West Coast have vowed to “protect their best interests” while negotiating a trade for Tom Barrass after the star defender confirmed WA footy’s worst-kept secret by announcing his desire to be dealt to Hawthorn.

Barrass on Tuesday used his exit meeting to tell the club where he won a 2018 premiership that he was keen to continue his career with the Hawks, ending weeks of speculation about his future despite being under contract until 2027.

The move will reunite the 150-gamer with former teammate and 2018 assistant coach Sam Mitchell, who has spearheaded Hawthorn’s rise from 16th on the ladder last season to a finals side this September.

“Tom has today informed us of his desire to pursue an opportunity at another club,” Eagles football manager Gavin Bell said.

“While the club respects Tom’s request, he is contracted for another three seasons and our vice-captain.

“We will endeavour to meet Tom’s request while protecting the best interests of the West Coast Eagles.”

Barrass will leave a significant hole in West Coast’s defence, having won the club’s 2022 Worsfold Medal as their best-and-fairest and forming a brilliant key-position partnership with Jeremy McGovern.

The backman’s trade demand is a significant shift from his comments from just two months ago, where he declared his commitment to remain at the Eagles through the club’s considerable rebuild.

“I am a West Coast Eagles player and unless the rug gets pulled out from under my feet I will stay that way,” the 28-year-old said at the time.

“I am really excited about what we are doing here and I am really excited about some of the talent.

“I think we have got some progress we still need to make… before we can be considered a good team.

“But I believe that we can do it and I believe that if we work as a team it is a closer than people probably perceive.”

Barrass’ trade request sets the scene for what looms as a pivotal trade period for the Eagles, beginning on October 7 – a day before his 29th birthday.

The Hawks currently hold draft picks 12, 30, 67 and 74, as well as their 2025 selections, as the two clubs begin to flesh out the initial details of a trade.

The Claremont product is set to be just the third player from the 2018 premiership side to join another club, following Scott Lycett’s immediate move to Port Adelaide in the weeks following the flag triumph and Willie Rioli’s exit to the Power at the end of 2022.

And the impending move is a rare one for Eagles players boasting Barrass’ level of experience, with the club establishing a strong record of player retention. Of the 48 players to have notched 150 games or more for West Coast, only four – Ben Cousins, Quinten Lynch, Matt Rosa and Mitchell White – have gone on to play at a rival club.

In better news for West Coast, improved defender Brady Hough has escaped serious injury following his awkward collision with teammate Reuben Ginbey during the club’s final game of the season in Geelong on Sunday.

Scans confirmed there was no significant damage to the 21-year-old’s knee.

On a big day for upcoming AFL player movement, Richmond’s Dan Rioli and Collingwood’s John Noble both told their respective clubs of their desire to play for Gold Coast next season.