Ben McEvoy – Michmutters
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Brodie Grundy to Hawthorn Hawks, future at Collingwood Magpies, latest, Luke Jackson to Fremantle Dockers, Sean Darcy, Melbourne Demons

Hawthorn has responded to his potential pursuit of Brodie Grundy.

Plus a gun Docker has revealed he reached out to Luke Jackson amid intense speculation around the Demon’s future.

Get the latest player movement news and updates in AFL Trade Whispers!

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HAWKS ANSWER GRUNDY QUESTION

Hawthorn has remained tight lipped on his potential pursuit of star Brodie Grundy amid uncertain around the star ruckman’s future at the Magpies.

The Hawks have been touted as a potential landing spot for Grundy following skipper Ben McEvoy’s retirement announcement this week.

Collingwood is reportedly shopping the 28-year old to rivals and willing to chip in $300,000 of his annual salary worth around $1 million until 2025 at another club, with the Demons and Giants reportedly already meeting with the big man.

Feet rebound from cap scandal | 02:10

Asked about the potential for Hawthorn to recruit Grundy, club CEO Justin Reeves told SEN: “That’s one for Mark McKenzie (list manager). I know that’s a cop out but the reality is there are so many variables in that.

“He’s probably got plenty of footy left in him, I don’t know the figures of his contract but what we should say is you look at every opportunity that you think would make your football club better.”

Grundy, who hasn’t played an AFL game since Anzac Day due to a PCL setback, had been nearing a return to the senior level before suffering a stress fracture in his ankle in a VFL match, ruling him out for the rest of the regular season.

The ruckman signed his current lucrative deal, estimated to be worth $7 million in total, at the end of 2019.

DARCY CHECKS IN ON JACKSON

Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy has revealed he reached out to Luke Jackson to check in on the Demons star amid intense speculation around his future.

Jackson, who’s out of contract at the end of the season and weighing up his future, has been heavily linked with a move to the Dockers on a lucrative, long-term deal that would see him return to his home state.

Speaking on Triple M, Darcy said he at large contacted Jackson to see how he was traveling mentally with all the external noise.

“I’ve spoken to him about how he’s going. It’s a pretty tough decision for him,” Darcy told Triple M.

“Flattest” feeling after Pies loss | 02:25

“I just checked on him mentally, with everything going around. It’s pretty tough on him. His name of him ‘s in the newspaper every day.

“I had a little bit last year when (reports said) I was desperate to leave. But that never came from me, that was more media making it up.”

As Jackson doesn’t yet qualify or free agency, he’d need to move clubs via trade.

The former Pick 3 has played 48 AFL games for Melbourne including in its drought-breaking premiership win last year.

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Eli Templeton, St Kilda Saints, Balwyn Football Club, Eastern Football Club, Port Melbourne, VFL, concrete, concussion, fence, bump, Zac Clarke

A former Saint has been rushed to hospital, reportedly with a fractured skull, after a shocking incident that saw a local footy game called off on Saturday.

Eli Templeton was sent crashing over a fence while representing Balwyn Football Club and landed head-first onto the surrounding concrete.

He suffered concussion in the shocking incident that’s been described in a News Corp report as “not malicious”.

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It was former Docker Zac Clarke who made the contact that sent Templeton over the fence in the clash between Balwyn and Doncaster East.

Templeton was reportedly unconscious for at least two minutes after the accident.

There’s reports the 26-year-old suffered a fractured skull in the sickening collision which left teammates and those at the ground visibly shaken.

But in good news for Templeton, he is set to make a full recovery.

Balwyn president Richard Wilson told local media the youngster was “cognitive and speaking and passing all the tests” on Saturday night.

It’s believed if Templeton had gone over the fence a few meters away from where he landed, it would have been onto grass.

Templeton had been granted permission to play for Balwyn after his VFL side Port Melbourne had the bye this weekend.

In a statement, Port Melbourne confirmed Templeton was injured in the collision.

“The club is aware that one of our VFL players Eli Templeton was injured in a local game today playing for Balwyn,” the statement read.

“We ask that everyone respects his privacy and we will update in due course.”

The 26-year-old played 14 games for the Saints across three seasons before being delisted at the end of 2016.

The Burnie product was the number three pick in the 2013 Rookie Draft but his AFL career was over by the age of just 21.

The Balwyn clash was called off early in the third term after Templeton’s sickening injury with the club leading by 23 points at the time.

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St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt on Ben McEvoy trade, Hawthorn Hawks, 250th game against Gold Coast Suns

St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt has described his former club’s decision to trade away Ben McEvoy to Hawthorn as “mind-boggling.”

McEvoy, who played his 250th AFL game in Saturday’s win over Gold Coast, was dealt to the Hawks at the end of 2013 and has been an invaluable addition, winning two premierships and getting appointed captain in 2021.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s Best on GroundRiewoldt, who was Saints skipper at the time of the trade — which saw the club acquire Shane Savage and a first-round pick (Luke Dunstan) — says McEvoy was pushed out.

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Suns succumb to Hawks hot streak | 02:07

“He didn’t leave, the club traded him. At the time it felt like the people in charge making those decisions were saying, ‘look how clever we are. Let’s trade this bloke and this bloke and we’ll get in some picks, we’ll show how clever we are with recruiting’,” Riewoldt said.

“You’ve got to get your picks right, and they didn’t… it was mind boggling, and still is.

“He’s been a superstar and it was still at St Kilda — a bit of a void of leadership is the criticism at times — he would’ve been perfect.

“But good luck to him, he’s gone on to great things.”

McEvoy was carried off after his milestone match and embraced by Hawks fans and teammates with his kids on the ground in great scenes.

Fellow Saints great Leigh Montagna also praised his former teammate post-game — a match that ended in the tough ruckman’s head bandaged after a knock.

McEvoy carried off after his 250th match (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

“Congratulations to Benny McEvoy, big contested mark in that last minute, the headband, he’s everything we’ve seen from him over 250 games,” he said on Fox Footy.

Hawks star Jack Gunston said of McEvoy: “You always love a good that you want to follow, and Ben is that guy. Headband today, of course he did. He’s just such a genuine good block, but such a competitor as well.

“It’s not an easy gig playing in the ruck I wouldn’t have thought, he’s just a good fella and I’m glad we got the win for him.”

McEvoy gave a shout out post-match to Dylan Moore playing in his 50th match in true selfless McEvoy style.

“It wasn’t pretty today, but sometimes you’ve got to win ugly. So pleased to get a result in mine and Moorey’s 300th.”

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