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

[Lore]

There we go, that's the clip:

 

[HeHateMe]

Think the counter offer has been made multiple times - he’s not up for trade.

Exactly, no matter the offer it was never happening. Hawks now move to the draft or move assets into next year for a new target.

Essendon now retain Merrett for a year or 2 max.

 

[Yoda_]

Im chill, all good.

But people keep throwing up names of guys that dont want to leave. Or if they do, they dont want to go to Essendon

For a proven AFL player, money would talk. The opportunity to play midfield would also garner some interest imho.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

It's an interesting tactic from the hawks.

Most media peeps saw that offer and thought "ok, that's the starting point, they'll add something to that"

Insted the hawks have said "that's our best offer, gonna start removing elements now - that's the high water mark for us"

Taking my bias out of it - it's certainly an approach I haven't seen much in AFL circles, if at all

Given the timing you would have to assume it’s a final offer or close to it - there’s no time for negotiation.

 

[ImCheatingToWin]

we've got plenty of injury prone but good players already. We dont need more. Good or not, its time Essendon took a stance on health first and foremost

I was referring to him being offered up for a trade. Insanity to think we would with our extremely limited KPF stocks

 

[bzparkes]

Not sure why Hawthorn think they're in a position to give Essendon an ultimatum, considering they've said from day one they're not trading him.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

For a proven AFL player, money would talk. The opportunity to play midfield would also garner some interest imho.

Then Essendon have dropped the ball.

If they really wanted him they would have got to work early, stumped up the $$$ and turned his head. That or they have tried and he said no.

 

[EssendonPride]

If Essendon haven't been actively talking to Hawthorn players and making offers like this throughout this period then they've dropped the ball on recruiting our better or more promising players as part of this deal.

Yep. Hard to try and talk to players to gauge interest when your public stance is "Merrett won't be traded under any circumstances".

But this is just how we roll.....

 

[ReturningHawk]

I’ve been pretty sure all along the Reeves would be part of this deal. Proven AFL ruck. At the moment this deal is a bit meh for Essendon. Hustwaite is a good clearance winner with clean hands, but Reeves is a player who could actually make a difference and play 150 games for the club.

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Not sure why Hawthorn think they're in a position to give Essendon an ultimatum, considering they've said from day one they're not trading him.

Or maybe they just start taking Essendon at their word and believe that he is not for trade so move on and try and get something else done.

 

[Yoda_]

Then Essendon have dropped the ball.

If they really wanted him they would have got to work early, stumped up the $$$ and turned his head. That or they have tried and he said no.

to be fair, 4 weeks ago, Essendon had no idea that he was meeting Sam Mitchell when 3 months prior he was saying he was committed

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Then Essendon have dropped the ball.

If they really wanted him they would have got to work early, stumped up the $$$ and turned his head. That or they have tried and he said no.

Yep - you can't wait for Hawthorn to line up players. We can't make salary offers to our players on behalf of Essendon.

All we can say is "you'll prob get more game time if you go there"

Imagine saying to Mitch Lewis "Essendon need a forward. You're a forward. No idea how much they would offer you, could be a one year deal at 300k. Might be a 6 year deal at $800k. They might not even want you. Not sure. But you'll be part of the deal right?"

 

[Yoda_]

I’ve been pretty sure all along the Reeves would be part of this deal. Proven AFL ruck. At the moment this deal is a bit meh for Essendon. Hustwaite is a good clearance winner with clean hands, but Reeves is a player who could actually make a difference and play 150 games for the club.

we've said we are happy enough with our rucks as much as many Essendon supporters dont like hearing it

 

[Leather Poisoning]

to be fair, 4 weeks ago, Essendon had no idea that he was meeting Sam Mitchell when 3 months prior he was saying he was committed

Brad Scott had no idea. But it's clear now that guy is a total fool.

The board knew - they were voting to not trade Merrett. Clearly they had knowledge they knew he was looking to move.

 

[bzparkes]

Or maybe they just start taking Essendon at their word and believe that he is not for trade so move on and try and get something else done.

So why deliver an ultimatum then?

It's posturing to create FOMO, which makes no sense because Essendon have said no all along.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

People are too obsessed with the phrase Pick 9. Its very likely Essendon rate Pick 9 about as much as say Collingwoods Future 1st or the like and its a position where no one wants to give up a future 1st for pick 9.

If im Essendon id want 2 future 1sts to occur somehow which I think would mean Essendon getting involved in a deal for Rowan Marshall

19

Rowan Marshall

Age

30

Ht

201cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.4

4star

K

8.8

3star

HB

6.6

4star

CL

3.4

5star

HO

20.2

5star

D

12.9

3star

K

9.3

4star

HB

3.6

2star

CL

2.8

4star

HO

17.8

5star

D

10.6

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

4.8

4star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

7.8

5star

and trying to turn pick 9 into more from Geelong

 

[Yoda_]

Brad Scott had no idea. But it's clear now that guy is a total fool.

The board knew - they were voting to not trade Merrett. Clearly they had knowledge they knew he was looking to move.

no,

youre rewriting history. thats not how it played out at all

 

[Come back Cyril]

So why deliver an ultimatum then?

It's posturing to create FOMO, which makes no sense because Essendon have said no all along.

Well.

Last year we got publicly called out for not letting Eagles know we we're trading pick 14 - so I guess we can't win either way?

 

[RCAB]

Hawthorn have instructed Essendon that they have until 7pm today to respond to their offer or pick 9 is off the table, per Sam McClure.

Should be an interesting couple of hours coming up.

If that's true it's almost similar to what happened with Barrass and West Coast last year. Eagles really lost out on that one... You'll notice the plethora of Eagles posters in our threads... That's the reason.

 

[Sonny Hayes]

So why deliver an ultimatum then?

It's posturing to create FOMO, which makes no sense because Essendon have said no all along.

It does make sense, we have made an offer if you do not respond with anything by 7 we will move part of this trade package for something else. I don't get how it makes no sense.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

If anything that gives those future picks more value with the new points curve matching high picks is harder then ever and if those picks become better then expected you get more value trading out

I think we’ll just finish low enough to take Bewick straight up with our pick and the others are teens/second rounders.

 

[HairyO]

Not sure why Hawthorn think they're in a position to give Essendon an ultimatum, considering they've said from day one they're not trading him.

We did it with Barrass. WCE tried to be clever and ****ed it up massively.

No doubt Essendon will also **** this up. They have form.

 

[Foxx]

Making ultimatums in a deal you have no leverage in?

 

[bzparkes]

It does make sense, we have made an offer if you do not respond with anything by 7 we will move part of this trade package for something else. I don't get how it makes no sense.

it makes no sense because Essendon have said numerous times he's not for sale.

 

[vanders]

 

[bzparkes]

We did it with Barrass. WCE tried to be clever and ****ed it up massively.

No doubt Essendon will also **** this up. They have form.

What do you mean?

Hawthorn ended up giving up more than they'd otherwise have for Barrass because WCE were expecting it to be a straight trade for 14.

It worked out better in the long run.