Hawks love free agency
Hawthorn chief executive Stuart Fox has made no excuses for the premiers' recruiting bonanza, saying clubs must be aggressive under the AFL's free agency system or get left behind.
The league's trendsetters haven't rested on their laurels. They signed former Melbourne defender James Frawley as an unrestricted free agent last week before completing the first deal of this year's trade period by securing former No.2 draft pick Jono O'Rourke in exchange for sending picks 19 and 40 to Greater Western Sydney.
Their active trade approach has also netted them Brian Lake, Ben McEvoy, David Hale, Josh Gibson and Shaun Burgoyne in previous off-seasons.
West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett and Carlton coach Mick Malthouse have been among the growing list of critics of the free agency system, introduced in 2012.
However, Fox put much of the Hawks' success at the negotiating table down to turning themselves into the competition's "destination club".
"I'm not going to defend Hawthorn's position other than really to say the system is what it is," Fox said.
"It was put in place for a reason and the only reason Hawthorn have been active over the last two weeks is because we lost Lance Franklin the year prior to free agency.
"We lose a gun, which frees up some salary-cap money and that allows you to then be active. If we hadn't have lost Buddy, we wouldn't have been active over the last week or two.
"I think it (free agency) is working, but it might need a review in coming years.
"Everyone was scared of free agency when it was first touted, but the reality is you've got to work with the rules that are in place. If you're not aggressive, you won't progress. Your list will remain stagnant."
Triple premiership coach Alastair Clarkson has already flown to Britain and America as he searches for new tactics to stay ahead of the AFL's chasing pack.
Also, a club doctor is in Spain at an international conference on hamstring injury prevention.
Star forward Cyril Rioli's persistent hamstring problems almost cost him a third premiership medallion this year.
Fox was speaking at a WA members' function at Subiaco's The Village Bar run by major club sponsor iiNet.
WA gun Bradley Hill was also in attendance, fresh from winning his second premiership in just 51 AFL games.
He averaged 24 disposals across the finals series and Fox said even those inside the club had been surprised at the wingman's rapid progression.
