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.

 

[Harper_Hawk]

I’m disappointed.
Is Cameron McKenzie that good that the bombers wanted him and the hawks wouldn’t part with him?

Yes.

 

[QuietB]

Imagine had we made Petraca our priority he’d be wearing brown and gold next year

**** Petrarca - he cannot kick. He is not a Hawthorn player.

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

Yes it is interesting. I think Frenchie will surpass Worpel how long that takes is a question. Alot of presurre on Ward & Frenchie to take that next step next season to finish top 4.

Day will need to be managed in the midfield early on. Can we pick a specialist player in the draft to release another midfield option.

Ward will be in his 5th year and Frenchie is in his 4th year in 2026. Their time to step up is now!

Easy to forget Sam Butler too, he looked so good in the midfield with his pace and tacking pressure.

 

[unitedhawk2]

Essendon List Management team looking shattered in their room. Their body language suggests Welsh vetoed the deal.

This might be culture-destroying on multiple fronts for the Bombers.

 

[seysearles]

So they could have had 6 first round picks in next 3 years but instead they have only 3 and a disgruntled 30 year old.

Insane.

Happy we offered the best deal ever - they turned it down, so that’s on them.

We have to keep reminding ourselves that Merrett was 30yrs old and selling the farm could have been a horrible outcome for us. I am trying to see this as dodging a bullet. Plus we get to back in our young mids and bring in 2 high draft picks who could possibly make an early impact. We essentially retain a 20yr old HH and two 18yr old "1st round" picks and all the potential years of service that they represent in exchange for the 5yrs of service we were ever going to get out of Merrett.

 

[mitchell lewis rises]

I see it as valuing our young players we have on our list. Not wanting to trade them to Essendon..ala McKenzie/Lewis and Scrimshaw
I’m so happy to see McKenzie remain a Hawk!!!!
We will be fine!
View attachment 2457662

This 100%

 

[ydc55]

He had no interest in playing for Essendon

Sadly that would make sense.
Oh dear both clubs could have gotten better tonight.

 

[Hawkers Hero]

Essendon List Management team looking shattered in their room. Their body language suggests Welsh vetoed the deal.

This might be culture-destroying on multiple fronts for the Bombers.

100% - if they were never going to trade they would have packed up and left well before 7:30

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I’m disappointed.
Is Cameron McKenzie that good that the bombers wanted him and the hawks wouldn’t part with him?

He was not interested in going to Essendon.

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

The bombers look more disappointed than we do LOL

Like oh we really thought they meet our new demands in time.

 

[RoughysMullet]

Convinced everyone in this room will leave before trade period next year, they still wont front the media.

I reckon merret has gone ape shit

View attachment 2457746

Geez they all look disappointed and as uncomfortable as hell there… probably just been overridden by Welsh and co

 

[earthworms]

Bombers staff look really disappointed in their room

 

[burger09]

I tried to warn you all.

It panned out almost exactly as I thought it would.

Despite all the bull sh!t that was posted on here. Not going for Petracca is a major f@ck up no matter how the coolaiders will try and spin it.

Essendon have a history of this. Can't say we shouldn't have know from the start it was a huge possibility.

 

[KermitJagger]

Clearly we set out to do something and weren't able to do it, so it's very disappointing from that respect.

That said, we have options. Our midfield looks thin on paper but one good off season from Frenchie surpasses Worpel, and we have both Croc and Moore who were high level inside mids as juniors and they may be ready to graduate, Ward took a huge step forward and looks primed for another.

Necessity is the mother of invention. Now time for a BF mental health break

 

[HoldingThe Ball]

Don't worry lads - we can still pick up Elijah Hollands and Tarryn Thomas

26

Tarryn Thomas

Age

25

Ht

190cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.0

3star

K

5.3

2star

HB

5.7

4star

M

2.1

2star

T

3.3

5star

CL

0.9

3star

D

7.8

2star

K

4.0

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

1.3

1star

T

3.2

4star

CL

0.2

2star

D

12.8

4star

K

6.2

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.8

5star

CL

0.4

3star

for free!

Oh, and F*** Essendon.

 

[kazzooka]

Who else does petroro manage?

https://tgisport.com.au/talent/ few Essendon peeps here: Nik Cox, Jye Caldwell, Brad Scott, Zach Reid, Nick Bryan

 

[Birdofprey]

I might be wrong but I’m starting to think they were never going to do any deal (that we would offer). Just stuffed us around.

The challenge with that thinking is that it’s hard to understand the payoff. Is it just to get back at the hawks and Mitchell? Scott did say “the gloves were off” now. But even that doesn’t make alot of sense to me, given the opportunity cost they have just incurred. Not getting the purpose if their approach.

 

[earthworms]

MM: **** around and find out. They found out

 

[Arrogant Frog]

Dunno, I think the Trac money wouldn’t have worked.

Could have had sneaky goes at JDG or Hollands though on our own terms.

I'm was keen on both, but it was reported somewhere that JDG wanted a 4yr contract to agree to a move, with his history that would have been a huge risk. Hollands, may get bought out/delisted, so we could possiblity get him still.

 

[LRobbo]

I reckon Welsh has overruled the list management team here.

What an organisation

 

[KOLOKOTRONIS]

ZM gets us close to a gf appearance. That’s the reality. HH and Mackenzie not so sure. Excellent opportunity for both of them to shine though. Time will tell.

ZM is elite and it stings that we couldn’t get a deal done.

On the balance of what Essendon wanted, we did the right thing. Surprised we didn’t have a back up plan to have a crack at another option.

CJ was a liability
Worpedo on balance wasn’t consistent enough week in week out. When he was “on” we would win.

Time for the youngsters in the middle to step up. Macca was on the verge early on in 25, but fell away. Huge season for him.

KOLOKOTRONIS

 

[SpanishBrowne]

Essendon List Management team looking shattered in their room. Their body language suggests Welsh vetoed the deal.

This might be culture-destroying on multiple fronts for the Bombers.

Fantastic!

 

[StackedHunch]

There wasn't really other uncontracted or free agent A-Grade mids available that we could focus on.

We had Petracca ready to sign. He only went to GC because Merrett interposed himself into the situation. In reflection, I don't think we should bother with him this time next year.

 

[SSSSSS]

I tried to warn you all.

It panned out almost exactly as I thought it would.

Despite all the bull sh!t that was posted on here. Not going for Petracca is a major f@ck up no matter how the coolaiders will try and spin it.

Essendon have a history of this. Can't say we shouldn't have know from the start it was a huge possibility.

We and the Crows went after Trac.
We heard his demands.
We both said no.

Think about it. He's going to a club that doesn't have to play to the same rules.

A bit of critical thinking please.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I tried to warn you all.

It panned out almost exactly as I thought it would.

Despite all the bull sh!t that was posted on here. Not going for Petracca is a major f@ck up no matter how the coolaiders will try and spin it.

Essendon have a history of this. Can't say we shouldn't have know from the start it was a huge possibility.

But we did go for Petracca, he met with us, and wanted us....but then his manager decided we couldn't get both he and Merrett done(once that broke) and didn't like being 2nd in line.