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

[Lore]

There we go, that's the clip:

 

[BigT]

That proposal is really two separate trades so no need to tie them all up like that. Would be hawthorn giving 9, F1 and Hustwaite for Merrett which is in line with what youre sort of proposing. Then if Essendon wanted to package up 5.6 and 9 for pick 1 thats up to them (personally think that part does look pretty awful but it depends how high you rate pick 1)

Exactly. That would be awful. You aren’t giving up 3x top 10 picks to move up 4 spots from your current first. It’s not a generational talent. Would be stupidity.

 

[sydney_gws]

Essendon want pick 1. West Cost wont trade it for just picks 5 and 6 in this week compromised draft.

It comes down to if Merrett is quietly demanding to leave.
We'd have to get pick 1 or 2 out of it.

Could essendon trade Merritt,5 for pick 1 this year?.
Eagles lose 1, get 5,8 hawks F1.
Hawks lose 8, F1 to get Merrett.

I think eagles, Bombers might not agree. Hawks need to add more to the deal by trading a player perhaps.

 

[Hawks_Footy]

I didn't realise Essendon had set an asking price. What is it?

More than 2 x 1sts.. every media outlet in the country has reported this

 

[cAsEy_18]

Could essendon trade Merritt,5 for pick 1 this year?.
Eagles lose 1, get 5,8 hawks F1.
Hawks lose 8, F1 to get Merrett.

I think eagles, Bombers might not agree. Hawks need to add more to the deal by trading a player perhaps.

You want us to trade away Merrett for a 4 spot upgrade?
That’d be an all time shocker.

 

[Yoda_]

You look at the progress been made on Curnow and Petracca.. can't see this getting done and given the asking price I think it's for the best (long term)

Hawthorn want Merrett

Essendon's phone line im assuming is open

No contact has been made

Essendon's fault im assuming ?

 

[Duckworth]

More than 2 x 1sts.. every media outlet in the country has reported this

There have been individuals give their opinion on the value. Not the same thing.

 

[bluespooner]

"For a 30 year old in 2026" then why do you want him so damn bad???

Face it, because you know he's top of the top. You know damn well he's got plenty of years in him and is a genuine needle mover. You're the ones who want him and fawning over it, we're not the ones trying to get rid of him.

The only one who is deluded is you with all this cognitive dissonance. You're not fooling anybody.

Are you sure about that. He was invited, probably through his manager to speak with Sam Mitchell, no doubt they told him that they liked him as a player and thought he could make a difference (needle mover if you like).

Hawthorn finished fourth this year, but even if Merrett lands at Hawthorn performs at a high level, their midfield is still going to be a few echelons below that of Brisbane. So, unless they get a lot of internal improvement I can't see hawthorn bridging that gap.

 

[boncer34]

Are you sure about that. He was invited, probably through his manager to speak with Sam Mitchell, no doubt they told him that they liked him as a player and thought he could make a difference (needle mover if you like).

Hawthorn finished fourth this year, but even if Merrett lands at Hawthorn performs at a high level, their midfield is still going to be a few echelons below that of Brisbane. So, unless they get a lot of internal improvement I can't see hawthorn bridging that gap.

Whoa whoa whoa.

Hawthorn invited him?

 

[bluespooner]

Really? A player that will perfectly compliment your midfield. That will play another close to 150 games. At a high level. I think you are living in a dreamland if you think you can get a top 20 or so player in the comp, contracted, captain, for a pick in the 20s next year and a player who doesn’t get a game for you? That is close to highway robbery.

Would be like me saying I’ll take Weddle for our second pick next year and Lual.

No doubt, Merrett would be good for hawthorn's midfield but if your saying he's playing another 150 games, that is 7 years and he will be 37, then I think you're deluded.

Merrett is being traded for another 3 years as a top level midfielder and probably another year as a rotation player through the midfield. What essendon supporters seem to be expecting is a return for a prime Merrett in his mid-20s.

 

[Duckworth]

No doubt, Merrett would be good for hawthorn's midfield but if your saying he's playing another 150 games, that is 7 years and he will be 37, then I think you're deluded.

Merrett is being traded for another 3 years as a top level midfielder and probably another year as a rotation player through the midfield. What essendon supporters seem to be expecting is a return for a prime Merrett in his mid-20s.

The vast majority here are saying #9 + F1 + steak knives. Is that Merrett prime 20's value? or did you just make up something without any basis?

 

[BigT]

No doubt, Merrett would be good for hawthorn's midfield but if your saying he's playing another 150 games, that is 7 years and he will be 37, then I think you're deluded.

Merrett is being traded for another 3 years as a top level midfielder and probably another year as a rotation player through the midfield. What essendon supporters seem to be expecting is a return for a prime Merrett in his mid-20s.

I’ll take that bet. Merrett gets a hell of a lot closer to 150 games than he does to 60 before his career ends. No reason he is any different from a Pendlebury.

 

[jannissary]

Whoa whoa whoa.

Hawthorn invited him?

i thought zach made the initial contact, this makes everything different.

hawthorn have groomed him here. how disgusting.

unsurprising, but disgusting.

 

[HeHateMe]

Could essendon trade Merritt,5 for pick 1 this year?.
Eagles lose 1, get 5,8 hawks F1.
Hawks lose 8, F1 to get Merrett.

I think eagles, Bombers might not agree. Hawks need to add more to the deal by trading a player perhaps.

I suggested this ages ago, lose Merrett and 5 (was 4 at the time) but land both Duursma's.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Why? Hawthorn are trying to get better - not stay where they are.

The simple facts of the matter are draft assets are not really that useful to Hawthorn given Hawthorn currently think (either rightly or wrongly) that they are in contention and are therefore acting with more urgency.

And 30yo player assets are not really that useful to Essendon given it is widely accepted that Essendon are not in contention and will not be a for a few years yet.

But obviously things are not this simple and emotions and politics and all sorts of things take over.

Hawthorn is willing to give up part of its future - and maybe more than it should - to get Merrett for the now. Logic says that Essendon would be better off giving up part of the now to have a better crack at the future.

Logic does not decide these things though.

So is Essendon. losing Merret makes us weaker not stronger

Draft picks aren't that useful for Essendon aswell this year's draft is a crap shoot.

 

[BigT]

I suggested this ages ago, lose Merrett and 5 (was 4 at the time) but land both Duursma's.

So pick 5 and Merrett lands Essendon pick 1?

Where is the other Duursma?
And Merrett is worth a 4 pick upgrade?

Wow

 

[Foxx]

Yes but what does Merrett have to do with 1 in the scenario? In my opinion 5&6 is over paying for 1 for starters. I’d prefer two votes of the cherry with so many holes in our list.

And Merrett is worth more than Hawks f1 and Hustwaite.

Just a terrible outcome all round.

If we want Pick 1 - I would think it should be 5 &6 for 1& a late first back.

Merrett should be this years first pick (9) and next years f1 at absolute minimum. And even then I’m not convinced it’s enough given that ends up being pick 15/16 this year? And probably 20odd next year.

I dont think you realise that Pick 5 and 6 will end up being the 10th and 11th ranked players after academy selections.
Involving WC means other picks can be involved in the nut and bolts of the deal. It also guarantees we get pick 1 or 2, without doing a separate trade that could fall over.
We could possibly switch the pick 9 in the deal where we get that and West Cost get Hawks future first.

 

[fishardansin]

Basically what I've been saying for 2 weeks.

Key parts of the article:

“No meaningful discussions between Hawthorn and Essendon.”

That's what I've been saying Essendon's been stonewalling.

I got laugh reacts from Essendon posters because of my "reading" of the situation.
Both clubs admit it what I've been posting, while Essendon fans kept calling it “rubbish.”

Merrett “has made plain his wish to join Hawthorn.”

Explains itself.


The board veto clause.
Ahhh... Massive?

A board-level veto means Essendon’s football department can’t even complete a trade without political approval. Wow.

This is not a rational but purely an emotional club. Rosa must be thinking... How do I become Dodoro.

Like my constant argument here about the Dodoro ghost /optics over substance... Word for word here.

Hawthorn’s offer.

Pick 9 is already on the table. What else is there? Likr I've said before, this is what Hawthorn has, Essendon is welcome to shop Merrett to Collingwood or Geelong and get a worse offer or keep unhappy player

If no serious talks occur, it’s on Essendon...not Hawthorn.


We're almost at the end of the trade period, and no nomination yet or negotiation. Could suggest Merrett’s camp knowing Essendon’s obstruction is political, so they’re waiting until the board pressure hits boiling point before forcing their hand ( next week).




Essendon’s optics war has already backfired. Journalists starting to writrt that the board must approve a trade, screams incompetence.

Merrett’s delay now looks tactical, not hesitant: if he nominates after the board meeting, it isolates Welsh and the board and then they can’t claim ignorance or hide behind “we didn’t have time.”

Hawthorn’s position strengthens either way and they look patient and disciplined while Essendon looks reactionary and pride-driven.

You guys are melting hard, I expect more of them to come.

Sure is. I just need more Essendon fans laugh reacting at my posts even though I've been right all week. Maybe you guys can form a "pseudo-board" and decide if my posts are worthy of ridicule or legitimate responses.

It's not a very high pedestal given the low common denominator here but are you going to get back on topic or just here throw more barbs?

Do you have an opinion on Niall's article or do you just think it's BS?

Not sure where you're "right", or where the Essendon supporters are melting. The "melts" that many Essendon supporters had were early on with the "eff Zach Merrett for talking to Hawthorn while captain" and wanting to just draft him. They are not necessarily coming around to the club's stance of not drafting him but accept that that seems to be the case.

It is the Hawthorn supporters who are melting, wanting to turn this into their commentary about the Essendon football club. Their "advice" on whether or not Essendon are making the right call at this point is laughable, when it is clearly not coming from a genuine place. You're melting because you can't just shake him free.

You were adamant that a trade would happen, but are only now coming to a realisation that the board is not just posturing. They are not going to entertain talks for trading Merrett this season, unless a club offers something that would change their mind. Extra picks won't do it when we have already turned over the list massively and invested heavily in young players over the last few years, and will be adding another 4-5 18-year-olds this year. We already have all of our picks for next year, so there is another 3 or so players who are currently 17 years old.

I actually agree with the board on this one. We have Bewick, who is currently tracking to be top 5 in the 2027 draft, and a few academy players already ranked higher. Merrett could lose a bit of value next year, but not if he comes out and finishes the year injury-free and potentially wins another best and fairest. There are 3 very good Free Agent targets for Essendon to cover its salary cap hole and complement its young players. His trade will either improve our hand in the last draft before the Tassie team, or give us more draft points to get Bewick and academy kids in 2027.

The only thing that would change my mind is a young mid with excellent disposal and improving our draft hand in the next two drafts. For example, MacKenzie and F1st 2026 and F1st 2027.

You were not "right". You were not saying this from the start.

 

[HeHateMe]

So pick 5 and Merrett lands Essendon pick 1?

Where is the other Duursma?
And Merrett is worth a 4 pick upgrade?

Wow

You hate it and nice straw man

 

[TylerDurden]

Everyone knows Petroro has been controlling the dialogue up to this point.

I'm assuming the floodgates will open on Wednesday and the 2 clubs will be face to face trying to close out the deal then.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Everyone knows Petroro has been controlling the dialogue up to this point.

I'm assuming the floodgates will open on Wednesday and the 2 clubs will be face to face trying to close out the deal then.

Hopefully massive overs pick 9 and some crap fringe player won't get it done

 

[jannissary]

Everyone knows Petroro has been controlling the dialogue up to this point.

I'm assuming the floodgates will open on Wednesday and the 2 clubs will be face to face trying to close out the deal then.

awaiting his mouth piece reporting that andrew welsh is a cannibal or something akin to that

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

awaiting his mouth piece reporting that andrew welsh is a cannibal or something akin to that

Wonder what story that grub Morris is cooking up now he's probably camping out in front of Petroros house

 

[Duckworth]

awaiting his mouth piece reporting that andrew welsh is a cannibal or something akin to that

No, the mouth piece has turned, and is now saying he likes how Essendon is playing it.

This is not my opinion, this is my understanding - I will not put a line through Zach Merrett until 7.30pm next Wednesday.

This strategy is working absolutely perfectly for Essendon. Everyone is second-guessing if they would actually trade their captain.

That is why they are doing it.

The answer is they would, but it has to be an exceptional deal from Hawthorn.

What the Bombers won’t do is get in an early trade period tit for tat on future picks and going back and forth. The Hawks need to come - at some point - with a deal Essendon can sell to members as a win.

But make no mistake, this is a clear strategy and if I’m honest - I actually really rate it. They are essentially saying, 'Give us your best, give it once, and don’t stuff around when you do it'.

His words still have no value to me. It's interesting his biggest fan bois have stopped quoting him though...

 

[Unfazed]

Wonder what story that grub Morris is cooking up now he's probably camping out in front of Petroros house

He's still sulking that his "drug scandal" story ended up reflecting positively on the club.

 

[Yoda_]

Not sure where you're "right", or where the Essendon supporters are melting. The "melts" that many Essendon supporters had were early on with the "eff Zach Merrett for talking to Hawthorn while captain" and wanting to just draft him. They are not necessarily coming around to the club's stance of not drafting him but accept that that seems to be the case.

It is the Hawthorn supporters who are melting, wanting to turn this into their commentary about the Essendon football club. Their "advice" on whether or not Essendon are making the right call at this point is laughable, when it is clearly not coming from a genuine place. You're melting because you can't just shake him free.

You were adamant that a trade would happen, but are only now coming to a realisation that the board is not just posturing. They are not going to entertain talks for trading Merrett this season, unless a club offers something that would change their mind. Extra picks won't do it when we have already turned over the list massively and invested heavily in young players over the last few years, and will be adding another 4-5 18-year-olds this year. We already have all of our picks for next year, so there is another 3 or so players who are currently 17 years old.

I actually agree with the board on this one. We have Bewick, who is currently tracking to be top 5 in the 2027 draft, and a few academy players already ranked higher. Merrett could lose a bit of value next year, but not if he comes out and finishes the year injury-free and potentially wins another best and fairest. There are 3 very good Free Agent targets for Essendon to cover its salary cap hole and complement its young players. His trade will either improve our hand in the last draft before the Tassie team, or give us more draft points to get Bewick and academy kids in 2027.

The only thing that would change my mind is a young mid with excellent disposal and improving our draft hand in the next two drafts. For example, MacKenzie and F1st 2026 and F1st 2027.

You were not "right". You were not saying this from the start.

I cant like this post enough, well done!