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.

 

[Wungong Warrior]

Im still trying to get my head around Essendon's or should I say the powerbrokers/Welsh's stance on all of this. Rosa wanted to do this only to be overriden by welsh and co. They did this out of spite and with that mentality, you dont get anywhere in life, let alone sport. They are celebrating denying Hawthorn, meanwhile setting back their rebuild for a few more years. And most of the bigfooty nuffs are celebrating it. What a toxic, amateur club. We will be fine, more opportunities for our players to step up and I think they will.

Agree completely. From my perspective the trade/non trade has set us back about one year but Essendon up to 5 years. Because we hate them as much as they hate us the trade was vetoed. If the shoe was on the other foot that being us in Essendons position we would have done the trade. Hawthorn players couldn't live with themselves if a player desperately wanted out

 

[rockethawk]

More fool us then.

Sam met with Zach. He and his wife did a sales pitch. No doubt it was orchestrated by their mutual manager Tom Petroro.

He was the one throwing the toys out of the cot last night. He looked like a dickhead.

Somehow he presumed a club wouldn’t hold his client to a contract.

They did, as they were entitled to do.

Out of interest, what was the Essendon counter offer that we failed to meet?

Is that not the point? They negotiated, we met offers, they effectively accepted an offer near the deadline, then withdrew it. And, subsequently increased their offer with moments remaining. That is not good faith negotiating.

 

[Ashman23]

Please for the love of God nobody post anymore in the Zach M thread.

It's turned into an echo chamber and the Scum members are all now replying to each without any of us posting since this early afternoon.

Don't give them the satisfaction of posting there and letting them goad you.

Let it die.

 

[Hungdaddy]

I suppose there's always the possibility that two or three of our players take a big step in their development. All eyes on preseason.

 

[5minutes_of_Dew]

Please for the love of God nobody post anymore in the Zach M thread.

It's turned into an echo chamber and the Scum members are all now replying to each without any of us posting since this early afternoon.

Don't give them the satisfaction of posting there and letting them goad you.

Let it die.

Yup, I dipped out of there at like 6:30pm on trade night I'm pretty sure.

Too many insufferables.

I'll let that thread dry up and die just like Welsh just let their list dry up and die.

 

[5minutes_of_Dew]

I suppose there's always the possibility that two or three of our players take a big step in their development. All eyes on preseason.

I think Mackenzie, Ward, Weddle and Watson are all going to have their best seasons yet next year.

Looking forward to the growth.

I'm undecided if I want us to use our picks in this year's draft or if we should trade out to load up on ammo for trading in established talent next year.

I think we probably need to give up 1 pick and use the other so we have enough to chase Humphrey and others next year.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

View attachment 2459460

It’s already starting to turn

Barrett was on the Merrett needs to leave bandwagon from the start. This is exactly what I expected him to write.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Yup, I dipped out of there at like 6:30pm on trade night I'm pretty sure.

Too many insufferables.

I'll let that thread dry up and die just like Welsh just let their list dry up and die.

Yep your getting nowhere trying to use logic on them, there not interested or practically laughing in your face regardless of what you post. As I said yesterday cesspool for the anti Hawk brigade.

 

[5minutes_of_Dew]

Yep your getting nowhere trying to use logic on them, there not interested or practically laughing in your face regardless of what you post. As I said yesterday cesspool for the anti Hawk brigade.

There's a bunch of salty west coast supporters in there who were still super pissed about how poorly their club bungled the Barass trade/picked our picks instead of Carltons.

They'll never admit that though, but when your club only wins 1 game for the year, apparently you need to find joy in attempting to troll a trade thread that has nothing to do with your team

 

[Hawk88]

That last bit is a lie from ZM. Couldn’t be further from the truth he’s looking forward to going back.

They’ll be lucky to get 20 games out of him.

Threw away a golden chance at a rebuild before the Tassie drafts for 20 games of a bloke that hates the place.

Of course his not bro but he has to save face. Honestly what else can he do

Lets for imagine this was all of our workplace, you need to atleast make it salvageable for the next 12 months.. Its called being a professional!

Granted we all want him going nuclear but wont happen and if he did i would actually have less respect for him

 

[Glebehawk]

Missed on Reid, Petracca, Merrett. We’ve had a shocker of a trade period. Granted, many of the outcomes were out of our hands but there must be some accountability. In MM we trust, yes but not blindly anymore.

 

[Yardie]

Missed on Reid, Petracca, Merrett. We’ve had a shocker of a trade period. Granted, many of the outcomes were out of our hands but there must be some accountability. In MM we trust, yes but not blindly anymore.

Many outcomes were out of our hands but then we should make someone accountable.......FMD........

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Missed on Reid, Petracca, Merrett. We’ve had a shocker of a trade period. Granted, many of the outcomes were out of our hands but there must be some accountability. In MM we trust, yes but not blindly anymore.

Yes it's disappointing, but every side misses out on targets. No one nails every single trade period and the last few have been pretty good for us.

 

[QuietB]

Yes it's disappointing, but every side misses out on targets. No one nails every single trade period and the last few have been pretty good for us.

Hawks currently have very specific needs as well and those needs are the players that all clubs generally guard the most.

Hawks were always pushing the proverbial uphill.

 

[seysearles]

Agree completely. From my perspective the trade/non trade has set us back about one year but Essendon up to 5 years.

You just never know how these things pan out. MacKenzie and Hust may both grab the bull by the horns and this year accelerates their development way faster than had Merrett been on the list. Bringing Merrett in was as an all-our-nothing throw at the stumps. I have a feeling in the medium to long term this is going to benefit us a lot more. Imagine going into 2027 with Ward McKenzie and Hust all hitting their straps and primed and then on top of that bringing in another 25yr old FA gun mid.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

There's a bunch of salty west coast supporters in there who were still super pissed about how poorly their club bungled the Barass trade/picked our picks instead of Carltons.

They'll never admit that though, but when your club only wins 1 game for the year, apparently you need to find joy in attempting to troll a trade thread that has nothing to do with your team

You should see some of the posts regarding Merretts partner because she had the nerve to say she was disappointed. Out came the knives from their so called supporters giving her a dressing down. You would think they should be welcoming them both back with open arms instead of tearing her to shreds. Just piss poor behaviour and attitudes no wonder he wants to leave the joint.

 

[Hawkk]

Missed on Reid, Petracca, Merrett. We’ve had a shocker of a trade period. Granted, many of the outcomes were out of our hands but there must be some accountability. In MM we trust, yes but not blindly anymore.

Opting for Merrett over Petrecca I’ll give you but prizing Reid out of West Coast now was always going to be very difficult. Our time with that one could come again.

 

[CobberRodgers]

Of course his not bro but he has to save face. Honestly what else can he do

Lets for imagine this was all of our workplace, you need to atleast make it salvageable for the next 12 months.. Its called being a professional!

Granted we all want him going nuclear but wont happen and if he did i would actually have less respect for him

He doesn’t have to save anything. All he’s got to do is make it as comfortable as he can for himself.

He hates the place and the people that run it, if they think that means they’re going to get the same ZM output they’re used to I reckon it’s a big watch this space.

Maybe he gets a little more injured than normal?

This is a huge 12 month for the bombers. ZM may not be the only one feeling this way if they can’t make a dramatic turn.

 

[chopflop]

I know it's the dons, so who really cares now, but there is no way he will rock up invested. Leaders will talk about sacrifice, playing for the jumper and tradition etc., this bloke will put him self on the edges, stay quiet and get kicks. Young blokes expected to buy into the "vision" will see q bloke not emotionally invested go through the motions - not in the getting kicks sense - but all the rest u need to galvanise a collective. This is the price the pay for holding someone that didn't want to be there. They could have left with mutual respect, but now they carry on with an overtone of resentment and disfranchisement. It's an absolute culture killer

 

[TylerDurden]

I know it's the dons, so who really cares now, but there is no way he will rock up invested. Leaders will talk about sacrifice, playing for the jumper and tradition etc., this bloke will put him self on the edges, stay quiet and get kicks. Young blokes expected to buy into the "vision" will see q bloke not emotionally invested go through the motions - not in the getting kicks sense - but all the rest u need to galvanise a collective. This is the price the pay for holding someone that didn't want to be there. They could have left with mutual respect, but now they carry on with an overtone of resentment and disfranchisement. It's an absolute culture killer

100%

The game is so brutal, you almost risk your life at every contest. I cant see Zach wanting to do that now. He's their best player. Good luck with that.

 

[kazzooka]

Couldnt agree more

I know this is an unpopular opinion but trade period should be the entire summer period, open early to mid October until preseason

This forcing trades over a 1.5 weeks is farmer league BS

Agreed. I still think there should be a set date that you have to finalise your list by but, you should be able to trade AFTER the draft.

If you are after a key forward and the only good one in the draft gets picked before you, you pick the next available and see if anyone wants a future pick or a player so you can get that positional need.

The reason it's set where it is though is that players want certainty in October so they can finish the season, have the functions then go on holiday and know they have a job for next year.

We still have a few players in limbo now without a contract for next year likely waiting on the draft.

Reeves I imaging gets done, but Bodie Ryan and Seamus mitchell i'm not sure of. Given we already have 6 spots to fill and only 2 good picks I imagine we will keep them.

 

[Howe Amazing]

I would be keeping Seamus Mitchell

 

[QuietB]

He doesn’t have to save anything. All he’s got to do is make it as comfortable as he can for himself.

He hates the place and the people that run it, if they think that means they’re going to get the same ZM output they’re used to I reckon it’s a big watch this space.

Maybe he gets a little more injured than normal?

This is a huge 12 month for the bombers. ZM may not be the only one feeling this way if they can’t make a dramatic turn.

Add the entire football department is getting undermined by the board. Good luck

 

[MasterSamurai]

Marshall nominated Geelong
Curnow nominated Geelong
Result? Missed on both . Huge bungle up.
But not a word or even a article about it.
Let's move on, Merrett is their problem , we owe him or anyone else absolutely ZERO!

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I suppose there's always the possibility that two or three of our players take a big step in their development. All eyes on preseason.

We're blessed in that we've got 5-6 who could really have a big say on 2026 for us.

Weddle
Dear
Watson
MacKenzie
Butler
Ward

What happens if they all have career best years?