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.

 

[Meek Juggernaut]

B+ for Hawthorn per The Age.

Really? D per fox sports. Surprisingly only a D+ for the Scum. Couldn't win trade period either this year.

 

[LunchboxLegend]

Ok, here goes.

ZM retires.
ZM joins HFC coaching staff, as a midfield coach..
Being as fit and professional as he is, he trains with midfield group (while coaching it):
ZM maintains elite fitness.
ZM comes out of retirement for 2027

Misses a season. Like doing a knee.

 

[WillowSF]

The ongoing drama and singular focus on Merritt since week one of finals is a fail for me.

Losing Worpel also is going to be a bigger loss than many expect. We have very few contested ‘see ball-get ball’ types on our list.

We have draft picks so maybe we can pickup some talent that can immediately make an impact.

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

The ongoing drama and singular focus on Merritt since week one of finals is a fail for me.

Losing Worpel also is going to be a bigger loss than many expect. We have very few contested ‘see ball-get ball’ types on our list.

Maginness can fill the void if required in the middle.

It’s exciting really as it’s time for Ward, Mackenzie, Butler, MacDonald.C to stand up.

 

[Khmerhawk]

Okay take this with the spirit it’s intended… looking at the scrap heap of delisted players for some depth.

Dylan Shiel
Jack Billings
Ryan Burton

Granted this is the scrap heap - any value in some free depth here?

Nah nothing to see here . The only one I would half consider would be Burton and even then it’s a no . As for Dylan Shiel I have never seen a player with less grunt than him .

 

[barbster]

Maginness can fill the void if required in the middle.

It’s exciting really as it’s time for Ward, Mackenzie, Butler, MacDonald.C to stand up.

I think it's time to try Weddle in the middle to see what he can do.

 

[Elhawko]

Our first offer was high anyway, so why did we flinch from that? We didn't need to up the offer at all, even Petro was happy with it! We had to either get on with other business or just sAy that leave it or take it! That's the only part that I don't like at all. The desperation was over the top. Other than that, some here will know/ remember that I've said the alternative of going to the draft is a good one. With 2027 onwards been so compromised, we need to stock pile as much young talent as we can this year so that there's enough youth with potential all the while we go shopping for trades from next year onwards. **** Essen , who cares, let them worry about what they did or wanna do. No more Zack Merrett, more Humphrey or Walsh from here on in..

Totally agree. No more trying to prise contracted players out of clubs that are going to demand way overs. I'm quite happy to go to the draft even if it's supposed to be 'relatively weak'; there's plenty of great players who went after pick 30 in previous drafts who would have been considered 'relatively weak' at the time.

On a general note, I didn't think we had that bad a trade period actually, believe it or not. Other than we might have had a chance at Petracca (someone noted his salary is outrageous though) we didn't miss out on anything trying for Merrett because Merrett wasn't actually available. I reckon I'd rather be us than Geelong who also couldn't winkle Marshall out of the Saints and then got beaten to Curnow, who actually was available.

But looking at the other trades I can't say I envy any of them. We dont desperately need TDK, and Silvagni and Ryan wouldn't get a game with us. Maybe Flanders as a mid? I can't think of any other trade I wish we'd made out of the lot that got done.

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

I think it's time to try Weddle in the middle to see what he can do.

Yeah I thought that too, but SM seems to think Weddle isn’t made for the midfield.

I do like the idea of Day and Weddle taking a wing each times during a game.

R: Meek Newcombe Moore
C: Weddle Nash Day.
Clasher at CHF leading towards the mids.

 

[MasterSamurai]

Totally agree. No more trying to prise contracted players out of clubs that are going to demand way overs. I'm quite happy to go to the draft even if it's supposed to be 'relatively weak'; there's plenty of great players who went after pick 30 in previous drafts who would have been considered 'relatively weak' at the time.

On a general note, I didn't think we had that bad a trade period actually, believe it or not. Other than we might have had a chance at Petracca (someone noted his salary is outrageous though) we didn't miss out on anything trying for Merrett because Merrett wasn't actually available. I reckon I'd rather be us than Geelong who also couldn't winkle Marshall out of the Saints and then got beaten to Curnow, who actually was available.

But looking at the other trades I can't say I envy any of them. We dont desperately need TDK, and Silvagni and Ryan wouldn't get a game with us. Maybe Flanders as a mid? I can't think of any other trade I wish we'd made out of the lot that got done.

This. I was extremely surprised how many trades fell through. No sympkin, no ah Chee, no Marshall etc... absolute shit show. It just goes to show how clubs view their players . Hopefully, we take note and no more crazy clarko shit ever again. Though I am perplexed how easily we let worps go without matching.

 

[Plat the Rat]

Ok, here goes.

ZM retires.
ZM joins HFC coaching staff, as a midfield coach..
Being as fit and professional as he is, he trains with midfield group (while coaching it):
ZM maintains elite fitness.
ZM comes out of retirement for 2027

Misses a season. Like doing a knee.

He’s contracted until the end of 2027.

 

[DearJai]

Maginness can fill the void if required in the middle.

It’s exciting really as it’s time for Ward, Mackenzie, Butler, MacDonald.C to stand up.

This is my takeaway, it's bloody exciting to be able to watch that group comes on. They're all ready to take that final step it looks like, save for Mackenzie who is going to be coming home late with a wet sail all going to plan.

Was always going to be tough to rip the heart out of the enemy by taking their skipper.

Which had to be expected. It's another wound for them either way.

The scum live in the past. 1983 probably seems a recent loss at the big dance at Bummer land. Line in the sand more recently exposed the smoke and mirrors behind their single flag winning dynasty establishing 'tough team' for what it was. No finals wins for nearly 2 decades etc.

Never mind that faux footballer come try hard bruiser Rohan Welsh is now at the helm.

There was a tiny chance they'd ever choose to look forward, and seriously consider hitting the draft hard to escape their mediocrity.

It would risk them lifting the veil on their deficiencies and self held 'standing in the league' if they went backwards for a year or more (not that there is far to go in that direction anyway).

They are truly a rabble.

Bottom feeders forever till they lose the rot at the top.

 

[Hawkers Hero]

This. I was extremely surprised how many trades fell through. No sympkin, no ah Chee, no Marshall etc... absolute shit show. It just goes to show how clubs view their players . Hopefully, we take note and no more crazy clarko shit ever again. Though I am perplexed how easily we let worps go without matching.

Ultimately i think the narrative will be about clubs 'taking back power' but really i think it is just a symptom of an historically weak draft pool.

* did not plan on ZM wanting to leave and only have 3 list spots available. With picks 5, 6 and 21 already, adding 2 more firsts this year only works if they could do something with 21 and 22 for next year

unfortunately for us, i think noone wanted anything to do with picks this year - if this was last year I reckon * could've easily turned the layer picks into a North FF for example

Edit: I also find it incredibly amusing that *'s best two shots at a rebuild have seen them woth multiple early firsts in probably the two worst drafts of all time (2020 and this year if projections are accurate)

 

[seysearles]

What happened to the storyline of Essendon looking to deal with West Coast to trade up to pick 1? Did West Coast not come to the party? Would that have got it across the line?

 

[nickrebellious]

What happened to the storyline of Essendon looking to deal with West Coast to train up to pick 1? Did West Coast not come to the party? Would that have got it across the line?

Essendon wanted us to do their rebuild for them and West Coast have PTSD from last year.

 

[I got the outside word]

Can confirm it guys and girls, I did not dream it. It actually happened. Sorry.

 

[Roddy]

Lots of doom and gloom and hindsight warriors in this thread now.

 

[HairyO]

Ultimately i think the narrative will be about clubs 'taking back power' but really i think it is just a symptom of an historically weak draft pool.

* did not plan on ZM wanting to leave and only have 3 list spots available. With picks 5, 6 and 21 already, adding 2 more firsts this year only works if they could do something with 21 and 22 for next year

unfortunately for us, i think noone wanted anything to do with picks this year - if this was last year I reckon * could've easily turned the layer picks into a North FF for example

Edit: I also find it incredibly amusing that *'s best two shots at a rebuild have seen them woth multiple early firsts in probably the two worst drafts of all time (2020 and this year if projections are accurate)

They could have got pick 1 by throwing the sink at WCE.

Imagine that victory dance.

Instead...

 

[HeHateMe]

Hollands?

 

[ahhhhhh]

It would be incredible if HH was in the team round 1 and tore them apart.

 

[Blackhawk42]

I actually hope that it's forever in regards to Merrett.

No chance the club wants to go through this again in 12 months time.

Will hopefully focus our energy on other A grade talent out of contract, or who need a fresh start.

 

[LRobbo]

"He's likely to be a 7-time best and fairest winner with an almost injury-free career who is capable of pushing for AA for another 3 seasons after next year, and be a solid contributor for longer. Put him in a strong team with good inside mids and quality forwards, and he will be massive. He is easily worth a top 10 pick next year and a future 1st to help us get Bewick. We'll also have a bunch of optimism (hopefully) from a healthy list, and can have a real crack at some of the free agents available. We don't need anymore picks this year. Even ignoring the perception of this year's draft pool we have added a lot of players in last 2 years and will do again this year. We want to be adding a 4 or 5 next year and the year after. I don't like the idea of putting all out eggs in the one draft."

The cluelessness goes on.

They’re so far behind they actually think they’re in the lead.

 

[CobberRodgers]

I actually hope that it's forever in regards to Merrett.

No chance the club wants to go through this again in 12 months time.

Will hopefully focus our energy on other A grade talent out of contract, or who need a fresh start.

I wouldn’t deal with Essendon full stop now.

Shady and did this on purpose.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Okay take this with the spirit it’s intended… looking at the scrap heap of delisted players for some depth.

Dylan Shiel
Jack Billings
Ryan Burton

Granted this is the scrap heap - any value in some free depth here?

None

In hindsight, Jack Steele for a third rounder is what we needed more than anything.

Or Adam Treloar.

Mainly with the benefit of a Merrett-less hindsight.

I'll be stunned if we don't add a mature midfielder or two from the VFL or the delisting scrap heap.

 

[Dewnior]

Where's the troll from the Tigers board that was adamant we were into Curnow?

 

[Stottzy]

The biggest blunder was thinking that Essendon were going to act any differently. The place is terrible. I knew from the start it wasn't getting done, cause we simply just hate each other too much. And I'm not even worried about losing Worpel and CJ. I implore everyone to remember how bad they were this year. It will now give opportunity for Mackenzie, Hustwaite to step up.

In hindsight, we should have chased harder for Petracca and even Oliver, whose CV's are much more impressive than Merrett and the Dees were having a fire sale. I know Oliver has his problems, but 3rd round pick? That is criminal. Even if he just has 1 good year for wanting to get back at the Dees, it would have been worth it.