Trade talk: Mitchell hopeful in-demand Hawk turns back on rivals

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell is still very hopeful that Calsher Dear will remain at the Hawks beyond this season.

As things stand, the out-of-contract 21-year-old has been linked to Melbourne, Collingwood, St Kilda, Geelong and Carlton, and many expect him to depart the club, particularly with Ben King likely to join the Hawks as a free agent this off-season.

With Dear currently unable to get a senior game, Kane Cornes warned the Hawks last week that they could lose him.

He then told Mitchell on Fireball on Friday morning that the Hawks only have themselves to blame should he look elsewhere.

While Mitchell understands that the young forward wants to be playing AFL footy, he hopes his open communication with Dear helps convince him to remain in brown and gold.

Cornes: “Calsher Dear, they're coming for him, Mitch.

“I feel like you've only got yourself to blame when you start picking 18-year-olds (Aiden Schubert) over him and he's stuck in the VFL again, even though you tell us he's in good form.

“There are four clubs lining up. How do you see this playing out, and are you frightful that he'll leave?”

Mitchell: “Are there four clubs lining up? I saw him in a (photoshopped) Melbourne jumper. That made me feel a bit uncomfortable during the week, I must admit.”

Cornes: “There’s (also) Collingwood.”

Mitchell: “We get along well, Calsher and I, we’ve had good chats all through this process.

“Understandably, contract-wise, it's taken a bit longer because he obviously wanted to get into the side and show what he could do, and that hasn't come to fruition just yet.

“But there's contracts there, and there's talks there, so we’re still very hopeful. This is a tricky time of year for everyone, so who knows what'll happen. But we've had very open communication about all these things.

“Box Hill will have a bye this week, unfortunately, but his form in the last month has been exactly what we're after.

“So, expect to see him soon.”

Dear’s next chance to play footy will come either at AFL level in Round 23 against Collingwood or in the final round of the VFL home and away season next Sunday against Casey.