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"Absolutely": Delisted Hawk reveals openness to all offers ahead of rookie draft
Jaiden Sciberras • October 22nd, 2025 7:41 pm
Approaching the Rookie Draft, several delisted AFL players remain on the hunt for a new home.
Over the course of the off-season, 72 players have been let go by their respective clubs, with several vying for their future at the senior level.
The Rookie Draft allows sides to fill out their remaining list spots with either overlooked draftees or mature-aged players (whether in state leagues or former AFL listed), providing delisted talent a chance to re-establish their careers in new colours ahead of the following season.
One of those eyeing off the draft is former Hawthorn defender Sam Frost, let go by the Hawks after playing just two games in 2025.
The 28-year-old is certainly capable at the level, featuring in 24 games in 2024 and 185 total over three clubs since 2012, however over his off-season thus far, Frost’s phone has remained rather silent.
“Obviously the (national) draft is the priority for clubs at the moment,” Frost told SEN Afternoons.
“Once that’s done, likely it would be a rookie spot or a train-on spot, depending on what opportunities are out there. It’s hard to really know how I feel about anything right now, without anything in front of me.”
With the National Draft expected to see approximately between 50-60 players selected to join an AFL list, several clubs will have remaining list spots that can be used on mature-aged selections – an avenue that Frost could see himself taking to return to the top level.
“It gives guys like myself and other mature-age guys getting on a list for the first time another look at AFL footy,” he said.
“We’ll see what unfolds. I’m not expecting the phone to all of a sudden start buzzing, but it’s a great opportunity.
“I’m in a position where a decision would have to be right for me and the family, but I’m hoping that there’s at least a few conversations had and there’s the opportunity to have another crack somewhere.”
Over the 2024 off-season, Hawthorn made two marquee defensive acquisitions, signing both Tom Barrass and Josh Battle to bolster their back half.
While both additions proved a raging success for the Preliminary Finalists, Sam Frost was subsequently booted down the pecking order, falling behind both recruits as well as defensive stocks in James Sicily, Josh Weddle and Jack Scrimshaw.
Lifting the lid on the internal ongoing at the club, Frost revealed that although he wasn’t given the opportunity to re-establish himself at the level, he doesn’t take it personally.
“It’s an interesting question. I think people expect it to be a little bit more (hostile),” Frost said.
“Obviously it’s a competitive environment, but you step off the track, you’re in the locker room – you’re not walking around viewing other guys as competition, or ‘he’s here taking my spot’.
“Through 2024 there was media around that recruitment process going on already, so it’s not like it got to the end of the 2024 season and that was a real surprise.
“You have a good year, you think optimistically - ‘I see myself playing next to Tom and Josh plays a slightly different role, I wonder how the three of us will go together in an already existing system’… it’s just not the way it played out.
“I don’t take that personally – I’ve been around long enough, and if I was in their shoes I would have made the same move. Sometimes, it just doesn’t fall your way.
“While it was a challenging year for me, having to process that whole situation, falling out of the side, I’m not angry at the Hawthorn recruiters, Sam Mitchell, Tom and Josh.
“It’s the game we play and it’s pretty brutal at times.”
Speaking on potential homes ahead of 2026, SEN Afternoons host Dwayne Russell floated the prospect of joining North Melbourne given the side’s lack of top tier key defenders.
“If the opportunity was right, and the deal was right, absolutely. I’m open to any conversation at this point.
“At this stage, they are only going to be conversations, and until such time as they progress it’s hard to know what I’d say yes or no to.
“They’re an up-and-coming list; I could fill a bit of a gap there and fit into their backline. I know several people through their football department.
“There are good people at every club; I’m pretty open minded at this point.”
Frost’s open-mindedness extends across borders, with the defender willing to shift interstate if the right opportunity presents.
“I’ve talked about it with my partner Laura, in the right scenario, for sure.
“It would be a nice little adventure for our young family. We’ve talked about the fact that if it was the right fit for me, and the right move for us, then yes definitely.”
