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

[Lore]

There we go, that's the clip:

 

[cAsEy_18]

Lmao. Essendon really asking the world for Merrett. Kind of embarrassing when the rest of your list is in the state it’s in, having not won a final in however long. You’d think there’d be 100% commitment to the rebuild

Yep I tend to agree. Because we didn't win a final in 2008, I think we should be more eager to trade Merrett.

 

[Skipper_]

Yes, let's look at Pendles.

There have been approximately 153,000 players play VFL/AFL football. Of those, Pendlebury has played more games than 152,998 players. Tuck's 426 games was the most by anyone in 115+ years of the competition, was the record for several decades and was thought that it would never be broken. Pendlebury played 425 games. In other words, he is in the top 0.000000001% of players ever for longevity. We should definately be making a trade expecting Merrett to be in that 0.00000001% of players and not in the 99.99999% of players, right?

Even then - with Pendles one of the most famous examples of longevity and playing well late into his career - was not All Australian or a Best and Fairest winner after the age of 31. He was moved to half back and an OK role player through almost all of his 30's.

Using Pendlebury as an example, would suggest Hawthorn will get 1 elite season out of Merrett before he is a mere role player - which is exactly why the current offers are already generous for a player of Merrett's age.

Pretty silly to look at it that way when Zach has already players 250 games before the age of 30, which already puts him ahead of about 95% of AFL players.

I guarantee you would get more than 1 season out him before he turns into a role player.

 

[Foxx]

With Merrett in the middle, McKenzie will struggle to get a game. Even with Worpel gone, it doesn't open up a spot. McKenzie gets a guaranteed full time midfield gig at Essendon.
Mitchell needs to use some of his smug cut throat attitude and ask McKenzie to cross.
Pick 9 F1 and McKenzie
Get it done.

 

[Westlo]

Lmao. Essendon really asking the world for Merrett. Kind of embarrassing when the rest of your list is in the state it’s in, having not won a final in however long. You’d think there’d be 100% commitment to the rebuild

At least we’re not asking for afl handouts

 

[Dewyyyyy]

You do realize two things can be correct right.

Yes, it is still the ninth player in the open draft. But it is going to be the 13th rated player.

So when comparing it to other drafts this is the equivalent to the 13th pick.


But it won't be pick 9 on the night will it. It won't read.

Pick 9 - Hawthorn select blah blah blah.

It is the “x” available pick in the draft, which means you can pick out of any available player. “Rated player” is subjective to each club.

 

[jannissary]

if hawthorn wanted another club's captain, they should approach jy simpkin

12

Jy Simpkin

Age

27

Ht

183cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.0

4star

K

7.9

3star

HB

8.1

5star

M

2.4

3star

T

3.3

5star

CL

2.9

4star

D

20.6

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

9.6

5star

M

2.0

2star

T

3.5

4star

CL

5.5

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

4.4

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.4

4star

CL

0.2

2star

probably suits the club better, anyway

 

[Xtreme]

30 isn't old these days especially for merrett whos been pretty bulletproof, look at Pendles.

Pendles is a one of a kind relic. Find me another basketballer who can play footy as good as he does then we'll talk.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

With Merrett in the middle, McKenzie will struggle to get a game.
Mitchell needs to use some of his smug cut throat attitude and ask McKenzie to cross.
Pick 9 F1 and McKenzie
Get it done.

have Essendon spoken to McKenzie? Proposed a contract? Suggested what role he might play in the midfield? Or does Sam Mitchell have to do all of that as well?

 

[txbyhull]

pot, kettle etc.

Except it’s not, because we are committed to our rebuild and understand where our list is at. Seen some delusional takes from Essendon fans about the team. Almost as bad as Carlton

 

[kaiserchief13]

This.

How can Hawthorn get pick 1? There is probably not player in Hawthorn's list WC would accept for pick 1. Personally maybe Will Day (as long as medical report is clean)

 

[Guardian Hawk]

Pretty silly to look at it that way when Zach has already players 250 games before the age of 30, which already puts him ahead of about 95% of AFL players.

I guarantee you would get more than 1 season out him before he turns into a role player.

If we get him, I hope you are right.

But it's extraordinarily rare.

Look at the top 500 midfielders ever - it's rare that many of the elite ones are still elite well into their 30's.

Look at the AA midfields - very, very rare for there to be any 32+ players

Look at good mids traded around 30 y.o. - rare that any of them did much at their new clubs.

(Also, Merrett's gone from AA, to squad, to not in squad over the last 3 years already).

 

[txbyhull]

Yep I tend to agree. Because we didn't win a final in 2008, I think we should be more eager to trade Merrett.

You’d think it was a sign that there should be a sustained and patient rebuild. But that won’t happen because the higher ups are too scared to lose their jobs rather than put the long term future of the club first

 

[Ash1337]

Trade request is now formal!

 

[Foxx]

have Essendon spoken to McKenzie? Proposed a contract? Suggested what role he might play in the midfield? Or does Sam Mitchell have to do all of that as well?

I think Essendon are steadfast in wanting to keep our captain and best player. I think if we open up the negotiations, we lose leverage.
However I agree if Hawthorn ask McKenzie, then it leaves them in a bad spot if it doesn't work out.

Tough position all round.

 

[cAsEy_18]

Trade request is now formal!

Surely not?! I thought he wanted to stay

 

[txbyhull]

With Merrett in the middle, McKenzie will struggle to get a game. Even with Worpel gone, it doesn't open up a spot. McKenzie gets a guaranteed full time midfield gig.
Mitchell needs to use some of his smug cut throat attitude and ask McKenzie to cross.
Pick 9 F1 and McKenzie
Get it done.

Bit overs

 

[Dewyyyyy]

It's a nice theory you've got going but it's very wrong.

If you were trading pick 1 and the 70 best kids in Australia were tied to academies and father sons, your pick 1 would have a lot less value than usual. It would have value equivalent to about pick 71.

The same applies here.

Same applies.

Value is again subjective to each draft too and changes from clubs.

What doesn’t change is that pick being that pick still. Academy players no one has access to doesn’t change that.

 

[jannissary]

Except it’s not, because we are committed to our rebuild and understand where our list is at. Seen some delusional takes from Essendon fans about the team. Almost as bad as Carlton

i guess begging the AFL for handouts is a great way to say you're in a rebuild.

bravo, i guess, doing what interstate teams do best and beg

 

[Foxx]

How can Hawthorn get pick 1? There is probably not player in Hawthorn's list WC would accept for pick 1. Personally maybe Will Day (as long as medical report is clean)

I think if it was pre planned that West Coast would take a deal involving Essendon/Hawthorn picks and players for pick 1 or 2.

 

[Skipper_]

If we get him, I hope you are right.

But it's extraordinarily rare.

Look at the top 500 midfielders ever - it's rare that many of the elite ones are still elite well into their 30's.

Look at the AA midfields - very, very rare for there to be any 32+ players

Look at good mids traded around 30 y.o. - rare that any of them did much at their new clubs.

(Also, Merrett's gone from AA, to squad, to not in squad over the last 3 years already).

I agree with you that there are no guarantees, but this a guy who has has barely suffered an injury for the duration of his career and has openly spoken about how he wants to play into his late 30s.

The odds of him having a long career are certainly better than they are for the average player imo, even those who are of a similar calibre of player to him.

On your last point, I don't necessarily think that recognition is as much to do with a decline in Zach's performance and more so to do with the declining performance of the team around him.

Even this year, he was one of the Brownlow favourites for the first 10 so weeks or so before the injury carnage it.

 

[Foxx]

Bit overs

Yes of course. Which is what it will take.

 

[Achy Blakey Heart]

Lmao. Essendon really asking the world for Merrett. Kind of embarrassing when the rest of your list is in the state it’s in, having not won a final in however long. You’d think there’d be 100% commitment to the rebuild

EFC are kinda used to being embarrassed

 

[kaiserchief13]

There we go, that's the clip:

Exactly - Essendon just digging their heels in because they want to save face instead of thinking about the long term goals of improving the team

 

[txbyhull]

i guess begging the AFL for handouts is a great way to say you're in a rebuild.

bravo, i guess, doing what interstate teams do best and beg

Ah, because no Victorian team has ever received plentiful handouts. Definitely not 3 end of first rounders. Essendon also never would’ve benefited from a priority pick ever!