Dons in running to grab Jaeger
ESSENDON believes it is not out of the race for Jaeger O’Meara after an indifferent and at times turbulent trade week for Hawthorn.
O’Meara chose Hawthorn over the Bombers as his destination club, but at the halfway mark of the trade period, the Hawks and Suns are still to strike a deal.
The Hawks and Gold Coast list manager Scott Clayton were scheduled to meet late yesterday after Hawthorn secured the No.10 draft pick from St Kilda.
The Bombers were perplexed about how the Hawks could satisfy the Suns via a trade of players and picks.
But the acquisition of pick 10 should tempt the Suns to broker a deal.
If not, the Bombers are ready to swoop on O’Meara at the pre-season draft, where the Suns have promised to send the highly-talented midfielder if the Hawks can’t propose an adequate deal. They also know they were strongly in the mix for the 22-year-old before he chose Hawthorn.
The unrest surrounding Jordan Lewis, who continues to explore a trade with Melbourne, which followed the departure of club legend Sam Mitchell, has put the Hawks in the unlikely position of a club approaching turmoil.
If the O’Meara plan falls and Lewis leaves for Melbourne after Mitchell yesterday was traded to West Coast and Brad Hill was traded to Fremantle, the Hawks will rue a bungled trade period.
It’s believed there is frustration among some players, including Lewis, about the lucrative deals offered to Tyrone Vickery (about $500,000 a season), O’Meara ($700,000) and Tom Mitchell (estimated $550,000).
The Bombers have the cap space to accommodate O’Meara, who will command about $700,000 a year.
But yesterday’s trade for pick 10 should see talks progress. Hawthorn traded picks 23, 36 and its first selection in next year’s draft to the Saints for 10 and 68.
Earlier this week, it is believed the Suns asked Hawthorn for the No.14 draft pick, a future draft pick and a player for O’Meara.
The Suns planned on sending pick 14 to the Brisbane Lions to secure star Irishman Pearce Hanley, but were astonished when the Hawks instead swapped pick 14 for Mitchell.
Triple-premiership midfielder Liam Shiels is understood to be a candidate to be sent north.
Suns football boss Marcus Ashcroft confirmed the club has contacted the managers of Hawthorn players they are interested in.