Former West Coast Eagles defender Tom Barrass trains with new club Hawthorn Hawks

Former West Coast star Tom Barrass has wasted no time getting to know his new Hawthorn teammates, returning early for pre-season training with the club’s first-to-fourth-year players.

Barrass, 29, joined fellow star recruit Josh Battle in drizzly conditions at Waverley Park on Monday, despite the pair not mandated to return until next week.

The premiership Eagle completed a running session with new captain James Sicily, who is still recovering from a shoulder reconstruction he underwent in September.

Barrass was traded to Hawthorn in the final minutes of the AFL trade period last month in one of the most high-profile moves of the off-season.

The Hawks gave up their future first, second and third-round picks to West Coast in exchange for the defender and a future fourth.

Barrass, who was contracted with the Eagles for another three seasons before he was traded, signed a four-year contract with Hawthorn, which is understood to have a trigger for a fifth.

Hawthorn list boss Mark McKenzie said the semi-finalists were excited to welcome Barrass to the club.

“Tom is clearly a player of high talent and character who we know will play a key role in our defensive unit in 2025 and beyond,” McKenzie said.

“He has not only shown how well he can shut down dangerous opposition forwards but also how well he can intercept and set up crucial passages of play.”

“As one of the premier defenders in the league, we are excited to have Tom in the brown and gold in 2025.”