecedented move in that sense, and remains shrouded in mystery, especially with Hawthorn indicating that trade targets Mabior Chol and Massimo D’Ambrosio are still their priorities.
Jack Gunston in his Hawthorn days … playing for them in 2022.Credit: Getty Images
Gold Coast remain firm on wanting a future second-round pick in return for Chol, which the Hawks are baulking at to date.
Gunston’s high-profile agent, Tom Petroro, had dialogue with the Hawks recently – alerting them he might want to return to Victoria – and since the trade request became public, a source familiar with the situation told The Age.
This masthead was aware in recent weeks that Gunston was weighing up a return to Victoria, but the situation accelerated in the past few days.
There is a theory Gunston’s trade request could also be about attracting the interest of fellow Victorian clubs, such as Melbourne and Richmond, where ex-Hawthorn assistant Adem Yze is now in charge.
The Demons previously expressed interest in the 32-year-old, who played in the Hawks’ 2013-15 flag three-peat and kicked 410 goals in 211 games.
Gunston kicked 22 goals in 17 games for the Lions this past season, but fell out of favour mid-year and embarked on a mini-pre-season before reclaiming his spot.
A knee injury sidelined him late in the season, and he was unable to force his way into Chris Fagan’s senior side despite being declared available ahead of the preliminary final.
Brisbane have acknowledged Gunston’s trade request, but are “assessing its position”, given he is contracted until the end of next season.
The Lions agreed to trade ruck-forward Tom Fullarton to Melbourne for pick 47, and he will effectively replace Brodie Grundy, who was brought in a year ago to fill Luke Jackson’s void.
The Demons are also trying to trade for Adelaide’s Shane McAdam, but the Crows have not accepted their offer of a future second-round selection.
Bombers complete three-piece
Essendon will turn their focus to brokering a deal for Xavier Duursma after completing a free agency hat-trick with Jade Gresham’s signing on Friday.
The Bombers already secured ex-North Melbourne pair Ben McKay and Todd Goldstein via free agency before adding Gresham to their haul, after an elongated process designed to secure St Kilda an end-of-first-round compensation pick (No.21).
The Saints’ acting general manager of football, David Misson, warned they would have considered matching Essendon’s offer if it did not trigger that level of compensation.
Saint-turned-Bomber: Jade Gresham has gone to Essendon.Credit: Getty Images
“I’m super excited to be joining a massive club like Essendon [and] to see what this group can achieve in the future,” Gresham said.
“I believe we can do something special, and I’m happy to be a part of the journey ahead. I can’t wait to meet everyone at the club, get stuck into pre-season, and get to work for a massive 2024.”
St Kilda have indicated they are not willing to part with their newly acquired pick 21 in an exchange for Fremantle’s Liam Henry, who is seeking a trade to the Saints.
A source familiar with St Kilda’s position, who was not authorised to speak on the record, said the Saints did not want to use their first pick, No.13 or the Gresham compensation selection, in a trade for Henry, because of their wish to invest in the draft.
But they have a full suite of future selections, which can be used. Many clubs prefer future picks in this year’s trades because of a widespread view that the 2024 draft offers better depth of talent than this year’s shallow draft.
Western Bulldogs have offered St Kilda a future fourth-round pick for Nick Coffield, with an expectation that more progress would be made in discussions next week, according to a source familiar with those talks.
Meanwhile, Duursma, who is contracted for one more season at Port Adelaide, is likely the only other player the Bombers will bring in before Wednesday night’s trade deadline.
That deal will almost certainly involve defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher going the other way, having already requested a trade to Alberton to be closer to family.
However, the key difference is Zerk-Thatcher is out of contract, so there is a chance Essendon may have to sweeten the deal with a draft pick – perhaps 31 or 52 this year – although they will try to avoid that scenario, like with Gresham.
The Bombers offered Zerk-Thatcher a three-year contract, the same length as the one he would accept at the Power.
Any agreement on the two players is trending towards a Wednesday night crescendo, with Power list boss Jason Cripps also juggling their pursuit of Geelong key defender Esava Ratugolea and Western Bulldogs ruckman Jordon Sweet.
The Cats rebuffed Port’s offer of pick 24, which is now 25 after Gresham’s move, while the Power are refusing to include ex-Geelong Grammar student Ollie Lord, grandson of the Cats’ 1962 Brownlow medallist Alistair Lord.
Another year for Hawkins
Geelong great Tom Hawkins will continue at the Cattery for an 18th season after agreeing to a new one-year contract.
Melbourne made an audacious play for Hawkins to try and bolster their own forward line, but the 35-year old, who will start next season on 347 matches, looks set to remain a one-club player.
The news was not so good for Bulldog Toby McLean, who will depart the Kennel after being informed he would not be offered a contract.
Back in the hoops for another season: Tom Hawkins.Credit: AFL Photos
Painting Arden St Pink
Glenelg premiership player and ex-Swan Toby Pink is officially a Kangaroo, inking a one-year deal on Friday as a delisted free agent to revive his AFL career.
The 194-centimetre defender averaged almost 11 disposals and three intercept marks in an excellent SANFL campaign this year, and projects as part of North Melbourne’s solution down back after Ben McKay’s departure.
Pink, 25, did not play an AFL game in his three seasons at Sydney, before being delisted at the end of 2019.
The Kangaroos will be short on tall defensive options entering next season, given Griffin Logue will also still be recovering from his ACL rupture.
Aidan Corr is North Melbourne’s most experienced defender, and may have to tackle the opposition’s No.1 forward, unless the likes of Pink and Kallan Dawson can step up.
Charlie Comben is also set to play down that end of the ground after starting his career as a strong-marking forward.
No home yet
Port Adelaide ruckman Scott Lycett’s future will not be determined before the free agency deadline – and may not be for some time.
The unrestricted free agent, 31, is free to sign elsewhere but it is unclear whether the Power, who have actively chased ruck recruits this year and already convinced Western Bulldogs big man Sweet to request a trade to them, are open to re-signing him.
They also made an unsuccessful play for Grundy before he chose Sydney, and are holding out hope Richmond will change their mind and agree to trade Ivan Soldo, who is contracted for 2024.
Collingwood, North Melbourne, Geelong, Western Bulldogs and St Kilda are among the ruck-needy clubs who have been in the market, although the Saints are set to sign Tom Campbell for another season as back up for Rowan Marshall.
Essendon considered Lycett before signing Kangaroos veteran Goldstein instead after Andrew Phillips’ retirement.
Lycett has played 146 games for West Coast and Port Adelaide, including a key role in the Eagles’ 2018 grand final victory over Collingwood.
If he does not return to Port Adelaide, he could be a delisted free agent option for other clubs, or nominate for the draft.
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