WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n HAWKS \u2018READY TO LAUNCH\u2019 \u2026 AND WHY IT SHOULD BE \u2018OPERATION PETRACCA\u2019<\/p>\n A Geelong-like salary cap approach has cashed-up Hawthorn \u201cready to launch\u201d into the trade market, according to Herald Sun reporter Glenn McFarlane, who suggests it\u2019s time for \u201cOperation Petracca\u201d.<\/p>\n Despite qualifying for their second straight finals series, the Hawks have ample room in their TPP to target a big-name player at a rival club.<\/p>\n Speaking on Fox Footy\u2019s Midweek Tackle on Tuesday night, McFarlane flagged only four Hawthorn players would feature in CODE Sports\u2019 \u2018AFL Rich 100\u2019 \u2013 which will be released on the weekend \u2013 compared to the likes of the Giants (nine), Melbourne (eight) and Collingwood (eight).<\/p>\n McFarlane also pointed out the Hawks, according to the CODE Sports list, were the only club that didn\u2019t have a millionaire player \u2013 although skipper James Sicily was \u201cso close\u201d to seven figures.<\/p>\n \u201cThey (the Hawks) are taking the Geelong model in a sense in that they\u2019ve paid a lot of their players \u2018unders\u2019 from a couple of years ago \u2013 and being able to do that, they\u2019re in the window to really attack,\u201d McFarlane told Midweek Tackle.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re ready to launch at the end of this year.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look at Geelong and what they did. They paid everyone pretty much the same and then they went out and got Jeremy Cameron \u2013 and they won a premiership two years later.\u201d<\/p>\n Reid extension similar to Judd template | 01:27<\/p>\n The Hawks had been suggested as the best-placed club to land Harley Reid if he\u2019d opted to leave WA, but the young star on Tuesday signed a West Coast contract extension<\/a> that ties him to the club until at least the end of 2028.<\/p>\n With Reid off the table and Port Adelaide star Zak Butters to stay at the Power for 2026 \u2013 yet remain unsigned beyond that season with a big free agency call to make \u2013 McFarlane said the Hawks\u2019 attention should turn to Norm Smith Medallist Christian Petracca.<\/p>\n Petracca this week had his exit meeting at Melbourne, with no formal trade discussion reportedly raised. But as flagged by Herald Sun chief football writer Jay Clark on First Crack earlier this month<\/a>, Petracca had less midfield time towards the back-end of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know no Harley Reid, no Zak Butters this year \u2013 he\u2019ll play on next year with Port Adelaide \u2013 but surely it\u2019s \u2018Operation Petracca\u2019 now, isn\u2019t it? That\u2019s got to be the situation,\u201d McFarlane said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve got money to burn to actually get the right player and move some players on as well.<\/p>\n \u201cHe (Petracca) is exactly what they need. If they can get him back anywhere near that 2021 form, good Christian wins you a premiership.\u201d<\/p>\n Fellow Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph reported trading in Petracca would be a significant risk for Hawthorn.<\/p>\n \u201cChristian is a magnificent player, but his salary will hit $1.7 million at one stage \u2026 and he\u2019s the most inaccurate forward in the competition this year: 18.24 and 15 total misses,\u201d Ralph told Midweek Tackle.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not the 2021 Christian Petracca. He might be the best on the market right now, but they pushed him out of the midfield late in the season \u2026 he\u2019s 30 in January.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a big decision when you go all-in for whoever that player is. Yes they can get the deal done with a future first (pick), current first and a (Jack) Scrimshaw or (Josh) Ward or (Cam) Mackenzie. (But) it\u2019s a big decision. You swing on that one, you don\u2019t want to miss.\u201d<\/p>\n Biggest All-Australian snubs for 2025 | 01:39<\/p>\n \u2018DOESN\u2019T BENEFIT ANYONE\u2019: EXPECT SILENCE ON CURNOW CALL<\/p>\n Dual Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow has stood by his commitment to Carlton, despite renewed speculation he could be tempted by a move north.<\/p>\n But any firm Curnow call to seek a move away at the moment wouldn\u2019t benefit any party, according to Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph.<\/p>\n Curnow, contracted until 2029, was at Carlton HQ on Tuesday \u2013 although he hadn\u2019t had his exit meeting yet when doorstopped by media in the carpark.<\/p>\n Asked by reporters about his future on Tuesday, Curnow told reporters: \u201cI\u2019ve answered all the questions<\/p>\n \u201cAll looking good. I answered them all (questions) a couple of weeks ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Curnow was referring to comments last month after his side\u2019s loss to Hawthorn, telling reporters: \u201cI\u2019m playing at Carlton next year. Done.\u201d<\/p>\n Those comments came after he was linked to all of Gold Coast, Sydney and Geelong<\/a>, with reports of a Sydney move gaining traction<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no doubt he\u2019s interested in some way \u2013 or interested in the idea \u2013 of what a trade would look like,\u201d Ralph told Fox Footy\u2019s Midweek Tackle on Tuesday night. \u201cWhether he\u2019s demanding a trade, that\u2019s not the case right now.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t benefit anyone to give this one oxygen right now. Carlton sits back and says \u2018we\u2019re not doing anything\u2019, Sydney gives their best offer at some stage in the trade period and Carlton either laughs it out of court or they get interested.\u201d<\/p>\n ‘On a roll’: McRae jokes after Dees win | 01:12<\/p>\n RIVALS MONITORING FRINGE CAT<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n