Hawthorn seem set to secure Jack Scrimshaw for 2019 in a trade with the Gold Coast Suns.
According to Foxfooty.com.au, the Hawks met with Scrimshaw sometime last week as the 20-year-old was back in Melbourne to see family and friends, and is preparing to be traded.
Scrimshaw was Gold Coast's pick No.7 in the 2016 national draft - a pick obtained by the club through the Dion Prestia's trade to Richmond.
Even before debuting for the Suns, Scrimshaw was one of four other players to sign on with the club until 2020, meaning the Hawks will need to whip something up in order to get the trade.
It's believed Carlton also showed interest in the left-footer, but ultimately Scrimshaw's preference is to play for the Hawks in 2019.
Speaking at the TAB Spring Racing Carnival launch on Tuesday, Scrimshaw's manager Robbie D’Orazio said the Suns are resigned to losing him.
“Jack’s another one that’s contracted for the next two years,” D’Orazio said.
“He’s an extreme talent, (but) just probably hasn’t fitted in at Gold Coast Suns.
"Not everyone can just move out of home at 18 and just make it work.
“We’re talking to Jack at the moment and Gold Coast and if we can get him home we’ll try.”
Scrimshaw suffered a fractured cheekbone back in April which hampered his 2018 campaign, but finished strongly in the NEAFL season having 31 disposals in the last game.
He managed 14 games in the reserve grade side but couldn't force his way into coach Stuart Dew's senior team.
The club’s head of football Jon Haines spoke to the Gold Coast Bulletin saying his form wasn't quite consistent enough to make it in the first grade team.
“We all know he has absolutely got AFL qualities in the way he reads the game and particularly with his delivery and so forth but what he has been working on at the moment is that consistency both in games and week-to-week,” Haines said.
“Certainly his ability to read the play and intercept along with his capacity to use the ball really smartly by hand and foot are certainly his strengths.
“It’s not an unusual phase for an emerging 19-year-old to go through. We are really confident he will get there.
“He just needs to keep working at it and our coaches need to keep working with him which they will."