A busy two weeks of free agency and trade for the Hawks ended on Thursday at 2pm, when the AFL’s player exchange period officially ended.
The Hawks were active early, securing unrestricted free agent defender James Frawley from the Demons to fill a key defensive post alongside premiership duo Brian Lake and Josh Gibson in season 2015.
Recruiting and List Manager Graham Wright was also the first to strike a trade last Tuesday, reaching an agreement with GWS to acquire talented midfielder Jonathan O’Rourke.
Hawthorn traded its first round pick, number 19 and pick 40 to the Giants in exchange for the former number two draft pick and selection 43 in next month’s National Draft.
After the deal was struck, Wright declared the Club’s interest in trading back into the draft as players such as ruckmen Luke Lowden and Sam Grimley expressed their interest in exploring their options at rival clubs.
After starting the period with a flurry, the Hawks were quiet until the final day, when it agreed to trade midfielder Mitch Hallahan to Gold Coast.
Hallahan had originally expressed his desire to stay at the Hawks if he could but in the end opted to accept an offer made to him by the Suns.
The trade saw the solidly built midfielder and 2013 J.J Liston Trophy winner depart Waverley in exchange for selections 47 and 49.
Moments before the trade deadline, the Hawks also reached an agreement with Adelaide, to trade young ruckman Lowden and defender Kyle Cheney to West Lakes.
The agreement sees the duo, as well as draft picks 43, 47 and 59 depart in exchange for Adelaide’s picks 31, 50 and 68.
On the eve of the final day of the exchange period, swingman Ryan Schoenmakers made his intentions to stay at Hawthorn in season 2015 clear, while no trade was struck for Grimley.
After another busy trade time for the Hawks, the Club will now enter the 2014 National Draft on the Gold Coast in a strong position, holding picks 31, 49, 50, 68 and 76.
In a nutshell
IN: James Frawley, Jonathan O’Rourke, draft picks 31, 49, 50 and 68
OUT: Mitch Hallahan, Kyle Cheney, Luke Lowden, picks 19, 40, 43, 47, 59
