Recommitted Zach Merrett [UFA 2027] - Wanted a trade to Hawthorn, but it didn't get done

[Lore]

There we go, that's the clip:

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Sounds like Hawthorn could have leaked it then. Wouldn’t cause issues for Mitchell, Hawthorn or the players anyway and they have a vested interest in forcing the situation open too, if they really want to get him.

It makes no sense to Hawthorn to leak it, come on Lore.

Merrett's camp is the one that stands to make the most from it leaking. It's the logical step.

 

[Lore]

Exactly the point. Fair chance Tom has made a call to leak this, knowing exactly how Sam will handle it.

Does petroro have a track record of this?

Worked the exact opposite when Brad left AFL House.

 

[Lore]

It makes no sense to Hawthorn to leak it, come on Lore.

Merrett's camp is the one that stands to make the most from it leaking. It's the logical step.

It’s left his reputation in tatters so not really.

 

[dermott]

Listen to Tom Morris on SEN this morning.

He says explicitly that aside from the source of the Hawthorn meeting story, the only other person who knew he was going to publish it was Hawthorn's list manager, who he told "about five minutes" before he published.



Its clear as day that the Hawthorn meeting yarn was planted by Petroro.

He said Hawthorn media manager not list manager. Big difference

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

It’s left his reputation in tatters so not really.

Again, the outcome justifies the means. I have no doubt Merrett and his camp were/are completely aware of how messy they had to make this to even have a chance of being released from his contract.

Just look at the immediate response..."we're not trading him! He's going nowhere"

 

[HeHateMe]

Sounds like Hawthorn could have leaked it then. Wouldn’t cause issues for Mitchell, Hawthorn or the players anyway and they have a vested interest in forcing the situation open too, if they really want to get him.

I read an article from Tom Morris where he elaborate on what happened last year with the Saints. How would he knows that, Hawthorn wouldn't know that.

 

[Lore]

I read an article from Tom Morris where he elaborate on what happened last year with the Saints. How would he knows that, Hawthorn wouldn't know that.

Gerard Whateley was talking on radio about what happened with St Kilda last year and Brad Scott confirmed elements of that story on 360. That’s just the last two days but Essendon fans knew what was going on a year ago. I don’t think it’s a secret?

 

[Sonny Hayes]

any combination can work i think

but in terms of draft picks they will both need to be mid - low picks.

I do like the Idea of getting Pick 8 + F1 + McKenzie but yes agree something needs to go back the other way on that one.

That deal just isn’t happening straight up

 

[Sonny Hayes]

It’s left his reputation in tatters so not really.

He was never going to get to leave without taking a hit to his reputation, Essendon weren’t going to trade him if he just said ‘hey I’d like to leave but if not that’s all good’

 

[Lore]

He was never going to get to leave without taking a hit to his reputation, Essendon weren’t going to trade him if he just said ‘hey I’d like to leave but if not that’s all good’

Plenty of ways to achieve that without ****ing with the club you apparently want to join.

 

[Blackhawk42]

any combination can work i think

but in terms of draft picks they will both need to be mid - low picks.

I do like the Idea of getting Pick 8 + F1 + McKenzie but yes agree something needs to go back the other way on that one.

It can't be MacKenzie as well as two firsts.

It will be 2 firsts and Hustwaite, or pick 8 and MacKenzie.

I'd be staggered if we offered up Cam at all though.

This was a pick 7 in 2022. Who has been showing gradual improvement and played his best career match early this season before breaking his hand and struggling to regain confidence. He isn't going to be packaged up alongside two first round draft picks. That would be madness from Hawthorn.

 

[Bald]

It’s left his reputation in tatters so not really.

The brutal truth of the matter is in 12 months, the overwhelming majority of the footballing public will not care about how Zach left the Bombers, most will forget what happened - just like they won't care about Oscar Allen (mindful he's a free agent so that's a bit different).

Essendon people will hurt for a long time and perhaps will hold a negative view towards Zach forever, but the footballing public by and large will forget and move on.

 

[Lore]

The brutal truth of the matter is in 12 months, the overwhelming majority of the footballing public will not care about how Zach left the Bombers, most will forget what happened - just like they won't care about Oscar Allen (mindful he's a free agent so that's a bit different).

Essendon people will hurt for a long time and perhaps will hold a negative view towards Zach forever, but the footballing public by and large will forget and move on.

Name some recent Essendon captains?

 

[Gavin Excell]

The brutal truth of the matter is in 12 months, the overwhelming majority of the footballing public will not care about how Zach left the Bombers, most will forget what happened - just like they won't care about Oscar Allen (mindful he's a free agent so that's a bit different).

Essendon people will hurt for a long time and perhaps will hold a negative view towards Zach forever, but the footballing public by and large will forget and move on.

This is correct

 

[Ambrosia]

No idea what a fair trade is with this years picks being quite devalued and Essendon already having so many of them you'd imagine we'd be going hard for a future first plus something else decent.

 

[Foxman98]

The brutal truth of the matter is in 12 months, the overwhelming majority of the footballing public will not care about how Zach left the Bombers, most will forget what happened - just like they won't care about Oscar Allen (mindful he's a free agent so that's a bit different).

Essendon people will hurt for a long time and perhaps will hold a negative view towards Zach forever, but the footballing public by and large will forget and move on.

The football public already feel sorry for him

 

[HeHateMe]

Gerard Whateley was talking on radio about what happened with St Kilda last year and Brad Scott confirmed elements of that story on 360. That’s just the last two days but Essendon fans knew what was going on a year ago. I don’t think it’s a secret?

Ah yeah I'm not listening to everything so wouldn't know. I guess some of these articles might just be tit bits from every where throw together.

It just seems what's being leaked and discuss centres all around Merrett, how he feels, what's he's been up to and not alot/any Hawthorn IP.

 

[dmark]

This is correct

Absolutely, we lost buddy, Sk lost locket. Fans move on and replace them with a there new favourite player

 

[MisterMarcus]

No idea but I doubt it will have any bearing on the playing group. The timing wasn't great.

We certainly won't be using it as an excuse anyway, whatever happens.

Zach also hasn't categorically nominated Hawthorn. He could be pushing for a move elsewhere. All that we know is he has met Hawthorn most recently.

If Hawthorn lose tonight, that's going to be the media and online narrative though (BS though it may be): Merrett was a distraction, Mitchell didn't have his mind on the job, focus on your own team instead of stealing other captains, blah blah blah. Would turn a few Hawks fans against him right from the beginning.

I'm just surprised Zac's manager didn't foresee that possibility.

 

[threesixpio]

Absolutely, we lost buddy, Sk lost locket. Fans move on and replace them with a there new favourite player

2014 flag massively helped though.

 

[Bald]

Name some recent Essendon captains?

For what reason?

Matthew Lloyd is the most prominent former Essendon captain in the media and only the other day he said this is a Essendon problem, not a Merrett one.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

I'm still in the camp (as much as it hurts to say) that Hawks have done nothing wrong and Essendon are blowing this up completely unnecessarily and immaturely. The Scott interview, Redman saying he's disappointed is what has set the mood on the whole saga. Could have been a lot cleaner just saying "we understand we have changed timelines and respect what Zac has given to the club. We'll explore what a trade looks like with Zac but will only complete a trade if it works for us"

Having said that, would not be opposed to Essendon saying, we'll trade you to a contender out of state or you'll stay though...

 

[FB19]

They got less? Did they really?

2025 1st, 2025 2nd and 2025 3rd round picks for a 30 year old with a crook back.

The entire original Hawks 2025 draft hand.

Hawks were forced to pony up.

The only error from the Eagles was chosing the Hawks future 1st not the Bules.

Wrong thread. But to close it, eagles didn’t really get less but we also paid less on the basis that I believe the original offer was pick 14 plus f2. As things stand given trading 14 for blues f1/2, we paid the equivalent of pick 25 given where our 2025 picks and blues picks have landed. A win-win!

 

[sinkintins]

Ok yeah fair enough than my bad. I agree thats way overs.

But you should at least admit your Pick 8 and F1 aint getting this done. If we cant even agree that we are wasting our time discussing these hypotheticals.

Footnote.

Thats not to remove the realism that Essendon is a shit club, so they may entirely do a shit deal here. I am very self aware of that

For everyone's sakes, Essendon deserve a fair deal for the type of player that Merrett is. I think they'd be smarter to seek players rather than picks, and we have a few fringe ones who deserve AFL games but can't break into our side for one reason or another.

 

[Lore]

Ah yeah I'm not listening to everything so wouldn't know. I guess some of these articles might just be tit bits from every where throw together.

It just seems what's being leaked and discuss centres all around Merrett, how he feels, what's he's been up to and not alot/any Hawthorn IP.

2024: https://www.sen.com.au/news/2024/09...xplains-the-saints-audacious-bid-to-lure-zach

This is his info now:

The 'nuclear scenario' Merrett must employ to escape Essendon

Possible next step after 'brazen' first move

www.nine.com.au

Mitch’s wife having a role in Josh Battle and now Merrett, how keen Hawthorn are, Petroro’s relationship with Vozzo, Essendon should look around for better offers.

“Both [Scott & Vozzo] suspected Merrett wanted out, but neither had been told categorically this was the case before he met with Hawthorn.”