POWER COULD TOAST WINES ASSISTANT
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.
It is believed O’meara could emerge as a player of interest for the Power given the Hawks’ determination to secure draft picks in exchange for their veteran stars.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell defended his decision to call rival 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 moves, rivals believe the Hawks are becoming 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 is only a handful of players, including defenders Will Day, Denver GraingerBarrass 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 O’meara find new homes.
O’meara holds more appeal to the Power than Mitchell, who plays a 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.
He 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).
The Power has the cap space and potentially the early picks to consider an acquisition but any interest is only preliminary at this stage.
Kennett’s open letter followed football director Richie Vandenberg’s statement that the Hawks would use all opportunities to improve their draft hand.
“We may be surprised at some of the (trade/draft) decisions made but be assured they will be made after careful consideration of the club’s future needs by those we charge to make such decisions,” the president wrote.
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
O’meara holds appeal to the Power
John Longmire about his likely role.
Contrary to reports, Ladhams has not suggested he wants to play first ruck in an AFL side, only that he would like to develop his ruck craft as well as play forward after being pigeon-holed as a forward in the past two seasons.
The Power might be prepared to pay some of his contract if it can do the right trade with Sydney given its cap space.
He is due $400,000 on a back-ended deal that was averaged out at $225,000 over the three seasons finishing in 2022, and must first commit to the Swans.
Sydney must complete a deal for Jordan Dawson that would involve the Melbourne future first-rounder currently held by Adelaide, as well as future pick swaps.
Then the clubs can ponder a trade, but if Ladhams agrees to a move the clubs are confident they can do a deal.