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.

 

[H00t]

Last night Hird was also on this "Hawks came too late" bandwagon all the Essendon folk seem to be on.

I need someone to explain it to me, because there is clearly something I'm not understanding here. I thought the Hawks made their initial offer early in the peace but were waiting for Merrett to declare he wanted a trade. Is this right or wrong?

I know I'm a Hawk, but I just cannot see how the Hawks could have approached this any other way, but the media seem to feel otherwise. Why didn't Merrett request a trade earlier?

I'm not making a point, I'm just very confused.

If it wasn’t that it would be something else. Like we made the offer too early or didn’t grovel enough when making the offer.

We were always going to be painted as the bad guys by Hird and the like.

Anything to distract from how inept Essendon is

 

[unitedhawk2]

This is such an odd take, how has it helped them?

How has managing a media narrative every pre season actually helped create a winning club? I’ll wait for a good response

Couldn't agree more.

If you need to rely on puppets in the media to help your club, you're already in big trouble.

 

[Hawkspot]

James Hird - ‘this is a line in the sand moment’

There it is

Last line in the sand moment led to 4 flags for us. Thanks James.

 

[HeHateMe]

Last night Hird was also on this "Hawks came too late" bandwagon all the Essendon folk seem to be on.

I need someone to explain it to me, because there is clearly something I'm not understanding here. I thought the Hawks made their initial offer early in the peace but were waiting for Merrett to declare he wanted a trade. Is this right or wrong?

I know I'm a Hawk, but I just cannot see how the Hawks could have approached this any other way, but the media seem to feel otherwise. Why didn't Merrett request a trade earlier?

I'm not making a point, I'm just very confused.

The narrative they were angling for at the start was "it's them, they did it, there fault"

They didn't offer enough, they came too late, they weren't serious, they did this and that. We are blame less victims.

It's pathetic.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Yep good luck with that. Yes he's a professional but its going to be very interesting how it plays out.

Yet Rob McCartney had a phone call with Merrett not long after promising to stay in touch and being very sympathetic to the situation, miles apart from this rabble. I'm not entirely sure we have heard the last of this. TP and Merrett may go away and think of an alternative plan to get the result they are after.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Is it just me or is everyone else just seeing an outpouring of stupid takes from most AFL supporters this trade period?

Cheering players being held to contract while at the same time praising swans for forcing a contracted player out and blaming the hawks for not doing the same.

Saying serve out your contract but then as we see with Ah Chee and the lions even that’s not a guarantee of getting to where you want to go.

The dumbest one though is celebrating holding a player to contract to show they aren’t bigger than the club. If they weren’t bigger than the club you’d trade them and move on with things.

By far the dumbest takes are that “Hawthorn should have ponied up” and handed over 4x first round picks and a future 2nd.

It’s an utterly ridiculous trade request, and I’m happy Rob McCartney called it for what it was.

 

[Randy Campbell]

I'm just very confused.

If you can't make sense of what Essendon do.
It only proves that you are Hawthorn person.

 

[smish]

Is it just me or is everyone else just seeing an outpouring of stupid takes from most AFL supporters this trade period?

Cheering players being held to contract while at the same time praising swans for forcing a contracted player out and blaming the hawks for not doing the same.

Saying serve out your contract but then as we see with Ah Chee and the lions even that’s not a guarantee of getting to where you want to go.

The dumbest one though is celebrating holding a player to contract to show they aren’t bigger than the club. If they weren’t bigger than the club you’d trade them and move on with things.

The whole contract / trade system is a complete mess.

Should be the same as international soccer. If a club wants to get value out of a player, they need to trade/sell them while in contract. As soon as that contract is up they walk for free. Will 100% incentivise more player movement. I don't follow the NBA / NFL but I'm pretty sure it's the same situation there.

Having to trade for an uncontracted player, or select them in a draft, is completely ridiculous.

 

[Paul Kersey]

Each of my Bummer friends that I have spoken with have had a real confrontational melty attitude towards the events of last night. Odd.

 

[StackedHunch]

Yet Rob McCartney had a phone call with Merrett not long after promising to stay in touch and being very sympathetic to the situation, miles apart from this rabble. I'm not entirely sure we have heard the last of this. TP and Merrett may go away and think of an alternative plan to get the result they are after.

Not sure what that looks like, but there's a snowflake's chance in hell we'll be entertaining a trade for him next year, and not sure any other contender would bother, either. It's a tragic end for ZM's ambitions, but I guess a cautionary tale in misguided loyalty and signing long contracts.

Would expect him to remain professional, but doubt he's getting his happy ending now.

 

[SammyC]

It speaks volumes that Zach and TP have yet to say anything. Even to essendon it seems because no doubt they'd be saying 'we've spoken to zach / his management etc'.

No doubt when they do speak it will be measured and professional, but I think we can take the silence to date as extreme disappointment and frustration with the outcome yesterday. He has no real option but to suck it up but I bet he is ropeable.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Yet Rob McCartney had a phone call with Merrett not long after promising to stay in touch and being very sympathetic to the situation, miles apart from this rabble. I'm not entirely sure we have heard the last of this. TP and Merrett may go away and think of an alternative plan to get the result they are after.

No doubt Zerrett screened any calls from Welsh, Scott and co.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Each of my Bummer friends that I have spoken with have had a real confrontational melty attitude towards the events of last night. Odd.

All have their head on the sand and can't see it for what it is. They honestly believe Merrett is worth more than Petracca and Curnow because I raised both those trades and said what makes Merrett worth 4 first round picks and the others werent? Some feeble response about it not being relevant to Merrett. In other words we hate Hawthorn and don't want to see them win another flag. Pathetic stuff really

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Not sure what that looks like, but there's a snowflake's chance in hell we'll be entertaining a trade for him next year, and not sure any other contender would bother, either. It's a tragic end for ZM's ambitions, but I guess a cautionary tale in misguided loyalty and signing long contracts.

Would expect him to remain professional, but doubt he's getting his happy ending now.

After this whole debacle, and with Reid and NWM both taking big short term contracts - I wonder if taking those big short term deals is going to be a new phenomenon in the league.

Players get paid and have some flexibility, but they don't have long-term security.

 

[Rushed_Behind]

Of all the dumb things EFC have done in the last 2 decades one of them would have to be not finding a decent ruckman this trade period. I mean 3 first rounders and instead of HH throw in Ned reeves i reckon we would’ve reluctantly folded and agreed to that for Merrett and they would’ve fixed a glaring weakness in their 22/23 and had such a powerful draft hand that could yield some great youngsters or be used to pry oppo players.

In no particular order doping regime, refusing 2 firsts for Daniher, refusing to give 2 firsts for Dunkley, giving 2 firsts for Shiel and this just stand out like monumental failures

 

[ahhhhhh]

Of all the dumb things EFC have done in the last 2 decades one of them would have to be not finding a decent ruckman this trade period. I mean 3 first rounders and instead of HH throw in Ned reeves i reckon we would’ve reluctantly folded and agreed to that for Merrett and they would’ve fixed a glaring weakness in their 22/23 and had such a powerful draft hand that could yield some great youngsters or be used to pry oppo players.

In no particular order doping regime, refusing 2 firsts for Daniher, refusing to give 2 firsts for Dunkley, giving 2 firsts for Shiel and this just stand out like monumental failures

I was saying this the whole trade period, why the hell weren't they after Reeves. They don't have a single ruckman on their list with AFL experience.

 

[StackedHunch]

I was saying this the whole trade period, why the hell weren't they after Reeves. They don't have a single ruckman on their list with AFL experience.

Can't wait to see Meeky walk the ball out of the middle in round 1

 

[BIGHAWK23]

Oscar Allan- Miss.
Harley Reid- Miss.
Zach Merrett- Miss.
Sam Walsh- ???
Zach Butters- unlikely.
Christian Petracca- Miss (Financial)
Bailey Humphrey- ???

One would think that a "destination club" on a premiership trajectory would get atleast 1 of these deals done.....you can't win the premiership during trade period but you can as sure as shit watch it go by.

Meanwhile...Clayton Oliver is shipped of to GWS for a 3rd round pick with Melbourne paying half his wage.

Putting up Hustwaite was borderline stupidity.

Horrendous and selective take

 

[StackedHunch]

Oscar Allan- Miss.
Harley Reid- Miss.
Zach Merrett- Miss.
Sam Walsh- ???
Zach Butters- unlikely.
Christian Petracca- Miss (Financial)
Bailey Humphrey- ???

One would think that a "destination club" on a premiership trajectory would get atleast 1 of these deals done.....you can't win the premiership during trade period but you can as sure as shit watch it go by.

Meanwhile...Clayton Oliver is shipped of to GWS for a 3rd round pick with Melbourne paying half his wage.

Putting up Hustwaite was borderline stupidity.

Oscar Allen is a stick for idiots to hit us with. Fringe interest, in the end not what we need, and not worth the price, but works for a team with a shithouse KPF.

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

Ok now that the trade is done. What are ppls predictions for Top 8.

Unlikely players picked in PSD or Draft is changing any clubs list profile much from here on. Would like to see takes on how clubs will end up next season post GF. That wil give us a decent idea of worthwhile trades for F1/F2/f3 for our club ( both ways). My take

1. Hawks
2. Lions
3. Suns
4. Dogs
5. Cats
6. Giants
7. Crows
8. Swans
9. Saints
10. Pies
11. Freo
12. Blues
13. North
14. Port
15. Eagles
16. Dees
17. Scum
18. Tigers

So I would be keen to trade pick 10 with clubs in finishing outside Top 8 or giving up our F1 for clubs in Top 8 is a real talent we rate highly has slid down the order( not sure who)

D’Ambrosio and Newcombe says hello!

Out: Bruest Worpel Frost Jiath Serong Scaife Ryan Uhr-Henry

* Ryan invited to train with us over summer for a potential rookie spot.

Would like to see about 10 train ons fighting for open spots left after draft night and DFA.

We keep pick 10 and assess on the run at draft night, really depends who is still available on the night.

I do not buy into this a crap draft. There’s enough games played for teams to form player profiles unlike 2020.

Hawks will not concern them self with a number one finish at end of season. A top 4 spot is the goal to set our self up for a charge at a premiership.

1. Lions
2. Cats
3. Hawks
4. Suns
5. Giants
6. Dogs
7. Crows
8. Freo
9. Swans
10. Port
11. Blues
12. Saints
13. Pies
14. Tigers
15. North
16. Eagles
17. Demons
18. Bombers

 

[Yardie]

I was saying this the whole trade period, why the hell weren't they after Reeves. They don't have a single ruckman on their list with AFL experience.

As soon as the "gloves were off", as Brad put it, why weren't they reaching out to our players to convince them to come over.

 

[hardway]

Can't wait to see Meeky walk the ball out of the middle in round 1

They are legitimately a bottom 2 chance next year.
No ruckman
Disgruntled only A grade player
Second best player recovering from ACL.
List full of cloggers no depth
Terrible coach has history In demoralising a list.
They are in strife and I love it!

 

[Rushed_Behind]

Not sure what that looks like, but there's a snowflake's chance in hell we'll be entertaining a trade for him next year, and not sure any other contender would bother, either. It's a tragic end for ZM's ambitions, but I guess a cautionary tale in misguided loyalty and signing long contracts.

Would expect him to remain professional, but doubt he's getting his happy ending now.

I think a lot of these long term contracts will have clauses written into them where after a certain period either party can trade or ask to be traded for a nominated minimum amount agreed upon at the time of signing the contract.

For example In this case if Merrett wants to leave, the club he nominates must come up with 3 first round picks but 1 has to be a top 10 pick. If the club chooses to activate their protection/performance clause the player picks 3 clubs and whoever offers best deal that’s where he gets traded to.

It’s not great and haven’t put too much thought into it but it’s better than what happened last night.

 

[StackedHunch]

I think a lot of these long term contracts will have clauses written into them where after a certain period either party can trade or ask to be traded for a nominated minimum amount agreed upon at the time of signing the contract.

For example In this case if Merrett wants to leave, the club he nominates must come up with 3 first round picks but 1 has to be a top 10 pick. If the club chooses to activate their protection/performance clause the player picks 3 clubs and whoever offers best deal that’s where he gets traded to.

It’s not great and haven’t put too much thought into it but it’s better than what happened last night.

The AFL needs to show some leadership and limit contracts to 5 years or so. The Buddy FA deal has created a very negative phenomenon of desperate clubs doing stupid things, and players then causing headaches for everyone as a consequence.

 

[seysearles]

With Worps gone there is now a spot in the midfield to be filled, even with Day hopefully returning. Frenchie probably the player most of us are expecting to fill this spot but also a good opportunity for HH. Big preseason for both players.

It would make me happy beyond words if HH had a breakout season in 2026