Hawthorn list manager Mark McKenzie expects contracted star pair Tom Mitchell and Jack Gunston to remain at the Hawks, but says the club is “open minded” about securing more draft picks.
Mitchell and Gunston have been mentioned in trade circles as the Hawks look to fast track their rebuild by improving their hand in this year’s draft.
Hawks football boss Richie Vandenberg recently revealed the club is open to trading established players in exchange for draft picks as they embark on a new era under senior coach Sam Mitchell.
Mitchell, who won his third Peter Crimmins Medal in 2021 as the club’s best and fairest player, is contracted until the end of 2023, while Gunston is entering the final year of his current deal.
Matthew Lloyd told AFL Trade Radio that Gunston, a three-time premiership forward, has been weighing up his future at the Hawks.
“I know the intrigue that’s come up over the last few weeks in regards to some of our more experienced players,” McKenzie told AFL Trade Radio’s Trade Exchange.
“But in the end, they’re contracted players.
“We’ve said all along that we do want to improve our draft hand, but it doesn’t necessarily have to mean trading out players, you can do it many ways in regards to trading this year’s picks or next year’s picks.
“Again, we’re open minded, we’re open to any discussions that could happen with players and draft picks, but these guys are contracted players and that’s where it lies.”
As things stand, Hawthorn currently holds picks 5, 21, 24, 59, 65 and 81 in this year’s draft.