Hawthorn Hawks are confident Sam Frost will stay, miss free agent Harry Perryman, details of Tom Barrass deal revealed
Those arrivals, along with captain James Sicily’s defensive role and the impending return of James Blanck from his ACL rupture, left some doubt about Frost’s position in the team from next year after he performed a key role this past season.
This masthead revealed in July that Frost was nearing a contract trigger for 2025, which he subsequently reached before a foot bone stress injury ended his season after Hawthorn’s elimination final win over Western Bulldogs.
Sam Frost manned the AFL’s best key forwards this season.Credit: Getty Images
The Swans and Saints have expressed interest in the 31-year-old ex-Demon and Giant, who enjoyed a strong season in a lockdown role for the Hawks. Frost’s agent, Anthony McConville, was contacted for comment.
Frost would effectively be a replacement for Battle if he were to head to Moorabbin.
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Speaking on SEN on Friday morning, coach Mitchell dismissed the potential of Frost leaving, saying the tall defender, whose closing speed is one of his strengths, was “one of my favourites”.
Mitchell and co. believe the positional versatility of the likes of Sicily, Josh Weddle and Blake Hardwick means Hawthorn will still be able to accommodate Frost in their line-up, even with the additions of Barrass and Battle.
Mitchell, Brett Ratten and defensive coach Kade Simpson relayed that to Frost in his exit meeting this week.
“There are a lot of positions on the field,” Mitchell said.
Tom Barrass wants to finish his AFL career with Hawthorn.Credit: AFL Photos
“I would have loved to have played Sicily and Hardwick a little bit more in different positions this year, but we were just really restricted. A lot of our injuries meant that we had a limited amount of flexibility with the side.
“Josh Weddle has got the chance to move around the ground at different stages – whether that’s next year, or in years to come. We’ve got some flexibility in the side that we haven’t been able to play with just yet. You could look at [Geelong star] Tom Stewart, and the way he’s been used this year.”
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The Hawks’ incredible revival from 0-5 to winning a final means their first-round pick in this year’s draft is No.13, which has complicated the framework for a Barrass swap.
There have not been any discussions yet between the clubs on what a trade would look like despite speculation West Coast would ask for two first-round selections in return.
