It was an eventful player movement period for Hawthorn, with the club securing the signatures of prized recruits Josh Battle and Tom Barrass. 

Battle joined the Hawks on the first day of the free agency window opening, with the 26-year-old coming off a career-best season in 2024 where he ranked sixth overall in the AFL for marks per game, as well as second among key defenders in uncontested possessions.

The 26-year-old played 123 games over eight seasons for the Saints after being drafted with Pick 39 in the 2016 national draft.

After that, the Hawks engaged in a pick swap to commence their movements during the Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period.

The deal saw Hawthorn gain a future first-round selection (2025) and a future second-round selection (2025) from Carlton, in exchange for the Hawks' 2024 first-round pick (No.14).

Then on the final day of the trade period, Barrass became a Hawk as the club sent across a future first-round pick, a future second-round pick and a future third-round pick to the Eagles while securing the 29-year-old premiership player and West Coast's future fourth-round pick in the deal.

A former club best and fairest winner, Barrass is among the most reliable key defenders in the AFL, having notched up 150 games for the Eagles since being drafted in 2013.

This year, the 197 cm agile tall was ranked elite in intercept possessions (7.7 per game), spoils (7.2 per game), intercept marks (3.6 per game) and contested marks (1.5 per game).

Hawthorn National List and Recruiting Manager Mark McKenzie summed up the club's acquisitions following the close of the trade period. 

"If we go back to the start of the trade period and what our priorities were and obviously bringing Josh Battle in from the free agency period was the first one and then going to work with Tom and seeing how we could achieve the outcome of getting Tom into the footy club as well," he said.

'That was obviously our focus over the last two weeks and to get that through later tonight, even though it can be frustrating at times, in the end, the outcome was very positive and it was a fantastic result for the club."

McKenzie also spoke about what Battle and Barrass could provide for the brown and gold.

"Probably at this stage of our development as a club, we really wanted to pinpoint those positions and needs that we think will be important for us going forward," he said.

"Looking at Josh, from a backline perspective, there's some versatility there and then with Tom, he allows the versatility about other players as well.

"We know how good of a player he can be as well as a full-back with his intercept marking and his defending at times as well but to have that size and that presence down back is going to be important for us going forward."

Following the conclusion of the trade period, the Hawks now go into the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft with Picks 33, 71 and 77.

McKenzie spoke through the process behind the pick swap.

"We entered the trade period with Pick 14 and we knew we had to increase our assets during the trade period which we were able to do through the trade with the Carlton footy club," he said.

"So overall, using Pick 14 with a slide from a third-round pick to a fourth-round pick and acquiring Tom and obviously Josh through free agency, we think that's a fantastic outcome overall." 

Hawthorn's player movement period summarised

Who arrived: Josh Battle, Tom Barrass

Who left: Nil

2024 Telstra AFL Draft picks: 33,71,77

Future picks: The Hawks gave up their 2025 first-, second- and third-round selections to West Coast in order to secure Tom Barrass, while receiving a fourth-round pick in return. The Hawks earlier received future first- and second-round selections from Carlton for pick 14.

Watch Mark McKenzie's full trade wrap below.