Unofficial Preview 2025 Hawk's Hypothetical Trade Discussion...now with added DFA spitballing!

[Strapping Young Lad]

This thread is becoming increasingly popular, and to keep some sort of order, we will have some….

Rules of engagement:

1. Bring valid news or links to Twitter posts from notable sources. Don’t post screenshots or “some bloke just said on SEN” or what some “trade whisperer” has posted on a Facebook page.

2. Ignore what other team boards are putting up as trade offers. Don’t quote or bring them here either.

3. Don’t post “buckle up” for the lols.

4. If you can’t say anything nice about Worpel or CJ, don’t say anything at all. The continued slaps and backhanders are just going to be deleted.

 

[Hawkk]

Remember when we thought the Wingard trade set us back 5 years?

We gave up 15, 35 and Ryan Burton

3

Ryan Burton

Age

29

Ht

191cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.5

5star

K

12.1

4star

HB

6.3

4star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.1

4star

MG

277.3

4star

D

16.8

4star

K

12.3

5star

HB

4.5

3star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.0

2star

MG

277.3

4star

D

13.4

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

4.4

4star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.2

4star

for a 26 year old A-grader and we still got ripped off.

‘Nuff said.

 

[VandoHawk]

Remember when we thought the Wingard trade set us back 5 years?

We gave up 15, 35 and Ryan Burton for a 26 year old A-grader and we still got ripped off.

‘Nuff said.

It’s funny because I don’t necessarily think we lost that trade. It was pretty bad for both parties.

Wingard played some great footy for us but his body didn’t hold up.

PA got Duursma (traded away), Pick 35 (traded for Sam Mayes, delisted) and Burton (delisted) who never developed beyond his second year.

We also picked up Scrim for a future third in the same year who became a better player than Burton.

 

[bigmaxi]

Trade week is like a reality show, everyone glued to their screens watching, theories flying as to who is shagging who. When ITK peeps, those working or close to people working on the show, give us hints that conflicts with the made up shit in our own minds, we lose that said shit!
I love trade week, not posting just watching.
Thanks everyone been a fun week, staying tuned in.
In the immortal words of Billy Joel…” don’t go changing….”

 

[Steven Tyler]

A few days ago posters who were acting like they were ITK were saying the deal for Merrett would anger the Bombers as it was skewed heavily in our favour
Now we are hearing we lose pick 9, a future first, and a combination of Frenchie, Lewis and Scrimmers

 

[MasterSamurai]

Nah, the Mackenzie talk can't be real. Why? Well I shared here (and Im sure others) that we can get FF for him separately from another club. So, if he has to go , then taht would make more sense than giving him up as steak knives.
Essen know, that Mackenzie is a high end talent so they'd definitely be interested but getting him along with two first rounders is just puke territory. No way Jose!

 

[hawkmang]

Getting war flashbacks to the O’Meara and Wingard deals reading these latest rumours

 

[Bugs1977]

In the scenario, our starters would be Newcombe, Day, Newc, Nash and Ward.

Depth would be Butler, Maginness and Anderson. A lot of grunt but lacking class. Still reasonable depth.

We could still rotate Moore, Wiz or even CMac through the midfield.

I’m against the proposed trade but I don’t think our midfield depth would be a problem.

Two Jai’s eh. Do we even need Merrett?

 

[bigbuddyboy]

In the scenario, our starters would be Newcombe, Day, Newc, Nash and Ward.

Depth would be Butler, Maginness and Anderson. A lot of grunt but lacking class. Still reasonable depth.

We could still rotate Moore, Wiz or even CMac through the midfield.

I’m against the proposed trade but I don’t think our midfield depth would be a problem.

I think there are questions over Day’s durability.

Moore, wiz and butler already play and rotate through to give the starters a rest.

I doubt Anderson is ready.

In this trade scenario, Maginess is the only true depth mid left on the list.

 

[VandoHawk]

Two Jai’s eh. Do we even need Merrett?

I say abandon the trade and invest in cloning technology. Also upgrade Day with bionic legs.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Mackenzie must have serious doubts internally (tank?) if he's being thrown in on top of 2x1sts.
Overall a terrible trade for us.

Not a fan of getting reamed by Essendon.

Walk away from that deal and let Essendon deal with the ramifications of having screwed over their captain and best player with unrealistic requirements.

 

[GrimReaper3]

You know you wanted it MS

View attachment 2451494

Brilliant

 

[kazzooka]

My mail is Merrett to request a trade this weekend.

The deal will look something like Mackenzie AND Hustwaite, pick 9 and a F1 for Merrett and a F2.

Humphrey won’t be this year.

Things are fluid so take this with a grain of salt

That would infuriate me if we did that for a 30 year old. We'd want to be damn certain we win 3 flags and hustwaite and Mackenzie don't become players.

Then you add 2 good draft picks that could land a player like greaves or another Mraz quality.

Mackenzie I think has the potential to be a such a great player. And while I acknowledge you need to give some to get some I think losing Worpel, hustwaite and Mackenzie and young drafted for Merrett is putting us backwards. And leaving us with not much to trade with in the future.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

We're essentially two mids down with Day going to HBF and Worpel to Geelong.

Trading out both of HH and Frenchie beggars belief if true

 

[seysearles]

What I dont like is being in a position of trade weakness where Essendon can just sit there and say "make us happy or you aint getting what you clearly desperately need". Its a shit position to trade from. They know that we have had big cracks at Smith last year, Butters, Reid, Petracca and now Humphries and have been left sucking our thumbs. Now with 3 days left of trade period only have the hail mary option of trying to get their 30yr old captain to break his contract. I hope we have the fortitude to pull the pin if it becomes absurd and back ourselves to internally develop CM, HH, JW as well as get a gun 18yr old mid in the draft AND explore some moneyball options with our 2nd and third rounders in the remaining days of the trade period.

 

[kazzooka]

What I dont like is being in a position of trade weakness where Essendon can just sit there and say "make us happy or you aint getting what you clearly desperately need". Its a shit position to trade from. They know that we have had big cracks at Smith last year, Butters, Reid, Petracca and now Humphries and have been left sucking our thumbs. Now with 3 days left of trade period only have the hail mary option of trying to get their 30yr old captain to break his contract. I hope we have the fortitude to pull the pin if it becomes absurd and back ourselves to internally develop CM, HH, JW as well as get a gun 18yr old mid in the draft AND explore some moneyball options with our 2nd and third rounders in the remaining days of the trade period.

Essendon on the other hand are in the shit possible of watching time tick down and then actually keeping the guy they hate.

So they keep him strip him if captaincy, spray paint slurs on his locker and have the fans boo him every game. Then he wins another bnf for them in a 5 win season and they miss the chance to develop their youth or bring in talent. In 2 years he leaves as a free agent and they go backwards again.

Keeping him is a terrible result for Essendon. Worse than him leaving for pick 53 like stringer.

 

[seysearles]

Essendon on the other hand are in the shit possible of watching time tick down and then actually keeping the guy they hate.

So they keep him strip him if captaincy, spray paint slurs on his locker and have the fans boo him every game. Then he wins another bnf for them in a 5 win season and they miss the chance to develop their youth or bring in talent. In 2 years he leaves as a free agent and they go backwards again.

Keeping him is a terrible result for Essendon. Worse than him leaving for pick 53 like stringer.

As much as I would like that to be the case i think we over rate that. Plenty of players have failed at trade requests and go back to their original clubs without any animosity. Ryan O’keefe is the pin up boy for that scenario. I think Merrett is mature and loyal enough to go back to the club and give it everything he has. He even intimated that in the best and fairest speech. Then when his contract expires in two years he can easily facilitate a trade and has 2-3yrs to go hard for a flag at 32 Alastair Lynch (first of 3 flags at 33) or Brian Lake (first of 3 flags at 31) style .

 

[Hawks_Footy]

Gee it's really hard to swallow the idea that we're considering trading multiple 1sts + good long term talent for a 30yo (A grader).. Just feel this has got quite big on us.

I want us to find a way to get Carlton's pick 10 (given they risk losing for Dean bid) and put the heat back on Essendon..

Picks 9 & 10 + Hustwaite for Merrett you've got until Sunday night to say yes or we move on..

Pick 10 for 31, 43, F2, F3 + FF2

 

[MasterSamurai]

As much as I would like that to be the case i think we over rate that. Plenty of players have failed at trade requests and go back to their original clubs without any animosity. Ryan O’keefe is the pin up boy for that scenario. I think Merrett is mature and loyal enough to go back to the club and give it everything he has. He even intimated that in the best and fairest speech. Then when his contract expires in two years he can easily facilitate a trade and has 2-3yrs to go hard for a flag at 32 Alastair Lynch (first of 3 flags at 33) or Brian Lake (first of 3 flags at 31) style .

Don't forget though, Zack went Oppenheimer on their arses like not seen before!! He wants Hawks 100%. The only reason he hasn't come out an screamed out " Make me a Hawk" is because it's upto us to let him know " we're on!"
He'll be huge for our midfield even without Day, can U imagine adding Day at his best to Zack , Newcombe, Nash and Ward? Industry is well aware how strong Hawthorn will be with him in there, not just Hawthorn. Obviously, can't have Mackenzie thrown in, as I've said before, if he wanted to go, we have a club or two willing to part with future first already .

 

[seysearles]

F

Don't forget though, Zack went Oppenheimer on their arses like not seen before!! He wants Hawks 100%. The only reason he hasn't come out an screamed out " Make me a Hawk" is because it's upto us to let him know " we're on!"
He'll be huge for our midfield even without Day, can U imagine adding Day at his best to Zack , Newcombe, Nash and Ward? Industry is well aware how strong Hawthorn will be with him in there, not just Hawthorn. Obviously, can't have Mackenzie thrown in, as I've said before, if he wanted to go, we have a club or two willing to part with future first already .

For me that wasn’t Oppenheimer. There is a reason he hasn’t requested a trade. If the clubs can’t agree to terms he will just slide back into the sash and play on. Maybe he’ll give up the captaincy but it’s honestly far from an irreparable relationship. He’s been very respectful and as transparent as you can be. He’s basically saying that he thinks the club is behind schedule. Do you really see Essendon giving him up for anything that’s not ****ing absurd for us (selling our future as you say). He’s all they have in terms of A-grade talent and leadership. In truth he’s worth more than 3 firsts to them.

 

[HairyO]

A few days ago posters who were acting like they were ITK

.....

Tellingly a few people who have been good with info have said nothing.so likely there is a lot of ongoing discussion dressed up as agreements and they are waiting for actual confirmations.

 

[BIGHAWK23]

We're essentially two mids down with Day going to HBF and Worpel to Geelong.

Trading out both of HH and Frenchie beggars belief if true

Day isn’t going to HB

 

[Judd2Sewell]

My mail is Merrett to request a trade this weekend.

The deal will look something like Mackenzie AND Hustwaite, pick 9 and a F1 for Merrett and a F2.

Humphrey won’t be this year.

Things are fluid so take this with a grain of salt

I'll have to remove the crown off Sleepy's head and replace it with a dunce cap, if that's what we end up doing.

 

[Hawkers Hero]

As a few people have mentioned, losing Worpel, Henry, Frenchie and no ability to add a class midfielder through trade or the draft until 2028 in one off season with only Merrett coming in is risky bordering on crazy vossy areas.

If we have an injury and suspension at the same time, our midfield will be 3 of Newk, Day, Zach, Nash, Ward supported by Finn/Butts/Moore and a flash or two from Wiz - that isn't winning too many games imo.

I have faith in the club but wonder if people are hearing second hand about all the assets leaving the club and not hearing about all the assets arriving?

You would think some combination of 9, F1, FF1, French, Henry, Reeves and a Scrim/Lewis would be enough for Merrett and Humphrey.

 

[LRobbo]

To all those saying pass on Merrett prefer Humphrey etc

Zach is a top 10 mid at that absolute cesspool football club, can you imagine what he’ll be like at a functioning organisation with a near elite ruck tapping him the ball, an absolute bull in Newcombe doing the dirty work and a Rolls Royce in Day next to him.
On top of that, with a point to prove to his old employer for a team that will contend.
Bloke could win the Brownlow next year

 

[BIGHAWK23]

My mail is Merrett to request a trade this weekend.

The deal will look something like Mackenzie AND Hustwaite, pick 9 and a F1 for Merrett and a F2.

Humphrey won’t be this year.

Things are fluid so take this with a grain of salt

Merrett to request a trade yes

It’s not two players