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

[Lore]

There we go, that's the clip:

 

[Yoda_]

Maybe you should hold the media accountable for what they discuss instead of somehow trying to blame them for reporting on Mitchell's meetings but none of the other clubs or coaches that have met with players during the recruitment process?

Or do you think it's hawthorn that decides what the footy media talk about?

as has been pointed out,

Mitchell met with Oscar Allen, meeting leaked
Mitchell met with Harley Reid, meeting leaked
Mitchell met with Merrett, meeting leaked

what's the common denominator here?

 

[bzparkes]

You have absolutely invented this to alleviate the thought that Merrett would be so disenchanted with Essendon that he can't stand it any longer and wants to leave.

Honestly - the degree to which people want to paint Mitchell as some sinister disruptor is mad.

A coach from another club can't make a player hate his own club. Not Mitchell, not even the brilliant Brad Scott. (not Brad can't even manipulate Zach into loving his own club). Nobody is that good at manipulating people. Every siingle coach in the league will try and take advantage of a player that hates his own club, but none of them have the hypno skills to turn a player against his own club (excpet maybe Brad)

He did the exact same thing with OAllen and wasn't exactly shy about spending time with Reid at Barrass' wedding.

If you think this isn't deliberate, you haven't been paying attention.

Power to him for trying but it's yet to work.

Quite the opposite actually.

 

[GinniAndTonic]

as has been pointed out,

Mitchell met with Oscar Allen, meeting leaked
Mitchell met with Harley Reid, meeting leaked
Mitchell met with Merrett, meeting leaked

what's the common denominator here?

Who give a flying **** who leaked what, does it really make that much of a difference. WOW coaches meet with players from other clubs during the year who knew.

 

[Yoda_]

hawks say they've been ringing, essendon said they weren't being rung.

one club's lying, not sure who, not sure it matters at the end of the day!

one club has been open and transparent in there stance on things, the other is Hawthorn

 

[Lore]

1265 minutes till merrett is a hawk

I certainly hope so!

 

[HBFlanker]

Its a lot for Richmond to give up for what is likely a pick outside top 12 in 2026

They add in another top pick though, in a better draft.

Understand they may the ones that would push back in this scenario.

No way Essendon or Hawthorn would be upset at this result

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

I would be very shocked if other club coaches aren't meeting prospective trade targets lol.

Hey Zach. How about coming to the Hawks in what could possibly be a career and legacy defining decision with huge ramifications on your livelihood. No you can't meet one of your direct reports who will be leading you for your tenure.

Utter madness.

Has any other coach been caught multiple times in a year meeting with opposition teams captains during the season? Hawthorn brought this on themselves, Essendon had 0 reason to try and negotiate a deal with them after the s*** sandwich they've caused them.

 

[FootyGuru]

Who give a flying **** who leaked what, does it really make that much of a difference. WOW coaches meet with players from other clubs during the year who knew.

Mitchell was just being ruthless.

Just like how Essendon are ruthlessly squeezing every asset from the hawks.

 

[Yoda_]

I would be very shocked if other club coaches aren't meeting prospective trade targets lol.

Hey Zach. How about coming to the Hawks in what could possibly be a career and legacy defining decision with huge ramifications on your livelihood. No you can't meet one of your direct reports who will be leading you for your tenure.

Utter madness.

Not one person is under any illusion that this doesnt happen. It is the notion that it was done in secret and just so happened to be leaked is what's got under the skin of so many. And then the mud slinging on both Essendon and Merrett's character in what appeared to tarnish them to strong arm a low balling deal is what grinds a lot of gears in people.

 

[GinniAndTonic]

Mitchell was just being ruthless.

Just like how Essendon are ruthlessly squeezing every asset from the hawks.

Squeeze all you like but when a deal doesn’t happen which it won’t you’ll be left with a player that doesn’t want to be there and all your supporters will complain that you didn’t do the deal.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

as has been pointed out,

Mitchell met with Oscar Allen, meeting leaked
Mitchell met with Harley Reid, meeting leaked
Mitchell met with Merrett, meeting leaked

what's the common denominator here?

So once again - we're ok with these meetings happening as long as nobody knows about them?

I'm not going to hold Mitchell responsible for the fact that everyone has a hysterical fit over a coach meeting with a prospective target.

The leaked meetings should have resulted in a shrug of the shoulders but, as we've seen in this thread, people are so triggered that the meetings happened that they hold Mitchell accountable for their own ridiculous reaction to the meetings happening.

 

[leighmo]

Matt Rosa letting the Hawks know where to meet for trade discussions.

 

[bzparkes]

Current Narrative Outcome

Essendon: fracturing between pride and panic.

Hawthorn: unified, amused, and narratively dominant.

Neutrals: drifting towards “Hawks offered plenty; Essendon look irrational”

Essendon - "We ain't trading." Doesn't even bother to pick up the phone.

Hawks - ultimatums, constant media articles, trying to get their media buddies to help them.

Thanks for the laugh at your utterly clueless post though.

 

[bzparkes]

Interesting to see if Dons come to the table at 6pm tomorrow night to thrash out a deal..

There's 50% of me that believes this has been a tactic to now to get the best return (fair play it's worked) and the other 50% of me is saying they're just plain mad and holding him regardless of what Hawthorn coughs up

Why? They've said from day dot that they're not trading him and that's been the end of that from their position.

Maybe they're telling the truth?

 

[Guardian Hawk]

I agree, if player offer was better I think the Bombers do the deal. Hawks being stingey by offering up a VFL player who has zero value. Come to the party with a Mackenzie or Ward and they’d do it.

Compare it to Sydneys Curnow offer. 2 firsts and 2 B22 players (can argue over their respective value but at least they’re playing AFL and not stat padding in the VFL weekly).

I just remembered that Sydney is also asking for Carltons Silvagni compo (end of first round) back.

That almost cancels out one of their first round picks, meaning the Sydney offer for Curnow is significantly less than the current Hawthorn offer for Merrett- even though Curnow is objectively worth more.

 

[Yoda_]

Squeeze all you like but when a deal doesn’t happen which it won’t you’ll be left with a player that doesn’t want to be there and all your supporters will complain that you didn’t do the deal.

Im unsure if you actually understand Zac Merrett

He is the utmost professional. He'll come back, work hard in pre season and play hard. This has played out before (St.Kilda registered some interest last year, this isnt new)

 

[GinniAndTonic]

Essendon - "We ain't trading." Doesn't even bother to pick up the phone.

Hawks - ultimatums, constant media articles, trying to get their media buddies to help them.

Thanks for the laugh at your utterly clueless post though.

A west coast supporter laughing at our recruiting team might be the funniest thing on bigfooty. Don’t remember your deals last year?

 

[GinniAndTonic]

Im unsure if you actually understand Zac Merrett

He is the utmost professional. He'll come back, work hard in pre season and play hard. This has played out before (St.Kilda registered some interest last year, this isnt new)

Let him probably sets you guys back 5 years.

 

[SSSSSS]

Not one person is under any illusion that this doesnt happen. It is the notion that it was done in secret and just so happened to be leaked is what's got under the skin of so many. And then the mud slinging on both Essendon and Merrett's character in what appeared to tarnish them to strong arm a low balling deal is what grinds a lot of gears in people.

I think it's a very long bow to draw to conflate that Mitchell himself was directly involved in any of this...especially as he was on the eve of leading his side into a cut throat preliminary final against an arch rival.

Has any other coach been caught multiple times in a year meeting with opposition teams captains during the season? Hawthorn brought this on themselves, Essendon had 0 reason to try and negotiate a deal with them after the s*** sandwich they've caused them.

Sorry that gigachad Mitchell being so high profile is upsetting you.

 

[FootyGuru]

Im unsure if you actually understand Zac Merrett

He is the utmost professional. He'll come back, work hard in pre season and play hard. This has played out before (St.Kilda registered some interest last year, this isnt new)

Merrett probably plays better without the captaincy. He always cared most about his performance above all else.

 

[yeahmate]

The boos from his own supporter base will inspire him to new heights

 

[Leather Poisoning]

He did the exact same thing with OAllen and wasn't exactly shy about spending time with Reid at Barrass' wedding.

If you think this isn't deliberate, you haven't been paying attention.

Power to him for trying but it's yet to work.

Quite the opposite actually.

It is deliberate. Coaches meet with quality players they want to bring into a club.

The hysteria around it, well that's on the people doing the hysteria. It's not Mitchell architecting a reaction for his own benefit.

 

[Yoda_]

So once again - we're ok with these meetings happening as long as nobody knows about them?

I'm not going to hold Mitchell responsible for the fact that everyone has a hysterical fit over a coach meeting with a prospective target.

The leaked meetings should have resulted in a shrug of the shoulders but, as we've seen in this thread, people are so triggered that the meetings happened that they hold Mitchell accountable for their own ridiculous reaction to the meetings happening.

Blame Petroro / Mitchell / Hawthorn for leaking the meeting, Essendon had no reason or benefit to leak said meeting.


The nuclear option clearly been brought on to blow the joint up.

 

[bzparkes]

A west coast supporter laughing at our recruiting team might be the funniest thing on bigfooty. Don’t remember your deals last year?

Yeah, they were fine. We had a good draft and have massively improve our hand this year whilst bringing in some good players to raise the floor.

It's a damn sight better than leaking information like a sieve, trying to cause friction between players and clubs and getting your mates in the media to try and do your dirty work for you yet failing to land any of your targets.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Who give a flying **** who leaked what, does it really make that much of a difference. WOW coaches meet with players from other clubs during the year who knew.

Mitch is leaving a trail of destruction and a list of trade targets not ending up at Hawthorn.