Barrass revealed a main motive behind his desire to move to Hawthorn was his young family.

New Hawthorn recruit Tom Barrass has revealed a major motivation behind his desire to leave Western Australia was to do what is best for his young family. In an emotional goodbye to West Coast, Barrass said while the Eagles will always be the team that has his heart, after more than a decade at the club the interests of his family and friends had to take priority.

Barrass and his partner Nadia Rosa welcomed their second child last year and the defender said a move to Melbourne was what was best for his family. Barrass was traded to the Hawks just 30 minutes before the trade period deadline on Wednesday night after weeks of drawn-out negotiations.

The Eagles received a future first, second and third-round picks for the 29-year-old fan favourite, who was a member of the Eagles’ 2018 premiership side and won the club’s best and fairest honour in 2022. And in an emotional farewell on Thursday, Barrass shared a series of photos on his Instagram from his 11 years at the club that drafted him as the 43rd pick all the way back in the 2013 draft.

“I would like to thank the West Coast Eagles football club for being my home for the last 11 years,” Barrass posted. “I have loved this club since I was a boy, and it has been central in my life since. The club has provided me with unbelievable opportunity, experience, mentors and most importantly friendships.

“I also feel it is important to thank the fans and the WCE community — I have always felt the love, and have always tried to display mine through the way I played. This has been an extremely hard decision, but sometimes hard is good, and the interests of my family and friends come first. Hopefully I’ve made a contribution to a club I love very much. Being a life member is a true honour.

“Love you all and see you on the other side, I am really looking forward to the next part of my life with my little family, over at Hawthorn. TB out.”

Teammates were quick to pay tribute to their beloved teammate’s post. Brady Hough wrote, “Damn” accompanied with a love heart, while others wrote “Teeba” and “Love ya big Orse”. Barrass leaves West Coast after playing 150 games in 11 seasons for the club.