Hawthorn’s recruiting boss Mark McKenzie says he is pleased with where the club stands following the trade period after securing ruckman Max Lynch's services while also improving its draft hand.
In the very last minutes on the final day of exchange, the Hawks landed Lynch from Collingwood on a two-year contract.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, McKenzie said he and his team were comfortable with where it sits having brought in Lynch, while also still holding its strong draft hand.
“It’s just really good to get in a younger ruck at 23-years-old to combine with our list management strategy with what we want to do over the next few years,” McKenzie said.
“The development he has shown over the last 18 months has been really important and we think he can add a lot to our football club going forward.”
As the club now turns its attention to the draft with three picks inside the top 25, McKenzie said the club was in the best position it has been in recent years heading into the draft.
“We’ve had eight picks over the last 10 years in the top 30 and now we have three in one year," he said.
“While we can still potentially improve those picks in the next month or so – if it remains with three picks inside 25 (for the 2021 draft), and then we’re able to get that again over the next two years – that’s a strong development for our footy club."
McKenzie added that his team were going to be “aggressive” with its list management strategy over the next three-to-four years.
“We’re not going to have a ceiling towards what we can achieve,” he said.
“Sam Mitchell’s been very open with the playing group, and as a club we’ve been very open with managers, other clubs and the players who have been involved.
“I think actually it might have strengthened our group that we are open and honest with those players – I think they’ve appreciated that.
“The biggest thing for us is that they are an excited, engaged and committed group and looking forward to being under Sam for the next few years.
“They want to stay, they want to be committed, they want to play under Sam and they want to move forward and be a part of our process over the next few years.”
Listen to more from McKenzie following his press conference on Thursday.
