The maneuver that positions the Hawks to secure highly sought-after star players.

After Hawthorn narrowly missed out on signing free agent Ben McKay and trade targets Esava Ratugolea and Liam Henry last year, the Hawks changed their approach.

Additionally, Hawthorn had been pursuing Lachie Schultz before he unexpectedly chose to seek a trade to Collingwood, prompting the Hawks to shift to their backup plan.

However, their backup plan has proven to be highly effective as the club enters its next phase of player acquisition.

Instead of securing their primary targets last year, Hawthorn focused on recruiting players who could contribute to their success and enhance their appeal to top-tier players a year later.

In Jack Ginnivan, Mabior Chol, Massimo D’Ambrosio, and the returning Jack Gunston, Hawthorn assembled their trade haul for 2023 on the final day of the trading period.

The impact has been substantial. Former Bomber D’Ambrosio has shown significant improvement, boosting his AFL Player Rating points from 3.7 in 2023 to 10.6 this season, making him one of the most improved players in the league. He now ranks as the third highest-rated wingman, trailing only Sydney’s Errol Gulden and Justin McInerney.

Former Sun Chol has been prolific, tallying 22 goals and 15 score assists, along with recording 26 inside-50 tackles, second only to Melbourne’s Kade Chandler (27) in the AFL. Meanwhile, premiership player Ginnivan, now with Hawthorn, has kicked 17 goals and is averaging a career-high 16 disposals, a significant increase from his previous average of 9.4 before joining the Hawks.

Gunston has also made a notable contribution, bringing experience to Hawthorn’s forward line. Despite missing four games, he has taken 29 marks inside 50, ranking 18th in the AFL in this category.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell secured eight wins in his debut season in 2022, followed by seven wins last year. This season, the Hawks have already notched eight wins, surpassing last year’s total with games still to play. Despite currently sitting in 13th place, Hawthorn holds a positive win-loss record, a unique feat in football history according to Champion Data.

The players recruited at the end of last season have all contributed significantly to Hawthorn’s progress, validating the club’s strategy to bolster their wins with key additions last October.

The Hawks are now actively pursuing St Kilda’s unrestricted free agent Josh Battle, having expressed their interest earlier this year and recently making a six-year offer to the defender, as reported by AFL.com.au.

Additionally, Hawthorn is competing for Greater Western Sydney’s unrestricted free agent Harry Perryman, who is considering offers from Port Adelaide and Adelaide, alongside the Giants’ efforts to retain him. As revealed on Gettable last month, the Hawks are also engaged in a two-way battle with Geelong for Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith.

With their improved performance, Hawthorn is now more willing to trade their first-round pick this year, as predicted by Mitchell earlier in the year. This approach reflects their strategy of accumulating seven first-round picks over the past five years.