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.

 

[Mojo]

As soon as the national draft is over, we'll be pretty optimistic again, I think.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Who’s replacing them that wasn’t on our list this year?

Morrison is already ahead of CJ. Butler with a full preseason after playing finals footy, Hustwaite with a fire in his belly and a hopefully rejuvenated Frenchie can battle it out for Worpel’s spot. Serong will be surpassed by Mraz in time. This isn’t even taking into account a fully fit Finn and Day. We’ll be fine.

Be chicken little all you want - bring on round 1 I say!

 

[Ashman23]

I’m telling you right now they’ll be the exact same this time next year if we go down that path which I doubt.

We're not going back for Zach, it's done.

 

[ahhhhhh]

Ah well let's hit the draft. Mackenzie, Ward, Butler and Hustwaite, time to step up.

Be classic if HH turns out to be a gun.

 

[yeahmate]

Did the right thing other than the Carlton trade, I'm glad we didnt pay what we offered as I thought it was too much for Merrett

 

[badgrill]

Ummmm.. ok you really got something going there, mate.

Still not sure why you're here and also wondering what your blank history of a club did the past couple weeks?

 

[StackedHunch]

"We stood up on principle today. I'm super proud. I haven't felt this proud of our club for a very long time.
It might set back the rebuild from what it could have been, but actually, we had signed Zach; therefore, we had already strategised our rebuild to include him. All we've forfeited today has been a draft hand inequitable to his true value."

LOLOLOL the erstwhile leader of the team is still necessary to facilitate the rebuild, and they wouldn't prefer to have three first round picks.

 

[CHUBBSS]

Essendon won trade week.

Managed to keep their 30 year old disgruntled captain, to aim for another bottom 4 finish. Instead of using 3 first round draft picks to get some more youth into the club and rebuild their culture.

Having a disgruntled Merrett there to request a trade out next year, will be toxic for the culture.

I think we will now look to move pick 10 and 22 into the next year's draft. Also gives Ward and McKenzie a real opportunity to have some midfield minutes.

Its very clear Essendon don't have a culture, they don't even have a performance ethos or a welfare ethos. They are rebuilding for another rebuild for another rebuild...

Their is so much evidence of performance culture and player management across world sport now that this move is honestly quite baffling, but hey the 10th rebuild will be the charm

 

[Cricketersb4gam]

Sun comes up tommorrow, Dons have to work out what to do with a player who does not want to be there and we need to find the player within who can step it up. Draft well and look to the future, you never know HH being told he is an unknown VFL player might just light a fire under him.

Go hawks.

 

[Blackhawk42]

How is this a terrible trade period for us? We lost CJ, Worpel and Serong.

Because depth is important and we added nobody. Absolutely nobody.

Brisbane will continue to get better.
Geelong were runners up and added another experience mid and a ruckman who is super underrated.
Sydney added a two time Coleman medallist.
GWS have taken a risk, but they'll look like geniuses if the Oliver trade works out.
Gold Coast added a former number 1 draft pick AND a Norm Smith medallist.

We did nothing.

Other challenges got better. We didn't.

We need to bank on internal improvement now, but I guarantee Sam Mitchell will be furious.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Not going for Petracca is a major f@ck up no matter how the coolaiders will try and spin it.

FFS where is the koolaid? We couldn’t afford his contract demands - get over it.

 

[Hawkk]

What did Geelong bring in? Worpel?

I doubt a 38 year old Danger will cook us in a final next year either

 

[QuietB]

Early season general soreness for ZM is going to turn into a 16 week injury.

I can’t imagine his desire to get beat up for this club, and its president, will be on the high end.

He is about to turn into a one way player - he will fit in better that way anyway.

 

[birch]

"We stood up on principle today. I'm super proud. I haven't felt this proud of our club for a very long time.
It might set back the rebuild from what it could have been, but actually, we had signed Zach; therefore, we had already strategised our rebuild to include him. All we've forfeited today has been a draft hand inequitable to his true value."

LOLOLOL the erstwhile leader of the team is still necessary to facilitate the rebuild.

Is this a pisstake? And if not who said it

 

[ReturningHawk]

I hope we get an interview with TP shortly, could be one for the ages.

That guy is a bit of an amateur. In the last 15 minutes he finds out that Essendon want 4x1st rounders and a player. Constantly leaks information to the media, rage texts Damo on air after failing to do the deal. He didn’t know what he was doing.

 

[GinniAndTonic]

We're not going back for Zach, it's done.

100%

 

[Mitchell Madness]

The doom-and-gloomers are a fair way off it.
Merrit wouldve improved our midfield, thats a given.
We have traded out 2 players who were momentum killers (worpel and cj).
Sure, we have a few gaps, but we look to players like hustwaite and Mackenzie to take the next step, we dont throw the baby out with the bathwater, we are not essendon!

 

[Hawk88]

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.

 

[cyrilweatherby]

What a hero,

You're my hero.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

We need to bank on internal improvement now

The same internal improvement that took us from 0/5 last year to a prelim? Oh no, whatever will we do…

 

[TazHawk15]

Where was plan B and C? Would have preferred to get in Steele or Simpkin, then waste time pursuing the unattainable. Our list is now weaker, hope Mitch gives some proper game time next year to Hustwaite and MacKenzie.

So you wanted plan B and C so we could boost Box Hills depth.

 

[sinkintins]

Did you just attempt to troll with something we're proud of?

 

[Blackhawk42]

Just realised Adelaide have done nothing either. Ah Chee trade didn't go through.

 

[Hawker399]

Couldn't do that deal. 4 first rounds plus a second as well. We are better off not doing that. Overall happy we avoided Merritt's trade price but would have liked something coming in. Trading CJ and Serong and Worpel will have no impact on our 2026 or 2027 or 2028. outcome. The draft choices we have this year might.

 

[kenneje]

Thank god we didn’t do 4 firsts!

3 was already above and beyond. You just can’t negotiate with unprofessionals.

Assume we trade out our two first rounders for future firsts to go hard at someone next year.