The Essendon youngster has reportedly asked to join his Victorian rivals:
AFL business news

Essendon defender Massimo D’Ambrosio is understood to have requested a trade to Hawthorn ahead of this year’s trade deadline.

The young cornerback has played in 16 games since joining the Bombers in the 2022 mid-season draft, where he was selected with the third overall pick ahead of Point Cook and the Western Jets.

D’Ambrosio made his debut shortly after joining Essendon, with his first appearance coming in last year’s Round 14 away to St Kilda before the 20-year-old played a further seven games to become a key part of his future plans of the club.

He would return to the senior team in round 2 that year, but was consistently dropped from the team, with his last five appearances all coming before round 14, and would either come on as a starting substitute or was replaced from the team. .

With his contract set to end this year, D’Ambrosio’s future remains uncertain despite his impressive but brief spell in the red and black shirt. Now, according to Cal Twomey of AFL.com.au, the former Richmond VFL player has requested a move to Hawthorn.

The publication’s report suggests Essendon have offered D’Ambrosio a one-year extension, but Hawthorn’s offer would tie the emerging defender to the brown and gold on a longer contract.

The Hawks currently have picks 3, 30, 49 and 78 for this year’s selection as well as their 2024 selection.

Hawthorn are likely to add to their draft list as striker duo Tyler Brockman and Jacob Koschitzke look to leave Waverley with the hope of landing in Western Australia and Richmond respectively.

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Essendon are understood to have demanded a first-round pick in exchange for absent defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher. The South Australian is keen to return to his home state via a move to Alberton after six seasons in the red and black, with the end of his contract used to seal a deal with West.

With Zerk-Thatcher ineligible for free agency, the Power will have to negotiate a trade with Essendon to secure the 25-year-old’s services. However, they have encountered obstacles in trying to satisfy some opponents whose players are eager to leave. Port Adelaide in the coming weeks.

Along with Zerk-Thatcher, Geelong’s Esava Ratugolea and Western Bulldogs’ Jordan Sweet have both submitted requests to move to South Africa and join Ken Hinkley’s team, with the Power having to get creative to please all three clubs.

Port Adelaide currently has picks 38, 44 and 71 and may need to split its 2024 first-round pick into multiple picks to add to its draft selection.

However, Geelong are said to be claiming a first-round pick for Ratugolea, while Essendon has now also followed through on its claim for Zerk-Thatcher. According to Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph, the Bombers are looking for a first choice from Port Adelaide in their negotiations.

“The current application from Essendon is the first application from Port Adelaide,” Ralph told On The Couch on Monday.

“They say the best pick you have right now is pick 38, which in a really poor draft could go up to 45.

“So now Port Adelaide is trying to please Esava Ratugolea’s cats and Jordan Sweet’s dogs.

“It won’t be a great trading period but the matches will be spectacular.”

Port Adelaide are unlikely to include personnel in deals with the Cats, Dogs and Bombers, and currently have just two unsigned players for 2024 who are not eligible for free agency. Small forward Orazio Fantasia makes up half of that list, but he recently expressed his confidence by signing a one-year extension with the Power. The other half was punter Sam Hayes, who played just 11 matches during his time in South Australia.

Veteran duo Travis Boak and Scott Lycett are unsigned and are eligible to exercise their rights as free agents, with