Hawthorn is expected to be a key suitor for St Kilda gun Jade Gresham should he wish to assess his free agency options, according to The Age.
The Hawks reportedly have significant cap space to target free agents like Gresham, who has restricted status, amid the club’s rebuild under Sam Mitchell.
Gresham, 25, is still yet to kick off contract talks with St Kilda, but has plans to soon.
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He’s averaged 17.7 disposals per game and booted eight goals in total playing in all seven games for the much-improved Saints in 2023.
The report also states Hawthorn is unlikely to target Essendon free agent Darcy Parish given it’s prioritised landing midfielders with its first-round draft picks in recent years like Will Day, Josh Ward and Cam Mackenzie.
The club is reportedly also happy with the development of Jai Newcombe and Conor Nash in inside midfield roles.
The Hawks sit 17th on the ladder with just one win through seven rounds.
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West Coast has reportedly locked in Jeremy McGovern on a new two-year deal on reduced money that’ll allow the club to aggressively target players in the trade space, reports The Herald Sun.
McGovern’s reported five-year, $5 million deal is due to expire — a contract he reportedly sacrificed over $100,000 in each of the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
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The 31-year old faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines with a hamstring tendon injury sustained against Fremantle in Round 3.
It follows a report from AFL journalist Damian Barrett the Eagles are targeting Richmond defender Nathan Broad, who’s from Western Australia and is set to become a restricted free agent at season’s end.
‘DON’T READ ANY OF IT’: KING IGNORING OUTSIDE NOISE
Gold Coast spearhead Ben King has no interest in following the AFL news cycle even when his future keeps coming up and is adamant he’s loving life playing at the Suns.
King is contracted to his club until the end of 2024, but the Melbourne-born twin brother of St Kilda star Max has been linked to a move home, with Collingwood keen to snare the 22-year-old.
But making his return to football in 2023 after missing most of 2022 with ACL injury, during which time he signed his two-year contract extension, has been his sole focus.
That and getting back to his best, which King has shown in games this season, already booting 16.3, including his last 11 goals straight to help the Suns to a 3-4 record.
King, who bought a house on the Gold Coast and even lured his girlfriend north, said any talk of a possible move away from the Suns wasn’t entering his thoughts.
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“I don‘t read any of it to be honest, don’t see any of it,” he said.
“I‘m not on Facebook, not across much AFL news.
“It doesn’t affect me. I’ve just played seven games of the new contract I’ve signed.
“As I’ve always said, I’m loving football up here and loving life on the Gold Coast, so it doesn’t really enter my mind.
“Talk like that is just part of the industry and what happens with everyone. I‘m pretty used to it.
“I‘m really settled, love playing football with these blokes.”
King said his future wasn’t tied to his team’s win-loss record either.
“It‘s not about that (results over next two seasons),” he said.
“I feel like we‘re taking strides every year and every week. I’m really confident we’ll keep improving and definitely be pushing for finals.”
— with NCA Newswire
