AFL podcast Hawks have left it too late to offload stars

October 8, 2021 â€" 8.55pm

In the latest trade special episode of the Real Footy podcast, Peter Ryan and Scott Spits assess the state of play on day five. After days of steady moves and developments, activity ground to a halt on Friday before a late deal which saw Callum Coleman-Jones go to North Melbourne and Robbie Tarrant find his way to Richmond. That sparked interest momentarily.

But plenty of the interest was centred on Hawthorn and the prospect of one or more of their experienced players being put up for trade.

Peter Ryan, however, put the situation in perspective.

“The general perception at the moment, which is reasonable, is that those four players â€" Tom Mitchell, Chad Wingard, Jaeger O’Meara, Jack Gunston â€" could be all, I suppose, saleable,” he said.

“They’re all veterans â€" or at least 26, 27 [years of age], they could probably command a reasonable pick at the draft table. The Hawks are looking to get in as many high draft picks as they can. That’s the collateral that they would potentially use.

“But the sense that they’re going to leave is a little bit over-stated. Jeff Kennett’s email to members where he said things might happen which players and supporters are unhappy with â€" probably created a little [bit more] hysteria than is really reality.

“The reality is they haven’t really discussed â€" the Hawks that is â€" haven’t really discussed players going elsewhere with other clubs. They’ve left it too late. Clubs have got tight salary caps so they haven’t exactly got spare money to take in these players.”

Plus, the latest on Brisbane’s interest in Darcy Fort, an update on Fremantle’s Rory Lobb and, in arguably the story of the day, Geelong’s move to re-sign coach Chris Scott for two more years.

Got a trade question? Send it through to realfootypod@theage.com.au by 4pm AEDT for the chance to have it answered on air.

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