In a surprise move that has upended the AFL trade period, Hawthorn has traded their prized No. 14 pick to Carlton in exchange for a future first and second-round pick.
The trade, finalised on Friday, has left the Hawthorn-West Coast deal for star defender Tom Barrass in jeopardy and opened doors for Fremantle to make a play for Richmond's Liam Baker, further complicating the already bustling trade landscape.
Hawthorn's initial pursuit of Barrass had centred around offering their No. 14 pick alongside a future second-rounder, which they believed to be fair compensation for the Eagles' star defender.
West Coast, however, held out, reportedly hoping for a more substantial offer that included additional picks. Frustrated by the prolonged negotiations, Hawthorn ultimately opted to move forward with Carlton, trading away pick 14 to increase its draft capital for future seasons.
“We were always open to seeing what the market was for our first-round pick this year, and to be able to increase our draft assets as a result of this trade is a great outcome,” said Hawthorn National Recruiting and List Manager Mark McKenzie.
With this trade, Hawthorn's chance of securing Barrass, who has been eager to join Hawthorn under coach Sam Mitchell, has become far less certain.
Eagles coach Andrew McQualter acknowledged Barrass's importance to West Coast and the club's determination to retain him unless adequately compensated. “He's a very good player, and he's still contracted with us,” McQualter told SEN on Friday. “If it doesn't get done, we're rapt to keep him... If that falls that way, I'm happy still.”
Carlton's acquisition of pick 14 now puts the Blues in a strong position to pursue Port Adelaide's Dan Houston, adding to their roster's depth as they head into the draft with both picks 12 and 14.
This development could give Carlton significant leverage in crafting an attractive package for Houston, who has emerged as one of the most sought-after defenders this trade season.
Meanwhile, Richmond's Liam Baker, who had been tipped to land at West Coast as part of a complex trade involving Barrass, is now considering Fremantle. The Dockers may leverage picks 10 or 11, possibly sweetened with pick 18, to lure Baker back to his home state of Western Australia.
Richmond reportedly remains open to the idea, provided the picks involved meet their requirements, with sources indicating that Baker would welcome the move if West Coast fails to secure him.
This unexpected series of moves showcases the unpredictable nature of the AFL trade period, with several clubs now recalibrating strategies to lock in their target players.