Hustwaite, 21, has played just four games this year to bring his career tally to 10. As an inside midfielder, he does not fit a position of need for the Bombers and is on Hawthorn’s fringe.
As it stands, the four big names seeking homes elsewhere – Merrett, Charlie Curnow, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver – all remain in limbo heading into the final day of the trade period. All trades are now suspended until 2pm.
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Melbourne and Gold Coast remain in meaningful talks over Petracca, a trade that, like Oliver to GWS, is expected to be completed. Carlton and the Swans have not had direct discussions over Curnow in days, despite the Blues forward touring the Swans’ facilities on Monday and having dinner with president Andrew Pridham that same night.
There has been speculation of a trade that involves Will Hayward and Ollie Florent tied in with this year’s first-round pick and next year’s first-rounder, but that offer has not been tabled with Carlton. Several competition sources said the Swans are battling salary cap difficulties.
Hawthorn dasher Changkuoth Jiath has not been tied into an offer to Essendon, but the rebound defender has emerged as late trade mover, with Melbourne interested in him as a replacement for Judd McVee, who was traded to Fremantle.
Changkuoth Jiath could yet find a new home late in the trade period.Credit: Getty Images
The Demons are making a play for the 26-year-old, who played a career-high 20 games under Sam Mitchell this year, but has been made available as a trade this year by the Hawks.
Jiath has had soft-tissue problems throughout his career, but his best football is electric and he still has two years to run on his deal. The Hawks’ willingness to make him available means he could be a cheap addition for the Demons’ new-look line-up.
Essendon, meanwhile, finally concluded a deal for Brayden Fiorini from Gold Coast for a third-round pick in next year’s draft. Fiorini was a free agent and theoretically free to Essendon but, by trading for him instead, the Bombers avoided diluting the compensation pick they received for losing Sam Draper to the Lions.
St Kilda skipper Jack Steele looks set to return to Moorabbin for the final two years of his contract after Adelaide decided not to pursue the dual All-Australian.
The Crows and Essendon emerged as potential third clubs for Steele during the trade period, but neither went beyond doing their due diligence.
The Saints encouraged the 29-year-old to explore his options, after making him the fourth AFL captain ever to start as the substitute in a late-season clash with North Melbourne.
Steele’s preference all along was to stay despite St Kilda hoping to move him on.
The Saints were already prioritising younger midfielders over Steele, but they also added ex-Sun Sam Flanders last week on a big-money deal and promise of more on-ball opportunities than he had at Gold Coast.
Steele told the club’s leaders at his exit meeting that he would relinquish the captaincy and focus on his football in the twilight of a career that started at GWS.
Collingwood and the Lions did a minor pick swap, with the Magpies securing picks 45 and 56 this year for picks 59 and a future third-round pick. The additional picks help Collingwood cover the points for academy player Zac McCarthy and provide a pick to offer Sydney for fringe forward Jack Buller.
Kennel bound: Connor Budarick.Credit: AFL Photos
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, secured the Suns’ Connor Budarick for pick 37 and pick 70 in a trade.
Gold Coast also continued working through the details relating to Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s new contract as they look to finalise a trade with the Bulldogs before the deadline.
The Suns have spent a significant time ensuring all parts of the club’s leadership, from the board, to the executive, to the coaching, medical and welfare staff and the player leadership group, were on board with the decision to recruit Ugle-Hagan. The Suns have been determined to assess his response to the plans for him to revive his career, and want to set him up for success.
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