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

[Lore]

There we go, that's the clip:

 

[Dazza the Viking]

Oh, I’m not worried.

I would be if my team haven’t one a final in 20 years at supposedly one of the biggest clubs, and who seemed to fall in a heap half through a season year after year

 

[bomberlegend2007]

I would be if my team haven’t one a final in 20 years at supposedly one of the biggest clubs, and who seemed to fall in a heap half through a season year after year

Meh, not much I can do about it mate.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Completely agree, however again, would Mackenzie/Lewis being thrown in have actually brought them to the table or would they still have stayed firm to make a statement?

I also think neither Mackenzie or Lewis wanted to be traded to Essendon, so unlike the NBA, we may have had no choice in being able to add one of them to the trade, as you can't force trade a player in the AFL. So this offer could very well have been the best the Hawks could have put up, perhaps if we hadn't left it so last minute we could have received a better pick to trade if they were willing to be traded to another team.

How would you know if your list management didn’t even bother asking them?

That is the key point here, hawks didn’t even bother. And as the poster you quoted said, it’s on the hawks to get that done.

Essendon in my mind 100% would have done this if Mackenzie was involved.

 

[Geead]

James Worpel 2025. 21 matches played, was 21st in the best and fairest.
Love the guy, but he is certainly no loss, as the stats would indicate.

the only thing I'm worried about losing Worpel is that he was a developed bigger bodied midfielder, skills aside, his physical presence in the midfield is something that can't be emulated by a Mackenzie or Hustwaite yet, they still need time to develop physically, even Ward to a lesser extent.

 

[Geead]

How would you know if your list management didn’t even bother asking them?

That is the key point here, hawks didn’t even bother.

That's my point, no one knows, it's all speculative. But the hawks did rule Mackenzie "off limits", perhaps it was for this reason is my only thinking.

Edit: if he was willing to be traded elsewhere, would the picks we would have got for him also brought you to the table would have been interesting, but trading Mackenzie for picks which may still not guarantee the Zerrett trade 100% would get done would've been a huge risk.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

That's my point, no one knows, it's all speculative. But the hawks did rule Mackenzie "off limits", perhaps it was for this reason is my only thinking.

I don’t get this view. How are you going to get an “off limits player” by making your players “off limits” also

Utterly bizzare strategy. Hawks were basically happy to disrupt a list without disrupting their own and it seems that was never going to work now the dust has settled.

The swans did exactly what you should have.

 

[big footy cyril]

no

but they expected you to offer a very good player.

hawks just left this so late that 4 firsts is what it amounted too as there wasn't anymore time.

Can’t offer a ‘very good player’ when no one wanted to leave for Ess

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Can’t offer a ‘very good player’ when no one wanted to leave for Ess

How do you know that?

Your list manager said they didn’t even ask anyone!

Lazy and arrogant.

 

[Geead]

I don’t get this view. How are you going to get an “off limits player” by making your players “off limits” also

Utterly bizzare strategy. Hawks were basically happy to disrupt a list without disrupting their own and it seems that was never going to work now the dust has settled.

The swans did exactly what you should have.

I think the only difference is Zerrett clearly wanted to come to Hawthorn, so in that case, if a player is happy to leave and a club gets an extraordinary offer, no player is truly "off-limits".

However, in the Hawks case IF the reason Mackenzie was "off-limits" due to him not wanting to be traded to Essendon, there isn't really much the club can do other than offer a trade for picks to another club (again, if that player is willing to be traded at all).

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

#Melty

everytime you mention the finals number is you personally admitting you’ve been intellectually bested by a superior intellect. move on, squirt

Nice way to pretend your not in denial but go ahead lecture us Hawks fans how this is going to set your club up for the next decade. Maybe without using juvenile terms like "squirt".

 

[HirdsTheWord]

I think the only difference is Zerrett clearly wanted to come to Hawthorn, so in that case, if a player is happy to leave and a club gets an extraordinary offer, no player is truly "off-limits".

However, in the Hawks case IF the reason Mackenzie was "off-limits" due to him not wanting to be traded to Essendon, there isn't really much the club can do other than offer a trade for picks to another club (again, if that player is willing to be traded at all).

Can say “if” all you want

Your list manager said no other player was spoken too. So if you are right, he is lying.

Hawks were told as plain as day Merrett was not going to be traded, so he is as off limits as anyone you had also.

As I said bizzare strategy from the hawks now we have seen the dust settle.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

He still wanted to go.

But this is exactly the point. Merrett can want and desire to leave all he wanted, but he gave his freedom to do so in order to give himself the security of a long-term contract. Nobody forced him to accept the long-term deal a few years ago.

 

[TerryWallet]

Completely agree, however again, would Mackenzie/Lewis being thrown in have actually brought them to the table or would they still have stayed firm to make a statement?

I also think neither Mackenzie or Lewis wanted to be traded to Essendon, so unlike the NBA, we may have had no choice in being able to add one of them to the trade, as you can't force trade a player in the AFL. So this offer could very well have been the best the Hawks could have put up, perhaps if we hadn't left it so last minute we could have received a better pick to trade if they were willing to be traded to another team.

You could have added another top pick. You could have bent a players arm. But neither happened.

The offer was clearly not enough, and was never going to be enough. So Merrett, Zach Merrett, who was so on the hook, slipped by.

So be it.

 

[Sydney Kicker]

Have read quite a few pages of this thread. Some thoughts while trying not to be too pro Hawthorn.

A lot of people making assumptions about the behaviour of the Hawks, in particular being disrespectful making such a late formal first bid. Agree this looks bad on the surface. However, in the absence of any unbiassed clear narrative lets treat that as hearsay for now. I'm sure the truth is not that simple or clear cut. I suspect a lot of informal comms must have happened before that. Both Hawks and Bombers will spin events to help themselves look in the best light.

Hawks definitely lose in the short term but in the medium term we may well be better off. Depends a lot on our drafting and accepting the assumption our premiership window is open for longer than the next 2 years. We won't know if this years draft is truly weak for a few seasons - plenty of supposedly weak drafts have proved anything but in the longer term. We may well be best placed to contend in 2028 or 2029 given the age of our list and the likelihood that the salary cap will start to bite Brisbane eventually as their young players age into full priced contracts. Even if we landed Merrett, Brisbane still look pretty clear favorites next season.

Can agree with those who argue next years list is weaker than this year. That said Worpel is really the only meaningful loss. Probably a bit of a hit depth wise if we suffer injuries but I think we'll cope especially if one of our new draftees hits the ground running. The margins are still pretty fine in the top 8, but I doubt losing Worpel will be the difference between winning the flag and not.

Personally glad the trade didn't go through. I know Merrett is durable and all but even our first bid was too much for a 30 year old. Again I'm very much about 5-6 year horizons, not just 2026. One player, especially a midfielder, doesn't move a team that much on their own. We aren't basketball with only 5 players on the field/court. It's the long term list build, club culture and strength of the bottom 6 players that matter the most I think.

I understand the point about Essendon drawing a line in the sand but they have to get ruthless in the right ways. I'm not surprised Bombers fans are laughing at us. That's a fair win, giving a big up yours to Sam and our trade team and damaging our short term prospects. But they haven't done themselves any favours other than that. I expect they have now shut themselves out of a decent shot at the top 8, let alone a flag for at least another half dozen years given Tassie coming in. I just can't see enough quality in the young players on their list. Another few draft picks, even the picks we were offering increases the chance of landing a gun that would help them rebuild immensely.

 

[Forward Press]

You seem very invested in this.

Essendon had every right to keep Merrett - but it's just dumb.

Welsh was calling him every day according to Mitch Cleary, the powerbrokers were meeting with him. Brad Scott shared the new vision.

He still wanted to go.

If you roll out the red carpet for someone and they still dont want to be there you should probably cut your losses and focus on fixing your club. I mean, they weren't even pursuing other players outside of the Merrett trade. That's also their right but it's also dumb.

I dunno, as a hawks fan, we've always helped players exit as well as we can. We don't stand in the way of players that want to leave. It's weird for us to see this. Very odd behaviour. Doesn't seem very smart, even though it's their legal right.

But yeh, for Essendon it's considered a big win, so good for them.

I was invested because a poster claimed this affair made player managers reluctant to deal with Essendon. I simply challenged that claim with what happened with three players meeting with Sam Mitchell this year and not ending up at Hawthorn may also make player managers reluctant, but now here we are because you and your Hawks buddies are defensive of your club's behaviour (and that's understandable, I'd probably do the same if I wanted Zach Merrett to wear blue and gold).

Yes, we also had Eagles posters similar to yours after the first Tim Kelly trade saga, so again not claiming it's only Hawks fans being precious about a contracted player staying put after their employer held firm.

If, however, you have the fans of Collingwood and Carlton and other non-invested clubs backing Essendon on this - maybe you aren't the good guys. Attempt to poach a contracted club captain and superstar goes wrong, deal with the fallout.

 

[Geead]

Can say “if” all you want

Your list manager said no other player was spoken too. So if you are right, he is lying.

Hawks were told as plain as day Merrett was not going to be traded, so he is as off limits as anyone you had also.

As I said bizzare strategy from the hawks now we have seen the dust settle.

True, to be clear I'm being speculative - only the list managers and player manager will truly know what happened.

I just have this feeling that Mackenzie was tapped on the shoulder before any negotiations and just flat out said he's not leaving anywhere (so yes, I feel like the full truth isn't being told).

Even though we were told Zerrett wouldn't be traded, if we came to the table with Weddle + Day for Zerrett, would it still not get done? I highly doubt that. That was my point around a player willing to leave not truly be "off-limits".

I think it's a bit bizzare from both sides, I think our Hawks should've gone harder to try and get it done, but I do also think Bombers will regret not taking the trade in the long-term.

 

[hawkman]

I am sure McQualter and every other coach has privately approached targets during the season. I'm not naive there.

But your head coach now has a public 0 from 3 record in 2025. Maybe next time it should be done discreetly which apparently the other 17 coaches have been doing.

Allen, Merrett and who?

If it is about Harley, wasn't that at a wedding at the end of last year?

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Essendon CEO on 'unusual' Hawthorn tactics, how Merrett will fit back in at Bombers

Essendon CEO Craig Vozzo reflects on Zach Merrett's failed bid to join Hawthorn and his surprise at Hawthorn's negotations

www.afl.com.au

Hawk's tactics "disappointing and unusual, particularly for somebody of Zac's ilk"

Essendon listened to all offers out of respect to Merrett and Petroro. This "not answering calls" stuff was rubbish.

There was no contact at all from Hawthorn until 30 hours before the trade deadline - an offer that was "final" and Essendon given a 7-hour deadline to accept it. Which was "disappointing".

(It wasn't final, and it wasn't a real deadline - they came back with an improved offer the next day).

"Very surprised" that we'd got to the day before the trade deadline and there'd been no offer or contact from the club that was apparently very keen to get him.

"We all go about our business in different ways and that's the way they decided to approach it."

Said it 10 times - the strategy here was stay silent, go late and ramp up the pressure.

It failed miserably. The Hawks completely ****ed this and have screwed Merrett.

 

[Geead]

You could have added another top pick. You could have bent a players arm. But neither happened.

The offer was clearly not enough, and was never going to be enough. So Merrett, Zach Merrett, who was so on the hook, slipped by.

So be it.

I don't think we had another "top pick", would've taken a player being traded to extract a top pick which may not have been possible.

But yes, what's done is done, just feels like a lose-lose situation imo.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Essendon CEO on 'unusual' Hawthorn tactics, how Merrett will fit back in at Bombers

Essendon CEO Craig Vozzo reflects on Zach Merrett's failed bid to join Hawthorn and his surprise at Hawthorn's negotations

www.afl.com.au

Hawk's tactics "disappointing and unusual, particularly for somebody of Zac's ilk"

Essendon listened to all offers out of respect to Merrett and Petroro. This "not answering calls" stuff was rubbish.

There was no contact at all from Hawthorn until 30 hours before the trade deadline - an offer that was "final" and Essendon given a 7-hour deadline to accept it. Which was "disappointing".

(It wasn't final, and it wasn't a real deadline - they came back with an improved offer the next day).

"Very surprised" that we'd got to the day before the trade deadline and there'd been no offer or contact from the club that was apparently very keen to get him.

"We all go about our business in different ways and that's the way they decided to approach it."

Said it 10 times - the strategy here was stay silent, go late and ramp up the pressure.

It failed miserably. The Hawks completely ****ed this and have screwed Merrett.

The real question is Wtf were hawthorn doing between the meeting with Zach and Mitchell 6 weeks ago and the day before trade period ended?

Sounds like sweet **** all

Sounds like me doing a university assignment

 

[Forward Press]

Allen, Merrett and who?

If it is about Harley, wasn't that at a wedding at the end of last year?

Semantics, it was after the end of the 2024 season, so I counted that in the past year.

But yes, I do admit I am not completely unbiased, as two of the players were Eagles. Anyway, probably enough keyboard strokes wasted on this.

Good luck to Hawthorn - and genuinely, because unlike last year we aren't death-riding the Hawks any more.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Essendon CEO on 'unusual' Hawthorn tactics, how Merrett will fit back in at Bombers

Essendon CEO Craig Vozzo reflects on Zach Merrett's failed bid to join Hawthorn and his surprise at Hawthorn's negotations

www.afl.com.au

Hawk's tactics "disappointing and unusual, particularly for somebody of Zac's ilk"

Essendon listened to all offers out of respect to Merrett and Petroro. This "not answering calls" stuff was rubbish.

There was no contact at all from Hawthorn until 30 hours before the trade deadline - an offer that was "final" and Essendon given a 7-hour deadline to accept it. Which was "disappointing".

(It wasn't final, and it wasn't a real deadline - they came back with an improved offer the next day).

"Very surprised" that we'd got to the day before the trade deadline and there'd been no offer or contact from the club that was apparently very keen to get him.

"We all go about our business in different ways and that's the way they decided to approach it."

Said it 10 times - the strategy here was stay silent, go late and ramp up the pressure.

It failed miserably. The Hawks completely ****ed this and have screwed Merrett.

Do you really believe this was motivated by respect for Merrett?

"Out of respect for Merrett we did the exact opposite of what he clearly and continually asked for and held him at the club - we are such great and respectful guys"

Please tell me you're not fooled by that?

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Semantics, it was after the end of the 2024 season, so I counted that in the past year.

But yes, I do admit I am not completely unbiased, as two of the players were Eagles. Anyway, probably enough keyboard strokes wasted on this.

Good luck to Hawthorn - and genuinely, because unlike last year we aren't death-riding the Hawks any more.

hahaha did you really include a wedding in your list of Mitchell's secret meetings that got leaked?

 

[Geead]

Hypothetically, does anyone think that the AFL should adopt the NBA system and allow clubs to trade players to other clubs regardless of whether the player is happy to be traded or not?

 

[joey_jo_jo]

Hypothetically, does anyone think that the AFL should adopt the NBA system and allow clubs to trade players to other clubs regardless of whether the player is happy to be traded or not?

Tough one, feel like we either need to go all in or all out with US style trading/drafting. at the moment its seems a half pregnant approach because AFL is trying too hard to keep all stakeholders happy...which results in no one being satisfied.