NAB AFL Trade Radio’s Damian Barrett has revealed Hawthorn defender Ryan Burton was left feeling “confused” and “angered” after coach Alastair Clarkson reached out to him about being part of a potential trade involving Port Adelaide star Chad Wingard.
Burton – who is a native South Australian – has reportedly been put on the trade table in order for the Hawks to secure a trade for Wingard along with pick 15.
“Interesting component to this, Alastair Clarkson – the coach of Hawthorn - finally made contact with Ryan Burton and it left him confused and angered even,” Barrett told Channel Nine's The Trade Table.
“He’s trying to make out as though he personally wasn’t driving the Burton component to the Wingard deal that other people at the footy club were doing.
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“I can’t recall one thing at Hawthorn that Alastair Clarkson hasn’t been privy to and driving since he walked in there at the end of 2004.
“It’s a backdrop to it that has confused Burton and got him to the point where if the deal goes through nicely from Port Adelaide, I can see now that he will accept it reluctantly.”
The 21-year-old has two years to run on his current deal at Hawthorn, with the Power likely to table a four-year offer to Burton in excess of $500,000 a season.