Hawthorn's deal with North Melbourne for Josh Goddard ended up costing a future third-round pick. "We're happy with that," Mark McKenzie said. The Hawks see him developing into a rebounding or set defender, "if we can get his body right to play consistent footy."
Bodie, delisted by Hawthorn after the season, has moved to Melbourne after talks between the two clubs and his management. Mark McKenzie: "Super character. So once we knew that that was a chance, I'm very happy to facilitate that and we wish him all the best."
Hawthorn's number one priority was high-end talent, Mark McKenzie said, and it landed Zachary Merrett, traded from Essendon on the first official day of the trade period, and free agent Ben King: "He's kicked 60-plus goals over the last 3 years."
Ollie Purcell, a former Australian water polo representative, has joined Hawthorn as a Category B rookie, beating interest from other clubs. Mark McKenzie said: "he comes to us as a 195 centimetre back. So we see him as a number 2, number 3 back."
Tasmania's entry shaped Hawthorn's trade period: Mark McKenzie said protecting the next 2 drafts was the second priority. "To be able to keep our presence in the first round and then enhance our second rounds over the next 2 years was a great result for us."
Landing Zach Merrett and Ben King is why Aidan Schubert and Sam Butler went to Gold Coast, Hawthorn's Rob McCartney said: it "leads to conversations about our depth and players maybe wanting greater opportunity." With Calsher Dear re-signed, Schubert would still be developing.
Talks with North Melbourne over Josh Goddard are "respectful conversations, but probably nothing sort of concrete around what the deal might look like", Hawthorn's Rob McCartney said. Asked if North would want pick 37, he said Hawthorn may look more at future picks.
Finn McGinnis told Hawthorn in his exit meeting he was "keen to find some more opportunities to play regular senior footy", Rob McCartney said of his move to the Western Bulldogs. McGinnis has since texted thanking the club and saying how much he loved it.
Calsher Dear has re-signed with Hawthorn for two more years. Mark McKenzie hopes he can "just get a free run from a body perspective" and complete a full pre-season, which he hasn't managed in the last couple of years. McKenzie never thought 100% he was gone to Melbourne.
"I spent a full week sleeping in a hospital with my wife in the middle of the season." Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell revealed the private ordeal at season's end, and said players, coaches and staff quietly covered for him without it ever reaching the media.