Hawks are open to offers and Port may oblige with interest in O’Meara
PORT Adelaide has preliminary interest in Hawthorn midfielder Jaeger O’Meara as the Hawks open business for all but a handful of their youngest emerging stars.
O’Meara could emerge as a player of interest next week for the Power given the Hawks’ determination to secure early picks in exchange for their veteran stars.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell yesterday defended his decision to call rival senior coaches about trade opportunities including new Pies coach Craig McRae, his former colleague at the Hawks.
But as president Jeff Kennett wrote an open letter foreshadowing the club’s imminent moves, rivals believe the Hawks are becoming increasingly desperate to improve their draft hand of 5, 21 and 24.
Ruckman Jon Ceglar is expected to find his way to Geelong and is open to a move to the Cats.
It is understood the list of untouchables this trade period is only a handful of players at Hawthorn that includes defenders Will Day, Denver Grainger-Barrass and Changkuoth Jiath.
Hawthorn is open for business for any senior player, and only the lack of cap space from rivals will ultimately decide whether stars including Tom Mitchell, Jack Gunston and Jaeger O’Meara find new homes.
Hawthorn’s Jaeger O’Meara holds more appeal to the Power than Mitchell, who plays a very similar role to
Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines.
The Power is sitting back and assessing Hawthorn’s list as it pushes hard to move on senior players for early draft picks.
But the explosive O‘Meara would complement Wines, Travis Boak and defensive midfielder Willem Drew.
O’Meara averaged 6.2 clearances and 2.6 centre square clearances this year and had 111 clearances in 18 games, with Boak (144 clearances), Wines (140) and Drew (97) a long way ahead of ruckman Scott Lycett (65) and Robbie Gray (53).
Port ruckman Peter Ladhams is yet to choose Sydney as his preferred destination but has had a medical over Zoom and spoken to Swans coach John Longmire about his likely role.