Cashed-up Hawks ‘ready to launch’ big trade play. Four superstars must be in their sights

Is the writing on the wall for Petracca? | 04:01

We’ve heard of clubs like St Kilda and North Melbourne owning a “war chest” of money. Now, it’s reportedly Hawthorn’s turn to splash a building lump of cash.

Reports throughout 2025 suggested that Sam Mitchell’s club had all eyes on Harley Reid up until Tuesday afternoon, when the 20-year-old midfielder signed a two-year extension with West Coast that ties him to Lathlain until the end of 2028.

It means their attention now almost certainly turns elsewhere, with their one main critique revolving around their engine room.

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After 24 rounds of the home-and-away season, they rank 12th at clearance. Jai Newcombe, Conor Nash, James Worpel and more recently, Josh Ward, have done the heavy lifting at centre bounces. And while each performed well enough in a contested setting, their outside punish could be improved.

Will Day, who has been predominantly injured this season, is perhaps the exception to the profile of their usual on-ballers, but even then, some added game-breaking flare wouldn’t go astray.

The Hawks, according to CODE Sports’ Glenn McFarlane, have just four of the AFL’s top 100 paid players — none of which are worth seven figures a year.

“They’re taking the Geelong model in a sense, in (that) they’ve paid a lot of their players ‘unders’ from a couple of years ago … they’re ready to launch at the end of this year,” McFarlane told Midweek Tackle on Tuesday night.

“They’re the only club that doesn’t have a millionaire (on their list) … they’ve got money to burn to actually get the right player.”

Foxfooty.com.au analyses three star midfielders with potential links for a move to play under Mitchell, as well as a left-field option who remains a ‘pre-agent’ ripe for the picking.

CHRISTIAN PETRACCA (Melbourne)

The star most heavily linked to Hawthorn and their reported war chest.

Trade speculation around Christian Petracca has been going for over 12 months now, despite stating his commitment to Melbourne numerous times since his season-ending injury on King’s Birthday last year.

This off-season, the links have admittedly been made more by commentators, rather than out of the Petracca camp (contrary to 2024).

Petracca in, Worpel out at Hawthorn for 2026? (Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Does one of Petracca or Melbourne, if not both, buy into the media storm?

With Simon Goodwin no longer the club’s head coach, a fresh start looms at the Demons — and perhaps the time has never been better for either party to make a call on the other.

After Reid signed a two-year extension at West Coast on Tuesday, Glenn McFarlane told Midweek Tackle: “Surely it’s ‘Operation Petracca’ now, isn’t it? That’s got to be the situation now.”

SAM WALSH (Carlton)

The 2018 No.1 draft pick has been loosely referenced as a trade target for rival clubs, although any play looks more likely to come next season and not in 2025.

Almost certainly set to be deemed a restricted free agent, Walsh will in due course have clubs come for him.

So any Hawthorn pitch made will be accompanied by several others from rivals.

Sam Walsh of the Blues kicks the ball during the 2025 AFL Round 2 match between the Carlton Blues and the Hawthorn Hawks at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 20, 2025 (Photo by Michael Willson via Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

His aerobic capacity is unquestionably top-tier, with his speed and pace playing second-fiddle to his fitness.

That shouldn’t deter the Hawks from going hard on a play for him, but where he would slot in among their order or preference remains to be seen.

ZAK BUTTERS (Port Adelaide)

He’s probably the most-prized player in this quartet, but Zak Butters has publicly stated he will be staying at Port Adelaide for at least one more season.

Out of contract as a restricted free agent in 2026, he’s the superstar that will be in-demand until he either re-signs at Port, or departs Alberton.

The Hawks have established themselves as a club who don’t pay the big bucks just for one player, but rather a number of high-end talent who aren’t in the absolute top-tier superstar category.

The likes of Geelong and the Western Bulldogs are already linked to the Power superstar (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Port Adelaide sit at the other end of the spectrum, with the likes of Connor Rozee, Jason Horne-Francis, Miles Bergman and Mitch Georgiades all threatening to become a superstar quintet alongside Butters one day.

Sam Mitchell’s side already has a big of ‘crash-and-bash’ about its midfield with the likes of Jai Newcombe and James Worpel — who may not be at the Hawks in 2026 — but Butters’ added explosiveness and burst out of stoppage would be an invaluable get for Sam Mitchell’s side.

ZAC BAILEY (Brisbane Lions)

A name not yet reported on as a target of the Hawks, but they would be out of their mind not to.

The 25-year-old is very likely to enter 2026 as a restricted free agent, should Brisbane not lock him away beforehand on a juicy contract extension.

Explosive and a good kick with an excellent goal sense, Bailey didn’t play a heap of midfield time across the home-and-away season for the Lions, but intriguingly, did feature at 39 per cent and 44 per cent of centre bounces in Round 23 and 24 respectively. 

Will the star Lion be fending off interest from Hawthorn these next 12 months? (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

So, did the move work? Absolutely it did. Bailey kicked two goals in each game with an average of 25 disposals.

An All-Australian this season, there aren’t many players as valuable — or underrated — as him right now.

Born in the Northern Territory before moving to South Australia, Bailey may in time also be linked to Adelaide and Port Adelaide, but the Lions will be bullish on keeping one of their most prized assets.

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