Top free agent James Frawley is set to join two-time reigning premiers Hawthorn.
The Hawks beat out interest from Geelong and 2013 grand finalist Fremantle and will ink the defender to a multi-year deal when the AFL free agency period gets underway on Friday.
Frawley ended a season of speculation by confirming his decision to leave the Demons earlier in the week after failing to reach a contract extension with the club in January.
Hawthorn discussions with Frawley were delayed due to last weekend’s Grand Final demolition of Sydney, but coach Alastair Clarkson confirmed the club’s interest in the 26-year-old on Wednesday.
“There’s a lot of things that have got to occur over the next few days if that was to occur,” he said from Hobart.
“We’re probably a little bit behind the eightball given we’ve had a campaign to concentrate on in terms of trying to win a grand final.
“We’ll see how that materialises over the next week.”
In an inconsistent season for the 2006 No.12 draft pick, Frawley averaged 15.2 possessions but a career-high 7.4 marks per game in 2014, down on his 18 disposal per contest average in 2011 and 2012.
Frawley will join key defenders Josh Gibson and the freshly re-signed Brian Lake, who agreed on Thursday to a one-year extension.
“Brian has contributed exactly what we wanted over the past two years, and has finished this season in good form,” recruiting and list manager Graham Wright said of the former Western Bulldog.
Playing time in the Hawthorn defence may be hard to come by next season with a number of key position defenders already populating the list, including cult hero Matt Spangher and the out of favour Ryan Schoenmakers, as well as regulars Matt Suckling and Grant Birchall.
Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
