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š» IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE š»
"Absolutely": Delisted Hawk reveals openness to all offers ahead of rookie draft
Jaiden SciberrasĀ ā¢ Ā 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, Frostās phone has remained rather silent.
āObviously the (national) draft is the priority for clubs at the moment,ā Frost told SEN Afternoons.
āOnce thatās done, likely it would be a rookie spot or a train-on spot, depending on what opportunities are out there. Itās hard to really know how I feel about anything right now, without anything in front of me.ā
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 ā an avenue that Frost could see himself taking to return to the top level.
āIt gives guys like myself and other mature-age guys getting on a list for the first time another look at AFL footy,ā he said.
āWeāll see what unfolds. Iām not expecting the phone to all of a sudden start buzzing, but itās a great opportunity.
āIām in a position where a decision would have to be right for me and the family, but Iām hoping that thereās at least a few conversations had and thereās the opportunity to have another crack somewhere.ā
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 wasnāt given the opportunity to re-establish himself at the level, he doesnāt take it personally.
āItās an interesting question. I think people expect it to be a little bit more (hostile),ā Frost said.
āObviously itās a competitive environment, but you step off the track, youāre in the locker room ā youāre not walking around viewing other guys as competition, or āheās here taking my spotā.
āThrough 2024 there was media around that recruitment process going on already, so itās not like it got to the end of the 2024 season and that was a real surprise.
āYou have a good year, you think optimistically - āI 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 systemāā¦ itās just not the way it played out.
āI donāt take that personally ā Iāve been around long enough, and if I was in their shoes I would have made the same move. Sometimes, it just doesnāt fall your way.
āWhile it was a challenging year for me, having to process that whole situation, falling out of the side, Iām not angry at the Hawthorn recruiters, Sam Mitchell, Tom and Josh.
āItās the game we play and itās pretty brutal at times.ā
Speaking on potential homes ahead of 2026, SEN Afternoons host Dwayne Russell floated the prospect of joining North Melbourne given the sideās lack of top tier key defenders.
āIf the opportunity was right, and the deal was right, absolutely. Iām open to any conversation at this point.
āAt this stage, they are only going to be conversations, and until such time as they progress itās hard to know what Iād say yes or no to.
āTheyāre 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.
āThere are good people at every club; Iām pretty open minded at this point.ā
Frostās open-mindedness extends across borders, with the defender willing to shift interstate if the right opportunity presents.
āIāve talked about it with my partner Laura, in the right scenario, for sure.
āIt would be a nice little adventure for our young family. Weāve talked about the fact that if it was the right fit for me, and the right move for us, then yes definitely.ā
