Three-time All Australian Nick Dal Santo has concerns over Hawthorn’s ageing list and says the Hawks may not be the best suitor for Dylan Shiel.
The Hawks finished fourth on the ladder this season, rebounding quickly after missing the finals in 2017, but Dal Santo believes this year’s result could be misleading.
“I think, to their absolute credit, the Hawks over achieved (this year) because they are such a well drilled, well coached, systematic club that knows how to get the job done when it really matters,” Dal Santo said on NAB AFL Trade Radio.
“So I think with that experience, they’ve actually over achieved this year, which means they get a lower draft pick.”
With Ben Stratton (29-years-old), Ben McEvoy (29), Isaac Smith (29), James Frawley (30), Grant Birchall (30), Ricky Henderson (30), Paul Puopolo (30), Jarryd Roughead (31) and Shaun Burgoyne (35) all at the back-end of their careers, Dal Santo encourages Shiel to look to the future.
“In two years’ time the majority of those players won’t be playing,” Dal Santo said.
“If I’m Dylan Shiel, and I’m looking at who I’m going to be playing my football with for the next six-to-eight years ... these guys aren’t them.
“He needs to analyse the next crop coming through.”
TUNE IN to NAB AFL Trade Radio:
WATCH: bit.ly/2xN9KoT
LISTEN: www.afl.com.au, bit.ly/2RfQo4f or on the AFL app
But despite the current status of Hawthorn’s list, Dal Santo admits the Hawks have the ability to return to the top in a short space of time.
“I hate to contradict myself, but I would have trust that this club can rejuvenate and turn it around a lot quicker than the other ones do,” he said.
Listen to Nick Dal Santo's thoughts on Hawthorn's pursuit of Dylan Shiel in the player below