Hawthorn has arguably established itself as one of the leading clubs at the trade table during this century.
Throughout the last 20 years, the Hawks have swooped on several players who spent time at other clubs before moving to Waverley Park.
The info to know ahead of player movement season kick-off
Now with the 2021 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period just days away, here's our take on some of the best brown and gold trades in the 2000s.
Trent Croad – Traded for Pick 10 (2003)
Trent Croad started his football career with Hawthorn after being selected with Pick 3 in the 1997 AFL Draft. Despite some fan anguish, Croad was put on the trade table in 2001 and ended up at Fremantle, in exchange for picks one, 20 and 36 – Luke Hodge, Daniel Elstone and Sam Mitchell. Two years later, a homesick Croad was traded back to the Hawks for Pick 10. He made the most of his second stint in the club, adding 100 games, an All Australian selection, and a premiership to his name.
Shaun Burgoyne – Traded for Pick 9 + Pick 16 + Pick 97 + Nash (2009)
After nine seasons at Port Adelaide including a premiership in 2004, then Port vice-captain Shaun Burgoyne surprised the football world at the end of the 2009 season when he requested a trade after 157 games with the South Australian club. While his arrival to Hawthorn came at the helm of a complex four-team trade, the move well and truly paid off. The now-retired Burgoyne put together an outstanding career with the Hawks, winning another three premierships as he became a prolific figure of the brown and gold finishing with 407 career games to his name.
Josh Gibson – Traded for Pick 25 + Pick 41 (2009)
Selected with Pick 7 in the 2005 Rookie Draft, Josh Gibson notched up 65 games with North Melbourne before requesting a trade to the Hawks. Hawthorn saw potential in the defender and Gibson was exchanged for Picks 25 and 41. 160 games in the brown and gold, three premierships, two Peter Crimmins Medals and an All Australian selection later, Gibson remains as one of Hawthorn’s best bargains in trade history.
David Hale – Traded for Campbell Brown + Pick 71 (2010)
Having first been drafted to North Melbourne where he played 129 games over eight seasons, Hale was traded to Hawthorn in 2010. During his five seasons with the brown and gold, Hale notched up 108 games and proved a vital part of the club’s premiership three-peat from 2013 to 2015. Now the 37-year-old has returned to the Hawks as an assistant coach ahead of the 2022 season.
Jack Gunston – Traded for Pick 24 + Pick 46 + Pick 64 (2011)
After two seasons with Adelaide, Jack Gunston announced his desire to be traded back to his home state of Victoria at the end of the 2011 season. Following a prolonged negotiation process, Hawthorn landed Gunston, along with picks 53 and 71. Three flags, four grand final appearances, an All Australian selection and three of Hawthorn's goal kicking awards later it would be safe to say the decision was worth it.
Brian Lake – Traded for Pick 21 + Pick 43 (2012)
In a move to replenish their defence after their 2012 grand final loss, the Hawks targeted Western Bulldogs two-time All Australian defender Brian Lake to add to their list. Offloading picks 21 and 41, the Hawks received Lake and pick 27. Lake played three years as a Hawk, and his dream of winning a premiership was answered not only once, but three times within three years. His first AFL premiership came in 2013, with his impressive performance also landing him the Norm Smith Medal. He went on to win two more flags in 2014 and 2015, playing a pivotal role in Hawthorn's three-peat success.
Matthew Spangher – Traded for Pick 64 (2012)
One of the AFL’s most admired journeymen, Matthew Spangher struggled at his first two clubs, managing a combined 32 games across seven seasons. He was subsequently traded by Sydney for Hawthorn’s Pick 66 in the 2012 AFL Draft. After witnessing premierships at West Coast and the Swans, and being named an emergency for Hawthorn’s in 2013 flag win, Spangher finally tasted premiership success in 2014, forever etching his name into the hearts of Hawks supporters.
Ben McEvoy – Traded for Pick 18 + Pick 19 + Shane Savage (2013)
Selected with Pick 9 in the 2007 AFL Draft, Ben McEvoy shortly became St Kilda’s number one ruckman. However in 2013, the Saints were looking to rebuild their list, and 'Big Boy' was sent to Hawthorn in exchange for young midfielder Shane Savage. McEvoy quickly assumed the number one ruck post and was rewarded with two premiership medallions from his first two campaigns. Now eight seasons later in the brown and gold, McEvoy enjoyed his first year as the club’s captain in 2021.
Jaeger O'Meara – Traded for Pick 10 (2016)
After being recruited by Gold Coast in the 2011 Mini Draft, Jaeger O'Meara missed the entire 2015 and 2016 seasons due to a knee injury. At the end of 2016, he requested a trade and nominated Hawthorn as his preferred club. By 2018 his knee improved considerably, and he became an important fixture in the Hawks midfield. He was later named vice-captain ahead of the 2020 season, a title he again held in 2021. In arguably some career-best form this year, O'Meara averaged 26.3 disposals, 5.1 tackles, 4.1 marks per game and averaged the highest contested possessions (11.9) and clearances (6.2) for the Hawks.
Tom Mitchell – Traded for Pick 14 + Pick 52 (2016)
Drafted as a father/son selection to Sydney in 2011, Tom Mitchell surprised fans in 2016 when he requested a trade from the club - in which his father played 170 games. He was traded to Hawthorn for Pick 14 and in 2017, and went on to earn an All Australian recognition and the Peter Crimmins Medal that year. He backed that up in 2018 with another All Australian selection, another club best and fairest and was also named the Brownlow Medalist. After missing the entire 2019 season due to a broken leg, Mitchell returned to his hot form in 2021, landing his third Peter Crimmins Medal and finishing as the leading disposal-getter in the league for 2021 averaging 34.3 touches per game.
Jarman Impey - Traded for Picks 33 + Pick 61 + 2018 Round 4 Pick (2017)
Initially starting his career at Port Adelaide, Jarman Impey was traded to the Hawks during the 2017 trade period. The 26-year-old faced a ACL injury in late 2019, keeping him on the sidelines throughout remainder of the 2019 and most of the 2020 season. He returned to perform at an impressive level at the start of 2021, averaging 22.2 disposals and 5.4 marks per game during the first 14 rounds of the season before suffering another angle injury, ruling him out for the season. But at his best, the popular clubman is one of the Hawks’ quickest and most impactful players.
Jack Scrimshaw - Traded for 2019 Round 3 Pick (2018)
Jack Scrimshaw was drafted by Gold Coast with Pick 7 in the 2016 AFL Draft. After battling multiple injuries and struggling to break into the Suns' senior side, Scrimshaw requested a move to a Victorian-based club at the end of the 2018 season and was traded to Hawthorn. In his third year on the Hawks list, Scrimshaw had a break-out 2021 season averaging 20.6 disposals, and 6.4 marks per game – which was a team-high for the season.
Chad Wingard – Traded for Pick 15 + Pick 35 + 2019 Round 4 Pick (Western Bulldogs) + Ryan Burton (2018)
Drafted to Port Adelaide with Pick 6 in the 2011 AFL Draft, Chad Wingard went on to play 147 games with the Power and won their best and fairest in 2013. At the conclusion of the 2018 season, Wingard requested a trade to Hawthorn, with the Hawks trading their first-round pick to get him. The 28-year-old has since gone on to play 47 games for the brown and gold and has been one of the club’s top performers since his arrival. In 2020 he took home third place in the Peter Crimmins Medal count and continued to prove himself as an elite performer in 2021.
Sam Frost –Traded for Pick 50 and Round 2 Pick (2019)
Following on from his debut season in the brown and gold last year, Sam Frost further proved himself as a solid addition to the Hawks' back six in 2021. He led the Hawks for intercept marks, and intercept possessions (also the 10th best league-wide) and ranked third for rebound 50s. Since joining the Hawks from Melbourne following the 2019 trade period, Frost has produced two consistent seasons, having missed just two games.
You can keep up with all Hawthorn’s 2021 trade and draft news via our website at www.hawthorn.com.au and our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
