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

[Lore]

There we go, that's the clip:

 

[boncer34]

FYI, 45 minutes before the trade deadline, the Bombers football department agreed to the trade offered by the Hawks, it went up the line to the Board, and it was there the deal was vetoed. In particular, the Pres and Dean Solomon refused the offer.
So, the initial smiles all round from Roughead, manager and co. was for the assumed trade being successful, only for the change after review by Essendon Board.
This decision was political, not football related, the Essendon Board drawing their line in the sand.
This comes directly from an Essendon Board member I played golf with the other day.

I have absolutely no issue with this, the player signed a contract, and therefore his "12 years of service" has nothing to do with it. Utter BS.
In addition, the idea of "keeping a disgruntled player will harm the Club's culture" is also utter BS. I'd imagine Zach is by far the biggest contributor to the Bombers culture, and will remain so in 2026.

Personally, I thought the Hawks offer was overs, but my biggest disappointment in the Hawks offer is that they must have very little confidence Cooper Hodge is going to choose Hawks over Lions next year, as with the new rules, Hawks are going to require their first round pick top get him in.

Like many, if not the majority, of Hawks supporters, I am comfortable the deal didn't go thru, too much risk IMO, even though Zach is a great player.

I'm truly excited to see what Hustwaite and Butler can bring to the table next year.

Yes. Moving from a F2 to 22 made Rosa and the recruiting department move from laughing at the Hawks offer, to accepting.

 

[SA HAWK]

Little wins like this keep the loyal supporters happy, they have given up on any kind of onfield success.

Let them have it trade week was about the only time they have been relevant in 20+ years.

Essendon & Carlton are stuck in the past and think people give a shit about their pre WW2 flags.

 

[cobra land]

amateurish if you ask the crowd. Do the right thing, be there when it comes to head and then go on your junket

Yet, some in here are sprouting about how professionaly run they are... Mitchell had one job, talk about dropping the world cup, the second coming couldn't even be here to close the deal.

 

[Ticky009]

Thread locked while we clean house.

 

[Ticky009]

We now return you to our normal programming - but be mindful to stick to topic and stop the trolling.

We fully understand the emotion high-profile trades like this generate - but what's done is done and Draft threads beckon. We encourage you to explore further draft topics and perhaps your ships will indeed come in.

regards
Mods

 

[DERO]

Probably should just keep it shut. There is nothing to be gained from the continued dumbarsery on display in here. I’m not sure which is worse, the fools or the fools arguing with the fools.

 

[Jeremy McLovin]

FYI, 45 minutes before the trade deadline, the Bombers football department agreed to the trade offered by the Hawks, it went up the line to the Board, and it was there the deal was vetoed. In particular, the Pres and Dean Solomon refused the offer.
So, the initial smiles all round from Roughead, manager and co. was for the assumed trade being successful, only for the change after review by Essendon Board.
This decision was political, not football related, the Essendon Board drawing their line in the sand.
This comes directly from an Essendon Board member I played golf with the other day.

I have absolutely no issue with this, the player signed a contract, and therefore his "12 years of service" has nothing to do with it. Utter BS.
In addition, the idea of "keeping a disgruntled player will harm the Club's culture" is also utter BS. I'd imagine Zach is by far the biggest contributor to the Bombers culture, and will remain so in 2026.

Personally, I thought the Hawks offer was overs, but my biggest disappointment in the Hawks offer is that they must have very little confidence Cooper Hodge is going to choose Hawks over Lions next year, as with the new rules, Hawks are going to require their first round pick top get him in.

Like many, if not the majority, of Hawks supporters, I am comfortable the deal didn't go thru, too much risk IMO, even though Zach is a great player.

I'm truly excited to see what Hustwaite and Butler can bring to the table next year.

Sources cited: Trust me bro.

 

[Yoda_]

FYI, 45 minutes before the trade deadline, the Bombers football department agreed to the trade offered by the Hawks, it went up the line to the Board, and it was there the deal was vetoed. In particular, the Pres and Dean Solomon refused the offer.
So, the initial smiles all round from Roughead, manager and co. was for the assumed trade being successful, only for the change after review by Essendon Board.
This decision was political, not football related, the Essendon Board drawing their line in the sand.
This comes directly from an Essendon Board member I played golf with the other day.

I have absolutely no issue with this, the player signed a contract, and therefore his "12 years of service" has nothing to do with it. Utter BS.
In addition, the idea of "keeping a disgruntled player will harm the Club's culture" is also utter BS. I'd imagine Zach is by far the biggest contributor to the Bombers culture, and will remain so in 2026.

Personally, I thought the Hawks offer was overs, but my biggest disappointment in the Hawks offer is that they must have very little confidence Cooper Hodge is going to choose Hawks over Lions next year, as with the new rules, Hawks are going to require their first round pick top get him in.

Like many, if not the majority, of Hawks supporters, I am comfortable the deal didn't go thru, too much risk IMO, even though Zach is a great player.

I'm truly excited to see what Hustwaite and Butler can bring to the table next year.

Wowee

 

[jannissary]

Thread locked while we clean house.

#sosad

 

[iameviljez]

Probably should just keep it shut. There is nothing to be gained from the continued dumbarsery on display in here. I’m not sure which is worse, the fools or the fools arguing with the fools.

If you do that, it'll spill elsewhere anyway.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

For al the "I cant believe Essendon turned down 4 1st rounders for Merrett", we have the same people during this time saying the offer that had Cam Mackenzie in it should be Cam Mackenzie + 1 first rounder, which effectively rates Cam Mackenzie as worth 3 first rounders. My question is has any player coming of a 12 game season who spent 50% of his time playing VFL football ever gone for 3 first rounders?

I doubt it...

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

If Merrett took the Charlie Curnow

30

Charlie Curnow

Age

28

Ht

194cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.3

3star

K

9.7

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.3

5star

No current season stats available

D

10.8

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

4.4

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.8

4star

approach, the question is where would he have ended up at? My feeling is it would have been Adelaide and deal would have been more or less centred around Josh Rachele + 3 1st rounders . I think midfield minutes and money turns his head

 

[HairyO]

If Merrett took the Charlie Curnow approach, the question is where would he have ended up at? My feeling is it would have been Adelaide and deal would have been more or less centred around Josh Rachele + 3 1st rounders . I think midfield minutes and money turns his head

That is even more insane than what people were saying we needed to include with MacKenzie.

If anything, Adelaide would be wanting Essendon to be sending picks with Merrett.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

That is even more insane than what people were saying we needed to include with MacKenzie.

If anything, Adelaide would be wanting Essendon to be sending picks with Merrett.

Josh Rachele is worth 5 1st rounders?

 

[HairyO]

Josh Rachele is worth 5 1st rounders?

Certainly, if Merrett is worth 4 1st rounders. I'd choose Rachele over Merrett without blinking. He is 22 and has kicked 90 goals as a fwd/mid.

Merrett at 30 has kicked 80-something goals.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Im curious to see if you were in hawks position and held pick 10 and they wanted ginbey with it , would you do that deal? I doubt it. And don't come back and say he only played 12 games and ginbey finished top 3 in the bnf, that is just a reflection where the teams are at. You recruited him as a mid with pick and 3 years on he is a defender because he cant find the ball. Plus you have to be able to convince the player to actually move to essendon, which right now is a tough sell.

The same essendon supporters saying 3 1sts will turn out to be avg picks are the same ones saying we will miss the 8 next season, so which one is it? If we missed next season pick 10, 22 and say pick 8 is a solid deal. The 3 picks also gave them so much flexibiity to move up the draft board , trade into the future, or hold a very good hand to trade in quality players next season, but that seems like it was to hard for their list managers.

On what planet is Mackenzie on Ginbeys level? Delusion 101

The comparison would be Elijah Hewett to Cam Mackenzie for sure. Id do Hewett + 2 1st rounders (split pick 2) + 2nd rounder in a heartbeat type of deal..

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Certainly, if Merrett is worth 4 1st rounders. I'd choose Rachele over Merrett without blinking. He is 22 and has kicked 90 goals as a fwd/mid.

Merrett at 30 has kicked 80-something goals.

What would you have offered for Rachele as a Hawks fan here? Would it not be the biggest deal ever for a 22 year old also?

 

[boncer34]

Im curious to see if you were in hawks position and held pick 10 and they wanted ginbey with it , would you do that deal? I doubt it. And don't come back and say he only played 12 games and ginbey finished top 3 in the bnf, that is just a reflection where the teams are at. You recruited him as a mid with pick and 3 years on he is a defender because he cant find the ball. Plus you have to be able to convince the player to actually move to essendon, which right now is a tough sell.

The same essendon supporters saying 3 1sts will turn out to be avg picks are the same ones saying we will miss the 8 next season, so which one is it? If we missed next season pick 10, 22 and say pick 8 is a solid deal. The 3 picks also gave them so much flexibiity to move up the draft board , trade into the future, or hold a very good hand to trade in quality players next season, but that seems like it was to hard for their list managers.

What

 

[EBERT THE KING]

FYI, 45 minutes before the trade deadline, the Bombers football department agreed to the trade offered by the Hawks, it went up the line to the Board, and it was there the deal was vetoed. In particular, the Pres and Dean Solomon refused the offer.
So, the initial smiles all round from Roughead, manager and co. was for the assumed trade being successful, only for the change after review by Essendon Board.
This decision was political, not football related, the Essendon Board drawing their line in the sand.
This comes directly from an Essendon Board member I played golf with the other day.

I have absolutely no issue with this, the player signed a contract, and therefore his "12 years of service" has nothing to do with it. Utter BS.
In addition, the idea of "keeping a disgruntled player will harm the Club's culture" is also utter BS. I'd imagine Zach is by far the biggest contributor to the Bombers culture, and will remain so in 2026.

Personally, I thought the Hawks offer was overs, but my biggest disappointment in the Hawks offer is that they must have very little confidence Cooper Hodge is going to choose Hawks over Lions next year, as with the new rules, Hawks are going to require their first round pick top get him in.

Like many, if not the majority, of Hawks supporters, I am comfortable the deal didn't go thru, too much risk IMO, even though Zach is a great player.

I'm truly excited to see what Hustwaite and Butler can bring to the table next year.

if thats true, Rosa's position is untenable.

 

[Unfazed]

FYI, 45 minutes before the trade deadline, the Bombers football department agreed to the trade offered by the Hawks, it went up the line to the Board, and it was there the deal was vetoed. In particular, the Pres and Dean Solomon refused the offer.
So, the initial smiles all round from Roughead, manager and co. was for the assumed trade being successful, only for the change after review by Essendon Board.
This decision was political, not football related, the Essendon Board drawing their line in the sand.
This comes directly from an Essendon Board member I played golf with the other day.

I have absolutely no issue with this, the player signed a contract, and therefore his "12 years of service" has nothing to do with it. Utter BS.
In addition, the idea of "keeping a disgruntled player will harm the Club's culture" is also utter BS. I'd imagine Zach is by far the biggest contributor to the Bombers culture, and will remain so in 2026.

Personally, I thought the Hawks offer was overs, but my biggest disappointment in the Hawks offer is that they must have very little confidence Cooper Hodge is going to choose Hawks over Lions next year, as with the new rules, Hawks are going to require their first round pick top get him in.

Like many, if not the majority, of Hawks supporters, I am comfortable the deal didn't go thru, too much risk IMO, even though Zach is a great player.

I'm truly excited to see what Hustwaite and Butler can bring to the table next year.

if thats true, Rosa's position is untenable.

It's not true.

 

[HairyO]

if thats true, Rosa's position is untenable.

I'll be amazed if the Essendon list team is remotely the same this time next year. I think its been obvious with the Merrett saga that the list team have had very little input and everything is being run by the board.

Also, Welsh was the only club president at the draft combine. He really does want to make all the decisions himself.

 

[EBERT THE KING]

It's not true.

I don't think it would be, but if it is, Rosas position is untenable.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Rosa has done a brilliant job in the last 2 years. They have absolutely nailed the last 2 drafts + the mid season drafts to boot

Kako a obvious choice, Angus Clarke showed a ton. Even Zak Johnson had 29 possies in his 3rd game as a pick 70. Then in mid season you got 3 picks who all did enough to stay. Then in 2024 they got Caddy, Lual, Roberts and Visenti. 3 of those 4 look very good pickups. Roberts at 50 was a bargain

They are finally nailing their picks. He aint leaving cos Hawks fans are having a tantrum at making their side worse in 2026

 

[Yoda_]

I'll be amazed if the Essendon list team is remotely the same this time next year. I think its been obvious with the Merrett saga that the list team have had very little input and everything is being run by the board.

Also, Welsh was the only club president at the draft combine. He really does want to make all the decisions himself.

Not even close again

 

[boncer34]

I'll be amazed if the Essendon list team is remotely the same this time next year. I think its been obvious with the Merrett saga that the list team have had very little input and everything is being run by the board.

Also, Welsh was the only club president at the draft combine. He really does want to make all the decisions himself.

Was he the only club board member?