Clarkson started at Hawthorn in 2005, made finals in 2007, won a flag in 2008. Maybe pinched that one a little early and were at peak from 2012-15.
Bomber Thompson started in 2000 and was immediately 5th. Then dealt with the list took three years to get back to finals in 2005, won the flag in 2009.
Hardwick started in 2010, finals 2013, flag 2017.
What we can take from that is with a fresh start we should be looking to renovate the list for the next three or so years, then make finals and build to a flag. So if a player doesn't have 5-6 years of peak footy left right now then they really aren't any use to us apart from being a short term fix.
That means over the next three years we should definitely be managing out via trade or delisting:
Vlastuin, Prestia, Grimes, Martin, Riewoldt, Cotchin, Lynch, Soldo, Nankervis, McIntosh, Broad and Pickett, joining Tarrant and Castagna who have already gone.
That's 14 who need to go in three years so the break down might be something like:
2023: Tarrant, Castagna, Riewoldt, Cotchin, Pickett. Ideally you would cut deeper early but we are in a hole with our draft picks because of the Hopper trade so we probably can't afford to go much deeper.
2024: Prestia, Grimes, McIntosh, Nankervis
2025: Broad, Martin, Soldo, Lynch.
The issue we have is Lynch and Vlastuin are contracted until 2025 and 2026 so I'd be testing the market for them. You'd have to look at the value of Martin, Soldo and Broad if a deal came up as well.
Then you have your maybes, guys who might be around for another tilt but are right on the edge age wise.
Baker, Short, Taranto, Hopper, Bolton, Graham, Young, Miller.
I'd have all of them on the table to trade if the deal was right. Sounds harsh but the fact is when Hardwick started in 2010 he had Riewoldt, Cotchin, Edwards and Rance on the list who would play in 2017. Reality is very few of our next premiership players are on our list right now and if they are they are in the 18-22 age bracket.
