Hawthorn will carry a pair of first-round picks into this year's AFL Draft after a busy trade period of wheeling and dealing that saw them fall short in their pursuit of Essendon captain Zach Merrett.
The Hawks secured Picks 10 and 22 from Carlton to aid their play for Merrett, who will remain at Bomberland, leaving Hawthorn to turn their attention to the draft.
Trades that see them trade one, or both, of their selections and bolster their hand for next year could be on the cards, but for this exercise, we'll assume they use both of their opening night selections given they also have a handful of list spots to fill.
Draft Hand
Picks: 10, 22, 62, 76 (1962 Points)
As mentioned, the Hawks exited the trade period with no star recruit, but they did bolster their draft hand with two picks in the first round.
Their following selection won't come until the opening pick of the fourth round, while they hold one more pick in that bracket before we get into the late, late rounds of the draft.
Picks 62 and 76, if required, will both sit around the 50-60 mark come the end of the draft, and with no club-tied teenagers to match bids for, the Hawks will be picking from the open pool of prospects.
List Needs
Midfield Speed: If there's one area the Hawks perhaps lack in, it's pace through the middle of the field. Their engine room is well-placed, with Jai Newcombe, Will Day, Conor Nash, Josh Ward and Cameron Mackenzie all set for larger roles in 2026 after James Worpel's departure. A draftee who will one day complement the inside hustle of Day and Newcombe would be an ideal find at this year's draft, while the likes of Nick Watson and Connor MacDonald might be the stopgap options for that role in the next couple of years.
Rearguard Reinforcement: The Hawks strengthened their backline significantly 12 months ago through the recruitment of Josh Battle and Tom Barrass, but with the latter 31 next year, as well as captain James Sicily, there is some weight to the thought of the Hawks looking to the future among their key defensive stocks. The loss of Jai Serong to Sydney has opened a void in the Hawks' pecking order, and with Will McCabe seen as a key forward for the future, there's not a heap of support for Hawthorn's veteran talls in the backline.
Key Forward Force: Hawthorn certainly aren't lacking in the key forward ranks, but the reliance on Jack Gunston in 2025, while a sensational turn in form, is somewhat of a concern. Can Mitch Lewis return to his best after extended periods on the sidelines? Can either Mabior Chol or Calsher Dear be their first-string target in the next five years? There's scope for the Hawks to look at a spearhead forward for further down the line, much like how Geelong nurtured Shannon Neale to one day succeed Tom Hawkins at Kardinia Park.
Potential Targets
Jacob Farrow: Western Australia's standout prospect for 2025, the West Perth midfielder-defender is an explosive ball winner who has strength and a good read of play on his side. A name who will be in the mix when the Hawks are first on the clock, Farrow might start his career across half-back or on the wing before moving into a more central position, which would work nicely with Hawthorn's current midfield profile. Think Jordan Dawson from his time at Sydney before securing full-time midfielder minutes at Adelaide.
| 13 RANK |  | Jacob Farrow West Perth Midfielder/Defender HEIGHT: 188cm | â–¶+ |
Max Kondogiannis: At 190cm, Kondogiannis doesn't fit the bill as a new-age key defender, but his stature as a medium-sized backman sees him get the best of both worlds in being an elite interceptor and a good kick of the ball. Working alongside a mentor like Sicily would go a long way in the Oakleigh Charger's development, with Kondogiannis having strong similarities to the Hawks skipper. What is tricky with this match-making is the Hawks' lack of picks that would fall in Kondogiannis' range, which is likely to be in that 30-50 range.
| 34 RANK |  | Max Kondogiannis Oakleigh Chargers Defender HEIGHT: 190cm | â–¶+ |
Aidan Schubert: Likely competing with Farrow for Hawthorn's opening selection on draft night, Schubert is rated as the No.1 pure key forward in his draft class. Strong form with Central District caught the eye early into the year, with Schubert confirming his standing as a potential top 10 pick at this year's U18s National Championships, booting 10 goals in his four games for South Australia. While not noted as a forward-ruck utility, Schubert has a proven ability to move up the field as a pinch-hitting ruck, with his elite work rate often catching out his opponent when pushing back into attack.
| 12 RANK |  | Aidan Schubert Central Districts Forward HEIGHT: 198cm | â–¶+ |
