Which clubs are chasing Calsher Dear, state of play at Hawthorn, Melbourne Demons, Geelong Cats, analysis

Calsher Dear is focused on winning back his place at Hawthorn. Half of Victoria’s clubs are focused on prising him away.

The 21-year-old key forward remains out of contract beyond 2026, with Hawthorn recently tabling a two-year extension, as first reported by Seven’s Tom Morris on Wednesday night.

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There is no suggestion Dear is looking to leave the Hawks, but that hasn’t stopped rival clubs closely monitoring his situation. Carlton, Collingwood, Geelong, Melbourne and St Kilda have all watched Dear at VFL level for Box Hill in recent weeks. Morris’ colleague Mitch Cleary has since reiterated interest from all of the aforementioned.

Foxfooty.com.au understands Melbourne and Geelong are the most aggressive of the five Victorian clubs showing interest in Dear, should he become available.

Interest in the emerging tall has intensified as Hawthorn continues to lock away its forward stocks. The Hawks have already re-signed Mitch Lewis until 2030 and Jack Gunston until 2027, while Mabior Chol is contracted through 2027 with a trigger for 2028.

Combined with the recent senior debut of 18-year-old Aidan Schubert, Hawthorn’s forward line has become one of the toughest in the competition to break into.

Dear has managed just five AFL games this season and has even spent periods trialling in defence at VFL level in a presumed bid to expand his experience at both ends of the ground.

Regardless, the thought of Dear in a rival jumper has head coach Sam Mitchell feeling queasy, as he addressed media ahead of their Round 22 clash with Brisbane.

“I saw him (edited) in a Melbourne jumper; that made me feel uncomfortable during the week, I must admit,” Mitchell said on Friday morning.

“We get along; we’ve had good chats all through this process. Understandably, contract-wise it’s taken a bit longer because he obviously wanted to get into the side and show what he could do.

“And that hasn’t come to fruition just yet, but there’s contracts there and talks there, so still very hopeful.

“But this is a tricky time of the year for everyone, so understand that … who knows what will happen?

“But we’ve had very open communication about all these things. Box Hill have a bye this week, unfortunately, but his form in the past month has been exactly what we’re after, so expect to see him.”

So, why are clubs so keen on him?

Despite his limited senior opportunities in 2026, Dear still remains one of the competition’s most highly regarded young key forwards.

Selected with Pick No. 56 in the 2023 national draft, the 21-year-old announced himself late in 2024 with a breakout game in Hawthorn’s elimination final against the Western Bulldogs, booting 3.2 from 10 disposals to help secure the club’s first finals win in nine years.

Rival clubs remain convinced there’s significant upside in Dear’s game, even if consistent opportunities have been hard to come by. Playing alongside established key forwards and with Nick Watson becoming the focal point at ground level, Dear has often been forced to play as a third key forward in his last four games at AFL level.

Hawthorn, however, remains determined to retain him. The Hawks have tabled a two-year contract extension for the son of club great and 1991 Norm Smith Medallist Paul Dear, who played 123 games in brown and gold.

While that offer reflects the club’s longer-term faith in the young key forward, it’s also understandable why rival clubs are closely monitoring his situation. For several of them, the prospect of offering Dear more immediate senior opportunities is a compelling selling point.

That being said, these are the reasons behind why a handful of clubs look to be showing a genuine interest in the Sandringham product.

MELBOURNE

The Demons are the first of two clubs strongest linked to Dear, as they potentially look at life beyond Brody Mihocek. Emerging key forward Jacob Van Rooyen has begun to make serious strides on field in 2026, while Matthew Jefferson has also shown promising glimpses in 13 senior matches this year. Should Steven King continue to play tall, a player of Dear’s calibre would give the Demons mastermind the ability to swing utility Harrison Petty down back. This is a link that makes a lot of sense, as the likes of Luker Kentfield and Kalani White continue to develop in the reserves.

Key forwards: Jacob Van Rooyen, Brody Mihocek, Matthew Jefferson, Harrison Petty, Luker Kentfield, Kalani White

GEELONG

There hasn’t been a key forward shortage at Geelong in forever, and as always, this looks to be the Cats getting ahead of the game. Injury has prevented reigning Coleman Medallist Jeremy Cameron from getting the best out of himself this season, but even then at 33, is unlikely to still be around much longer than 2030. In recent weeks with his absence, Shannon Neale has stepped up beautifully to fill a sizeable void as the number one target inside forward 50, as has Jay Polkinghorne in his first three games at the top level.

Key forwards: Jeremy Cameron, Shannon Neale, Jay Polkinghorne, Jacob Molier

CARLTON

Of the five clubs that have been reported to have interest in Dear, the Blues have the most shallow key forward stocks of them all. Brodie Kemp has shown himself to be a capable performer in attack on his day, but while still with plenty of room for improvement at 25 years of age, a younger type wouldn’t go astray for a club looking to still rebuild on the run. The club has long had links to Joel Amartey, but you’d suspect if the Swan stays put and Dear is still out of contract, Carlton could make their preliminary interest far more serious.

Key forwards: Harry McKay, Mitch McGovern, Brodie Kemp

COLLINGWOOD

Recent history tells us their run with key forwards hasn’t quite reaped the rewards they may have hoped. In the last two years, smalls Bobby Hill (30 goals, 2024) and Jamie Elliott (60 goals, 2025) have been their leading source on the scoreboard, while five-time leading goalkicker and former key forward Brody Mihocek is no longer at the club. It’s been a void that Dan McStay and Tim Membrey have filled respectably this season, but at 31 and 32 years of age respectively, aren’t looming as long-term options. Former Swan Jack Buller is continuing to develop his craft at the senior level, as are youngsters Charlie West and the uncapped Zac McCarthy in the reserves. Dear fits the mould perfectly of someone Collingwood could desperately both use and invest into through their attacking half, and should be asking every question of him.

Key forwards: Dan McStay, Tim Membrey, Jack Buller, Mitch Podhajski, Charlie West, Zac McCarthy

ST KILDA

The Saints’ preliminary interest is perhaps the most intriguing given the current status of their key forward stocks. Max King has effectively been absent from the top level for two whole seasons, leaving Mitchito Owens, Cooper Sharman and Anthony Caminiti to shoulder the workload up forward. Sharman’s year in front of the sticks throughout 2025 was handy, but it would be fair to say he and Owens have been a touch off the pace as Caminiti switches between the attacking and defensive half. The other complex layer to their interest is the future of Rowan Marshall, who has also been playing inside forward 50 with Ross Lyon deploying a two-ruck strategy alongside new recruit Tom De Koning.

Key forwards: Max King, Mitch Owens, Cooper Sharman, Anthony Caminiti, Isaac Keeler