Hitman Hits Out: Out - Everitt, In - Gardiner?

Hawthorn needs to dispense of Peter Everitt, Brett Collett says. But is West Coast's Michael Gardiner a possible replacement?

If Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is serious about rebuilding the Hawks into a challenger for the premiership in three years’ time, he will dispense of Peter Everitt at the end of this season.

While Robert Campbell, Simon Taylor and Max Bailey do not represent the most fearsome rucking outfit in the league, and Everitt was last year selected in the All-Australian team, at 32 years of age the club should not be forced to offer a two-year deal and a lot of money to a player who has been average so far in 2006.

Regardless of whether Sydney and Everitt have made a deal – and Everitt denies they have – the club should take a stand on “Spider” and trade him come season’s end or let him walk for free if a trade cannot be arranged.

It seems that Everitt will not accept a one-year deal, and the club should stick to its policy of not offering players over 30 more than one year at a time. And with Everitt, why should they? Didn’t Everitt last season claim that he only wants to sign one-year contracts?

Getting Everitt off Hawthorn’s list would be good for a few reasons: his hefty pay cheque would be off the club’s books allowing the Hawks to target an out-of-contract player from elsewhere or shore up its own list in the future; it’d force more responsibility on the current back-up ruckmen to produce, and maybe hasten the development of Bailey; and it’d show that Hawthorn – like Port Adelaide before it won its 2004 premiership – will not be bullied by high-profile players at the negotiating table.

Would Hawthorn need to go hunting for a new top ruckman? Perhaps.

Campbell has come along a lot this season, emerging as arguably Hawthorn’s most improved player. Bailey is in his first year and has shown some signs at the ruck contests, but has a long way to go in his work around the ground. Simon Taylor can’t really compete in the centre bounces against top-flight ruckmen, but is competent around the ground.

If the three remained and no one else was brought in, Campbell might be able to hold down the top ruck spot (after all, it has been proven a dominant ruckman isn’t needed to win a flag), but below him would be a concern. And given Campbell’s bad luck with injury throughout his career, is that a risk the club should be willing to take?

But ruckmen don’t come cheaply. There aren’t too many ready-made ruckmen that wouldn’t demand a first round pick in a draft that is being touted as the best since 2001.

Does that mean the troublesome Michael Gardiner could come into the equation? That could very well be the case if Everitt is moved on, and as a 27-year-old who unquestionably has the talent, it could be a viable option.

It goes without saying that if Gardiner was to be considered that it would be a highly controversial move, and that his off-field behaviour would need an overhaul. Innuendo on his off-field activities and the latest incident involving drink-driving will be a constant dark cloud over whatever path his career goes down, but as he could most likely be obtained for a late draft pick it might just be worth it for Hawthorn.

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