Hawthorn recruiting boss Mark McKenzie has attempted to hose down speculation surrounding Tom Mitchell while confirming the club’s interest in two trade prospects.
Mitchell has been consistently linked to a move away from the Hawks in recent weeks, with Collingwood tipped to land his signature.
The 29-year-old’s centre bounce attendances plummeted in 2022, attending just 53 per cent, down from 70 per cent the year before.
A move to the Magpies would make sense for the ageing Brownlow Medallist with Hawthorn not expected to challenge for next year’s premiership, but McKenzie says there’s no indication Mitchell will depart in the coming weeks.
He’s under contract for 2023.
“Really from this point, Tom’s a contracted player, there’s been no trade request or anything like that and that’s really where it sits at this point in time,” he told AFL Trade Radio’s The Late Trade.
“We know there’s speculation going around here and there and we’ve gone through that for a few years now but that’s really where it sits.”
When asked if he was expecting a call from Collingwood, McKenzie replied: “We haven’t gone through any hypotheticals from that and really from the facts that we know, there hasn’t been anything significant come forward or anything from that regard.
“It’s more some speculation here from there and that’s what we deal with from every player here, you don’t know what’s going to come over the next couple of weeks.
“But at this point of time… he’s contracted and no trade request (has been filed).”
However, McKenzie confirmed reports the Hawks are interested in Jack Bowes. The Sun is understood to be on the trade table along with pick 7 with Gold Coast looking to open up more salary cap space.
Geelong is believed to be among the clubs leading the race, but McKenzie reiterated the Hawks’ plans to improve their draft hand while stating an interest in Bowes as a player.
“There’ll be some interest in Jack from our point of view, that midfield area is important for us to find that right mix, and Jack brings a little bit different with the way he plays, so there’s definitely some interest from that point of view,” he stated.
“(He’s) obviously the right age for our group coming through, the age demographic fits as well. We’ll explore that avenue and see where that goes… Jack as a player could definitely suit what we’d be looking for as an inside midfielder who can play a variety of positions as well.”
McKenzie also spoke on the club’s interest in Fremantle ruckman Lloyd Meek, who is reported to be keen to get to the Hawks.
“Yeah there’s definitely some interest in Lloyd as happens every year with the ruck merry-go-round, but the bottom line is he’s a contracted player, so that sits with Fremantle from there,” he stated.
“We’ve got some interest and there might be some discussions over the next week and a half, but he’s a contracted player.”
Hawthorn will lose Jack Gunston to free agency in the coming weeks with the 30-year-old agreeing to a deal with the Brisbane Lions.