Hawthorn reportedly held interviews with the two leading key defenders of the 2023 AFL Draft class on Monday as their plans for next's count take further shape, while a second father-son prospect is set to be nominated by the Hawks.
The Waverley club is set enter the draft at Pick 4, with further selections at 44, 47, 49, 62, 63 and 83 overall also at their disposal.
Their suite of third-round selections are likely to be used to match an offer for father-son talent Will McCabe - the son of ex-Hawks defender Luke.
McCabe is a promising 197cm key defender out of South Australia who could fetch a bid from a rival club on the opening night of the draft next Monday.
The Central District young gun is expected to be the Hawks' second addition at the draft, with the club's main focus set on their top five selection - which will be their earliest selection in 18 years.
While McCabe will be an option to help bolster Sam Mitchell's key defensive stocks from 2024, the club is doing its due diligence on two other prospects who fit a similar mould and likely rank ahead of the father-son talent among this year's crop of tall backmen.
According to AFL.com.au's Cal Twomey, Western Australian teenager Dan Curtin was flown to Victoria this week for a final round interview with the Hawks, while Allies MVP Connor O'Sullivan also spoke with the club at Bunjil Bagora on Monday.
Curtin is one of the more intriguing prospects among this year's count, with his ability to play across all three lines of the field a large attraction for clubs with early draft selections.
The Claremont key defender could be swooped on by North Melbourne before the Hawks get their first bite of the apple, while O'Sullivan is another tall defender in consideration and is in line to earn a top 10 selection at the draft next week.
Should O'Sullivan be overlooked by the Hawks, the likes of Melbourne (Pick 6), GWS (Pick 7), Geelong (Pick 8) and Essendon (Pick 9) are a chance of calling his name.
Hawthorn has flown Dan Curtin over to Melbourne to interview him today at their headquarters. Right in the mix for pick 4 if the Roos overlook him.
Hawthorn's final round of interviews always kept to the last week. Connor O'Sullivan also at Hawks today for a last chat. @AFLcomau
— Callum Twomey (@CalTwomey) November 13, 2023
While McCabe mightn't be the only key defender taken by the Hawks, he also won't be alone in heading to Hawthorn as a father-son selection.
Twomey has also reported that Sandringham Dragons tall Calsher Dear, the son of 1991 Norm Smith Medal winner Paul Dear, is set to be nominated as a National Draft father-son selection.
That would mean that the Hawks are a chance to add the forward-ruck talent with their last selection - currently Pick 83 - at the draft should no other club make a move for the 195cm teenager.
If a bid comes for Dear earlier in the piece, then the Hawks will be able to match the selection with a 20 per cent discount on the amount of draft points required at that pick.
McCabe's bid will likely cost the Hawks multiple draft selections, which would be dissolved in the draft order and see later selections increase their place in the queue.
It could mean the Hawks come away with just the three to four selections at the National Draft - McCabe, Dear, their opening selection and potentially another pick in the 50s.
The 2023 AFL National Draft will take place over two nights, commencing next Monday, November 20.
