Hawthorn's reputation for breathing new life into faltering AFL careers is set to land them another former No.1 draft pick from GWS, with key forward Jonathon Patton declaring he wants to be traded to the Hawks.
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Patton confirmed his desire for a fresh start on Tuesday, as did Adelaide's Hugh Greenwood, who has requested a switch to Gold Coast at the AFL trade period that starts on Monday.
Patton, the first player selected at the 2011 draft, has played 89 games for the Giants but has undergone three knee reconstructions and didn't feature at AFL level at all this year.
The contracted 26-year-old will join another former GWS star and top draft pick in Tom Scully if the clubs can do a deal for Patton at the trade period which starts on Monday.
"Hopefully I can make my way to Hawthorn ... it's exciting if I can get there and start something new, something fresh," Patton told AFL Trade Radio.
"I've been through a fair bit in my time at the Giants.
"I love the club so much, I love everyone there, it's more of a decision (based on) genuine football (reasons).
"It has nothing to do with wanting to leave the Giants, it's more about what I think is the best for me going forward."
Patton's injury history, and the Giants' desire to offload his 2020 salary, will likely mean he gets to the Hawks at a bargain basement price in much the same way Scully did last year.
Eyebrows were raised when Hawthorn parted with just pick No.57 pick for Scully, who had become one of the league's elite two-way runners across 152 games, but also came with the baggage of a serious ankle injury.
However, the Hawks' vaunted medical team were able to get Scully up for 21 games this season, after their success in getting the best out of injury-prone former Gold Coast star Jaeger O'Meara.
Hawthorn currently hold picks 11, 30, 47, 84 and 89 at November's national draft.
Greenwood is the latest Crow to fly the nest, joining Sam Jacobs, who is GWS-bound, Cam Ellis-Yolmen, who is set to join Brisbane, Alex Keath, who wants a trade to the Western Bulldogs, and Josh Jenkins, who wants to play anywhere but Adelaide.
While he is yet to officially request a trade, Geelong are expecting Tim Kelly will inform them he wants to be at West Coast from next season in the coming days.
It appears likely that the arrival of St Kilda gun Jack Steven will help soften the blow of Kelly's departure.
"The way it is headed there is a good chance Jack will be at Geelong," Cats recruiting manager Stephen Wells told SEN.
Gold Coast will listen to offers for the top two picks in the draft and Adelaide star Brad Crouch is on the Suns' radar as they prepare for a trade period that could prove critical to the club's future.
Australian Associated Press
