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Hawthorn cut Matt Spangher and final round hero Jack Fitzpatrick

Larissa Nicholson

Hawthorn fan favourite Matt Spangher and round-23 hero Jack Fitzpatrick have been delisted by the club.

The once highly-regarded running defender Angus Litherland also got the boot from the Hawks, as the club looks to refresh its list after a disappointing finals campaign.

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As the deadline for delisting players loomed, St Kilda said goodbye to four journeymen in Cameron Shenton, Brodie Murdoch, Tom Lee and Eli Templeton, all of whom will not be offered contracts for 2017.

And Collingwood forward Corey Gault retired from AFL football after five years and six senior games at the Pies. Injury-troubled Gault was keen to return home to WA, according to a Collingwood statement.

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Spangher was something of a cult hero in Hawk circles, a premiership defender also known for his long, flowing hair.

He played for West Coast and Sydney before joining Hawthorn in 2013 and playing 24 games for the club, including their 2014 premiership win over Sydney.

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Spangher has struggled with injuries and played just one senior game in 2016.

Hawthorn was the second AFL home for Fitzpatrick, 25, who started out playing for Melbourne.

Jack Fitzpatrick
Game changer: Jack Fitzpatrick's late goal sealed a tense win against Collingwood. Photo: Getty Images

He had to wait until the last week of this year's home and away season to wear his Hawks guernsey for the first time, marking the occasion by kicking a vital goal to cement a win and a vital top four berth for the Hawks.

Fitzpatrick went on to play in the Hawks' qualifying and semi-finals, but it was not enough to keep him on their list in 2017.

The latest announcement comes after celebrated veteran Sam Mitchell was traded to West Coast for an almost inconsequential draft pick and midfielder Jordan Lewis moved to Melbourne.

Hawthorn recruiting and list manager Graham Wright released a statement on Friday thanking the delisted players for their contribution and commitment to the Hawks.

"We would particularly like to acknowledge Matt Spangher, who departs a premiership player, for his service to the club over the last four years," the statement read.

Shenton, Murdoch, Lee and Templeton played 24, 22, 17 and 14 games for the Saints respectively.


Delisted Hawks:

Primary-listed players

Jack Fitzpatrick (delisted)

Angus Litherland (delisted)

Matt Spangher (delisted)

Zac Webster (delisted)

Rookie-listed players

Lachlan Langford (delisted)

Jermaine Miller-Lewis (delisted)

Alex Woodward (delisted)

Shem Tatupu (delisted)