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]

Mate he’s not signing a new deal so Essendon get more trade leverage at seasons end, that might be the dumbest thing I’ve heard on bigfooty.

Its also not what I said.

Scotland said there's no reason for Essendon to sign him. I was just giving a reason why they would.

Merritt's motivation to sign is $$.

 

[GinniAndTonic]

Its also not what I said.

Scotland said there's no reason for Essendon to sign him. I was just giving a reason why they would.

Merritt's motivation to sign is $$.

Sure it’s a reason but it’s not a realistic one.

If Merrett does sign he’s a don for life.

 

[boncer34]

Sure it’s a reason but it’s not a realistic one.

If Merrett does sign he’s a don for life.

Which reason isnt realistic?

 

[Scotland]

Which reason isnt realistic?

Merrett re-signing with Essendon so the club can control his destiny after 2027.

The best deal Essendon were going to get was 2025 and they said no. Merrett is either retiring a one club player or moving this year for less than was offered last year or in 2027 for nothing.

 

[boncer34]

Merrett re-signing with Essendon so the club can control his destiny after 2027.

The best deal Essendon were going to get was 2025 and they said no. Merrett is either retiring a one club player or moving this year for less than was offered last year or in 2027 for nothing.

I've never said that is a reason for Zach to sign.

It is a reason for Essendon to sign because, as you literally say in your 2nd paragraph, it means he wont leave for nothing.

 

[Scotland]

Essendon fans are... interesting.

 

[boncer34]

Essendon fans are... interesting.

You dont think there's a concern at Essendon if they dont extend him now he'll walk in 27 for a end of first pick?

Thats all I'm saying. There is a reason for Essendon to sign him now.

Its not that hard to grasp.

 

[Scotland]

You dont think there's a concern at Essendon if they dont extend him now he'll walk in 27 for a end of first pick?

Thats all I'm saying. There is a reason for Essendon to sign him now.

Its not that hard to grasp.

If he walks in 2027 you aren't getting band 2 compo pick for a 32 year old.

If you can get a first round pick trading him in 2026 you should take it, as you should've taken the deal that was on offer last year.

 

[boncer34]

If he walks in 2027 you aren't getting band 2 compo pick for a 32 year old.

If you can get a first round pick trading him in 2026 you should take it, as you should've taken the deal that was on offer last year.

Cool.

None of that has anything to do with my point.

 

[GinniAndTonic]

You dont think there's a concern at Essendon if they dont extend him now he'll walk in 27 for a end of first pick?

Thats all I'm saying. There is a reason for Essendon to sign him now.

Its not that hard to grasp.

If he walks in 2027 you’ll be getting a third rounder at best

 

[CobberRodgers]

You dont think there's a concern at Essendon if they dont extend him now he'll walk in 27 for a end of first pick?

Thats all I'm saying. There is a reason for Essendon to sign him now.

Its not that hard to grasp.

Everyone at Essendon knows it won’t be anywhere near compensation like that if he leaves as a FA. Would be the pick after your round 2 selection at best, in a Tassie tampered draft.

Last year was the crossroads. Cash him in, or make a stand and go down the optics path. The club chose the latter, and that is fine, but that was the moment.

 

[boncer34]

If he walks in 2027 you’ll be getting a third rounder at best

that might be the dumbest thing I’ve heard on bigfooty.

 

[boncer34]

Everyone at Essendon knows it won’t be anywhere near compensation like that if he leaves as a FA. Would be the pick after your round 2 selection at best, in a Tassie tampered draft.

Last year was the crossroads. Cash him in, or make a stand and go down the optics path. The club chose the latter, and that is fine, but that was the moment.

Band 3 isnt anywhere near band 2? Interesting take.

 

[Scotland]

Cool.

None of that has anything to do with my point.

Which is? He just asked to leave with two years left on his deal. So your strategy is to offer him an extension so he won't ask to leave?

Contracted or otherwise, if Essendon got an end of first round pick by whatever means in 2027 for Zach Merrett they should be doing cartwheels.

A 33 year old Gary Ablett was traded for an upgrade of pick 24 to 19 and a future second. But for some reason Essendon fans think Merrett will be worth multiple firsts every trade week.

 

[boncer34]

Which is?

Scotland said there's no reason for Essendon to sign him. I was just giving a reason why they would.

Thats all I'm saying. There is a reason for Essendon to sign him now.

 

[CobberRodgers]

Band 3 isnt anywhere near band 2? Interesting take.

Band 2 is end of first round, band 3 is the pick after your pick in the second round?

Is that right?

 

[boncer34]

Band 2 is end of first round, band 3 is the pick after your pick in the second round?

Is that right?

Yep

 

[CobberRodgers]

Anyway, if your worried about what you’re going to get in return for him, then you should have traded him is the point from Scotland I believe as anything you get in FA will ironically be sweet FA.

 

[CobberRodgers]

Yep

So what were you questioning then?

 

[boncer34]

So what were you questioning then?

Your statement that band 3 isnt anywhere near band 2.

 

[CobberRodgers]

Your statement that band 3 isnt anywhere near band 2.

I said second round pick, at best.

There’s a huge difference between picks in the teens and picks in the twenties, well that’s what a whole supporter base has been telling everyone for the past few months anyway.

 

[boncer34]

I said second round pick, at best.

There’s a huge difference between picks in the teens and picks in the twenties, well that’s what a whole supporter base has been telling everyone for the past few months anyway.

There is.

But its still only one band behind what I suggested. My suggestion wasnt outrageous, you're probably right, band 3 is probably more likely.

It's just not that different to band 2.

Also end of 1st round isnt a pick in the teens in the 27 draft, just an fyi.

 

[CobberRodgers]

There is.

But its still only one band behind what I suggested. My suggestion wasnt outrageous, you're probably right, band 3 is probably more likely.

It's just not that different to band 2.

Also end of 1st round isnt a pick in the teens in the 27 draft, just an fyi.

Which is why the draft is cooked. It’ll be more like 30!

 

[boncer34]

Which is why the draft is cooked. It’ll be more like 30!

The proposed changes to compo are going to alleviate some of that hopefully.

Not in 27 though.

 

[Guardian Hawk]

I've heard the 'reasons' given by Essendon supporters already (too many picks as it is, no-one to delist (haha), good player to guide them) and whilst some of those have Merrett, I still can't fully comprehend why Essendon would choose to keep Merrett instead of the offer presented.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy they did, given Hawthorn used to the picks to:

Select Cam Nairn
Select Aiden Schubert
Trade for a 2027 2nd rounder (with West Coast)
Trade for another 2027 2nd rounder (with GWS)
Retained 2027 first rounder
Retained Henry Hustwaite.

I can understand why Hawthorn may look to give up such a significant haul of picks ('overs' IMO), as they are targetting immediate success rather than future planning but I still cannot fully comprehend why Essendon, a rebuilding club with the Tassie drafts around the corner, would turn down such a haul for a 30 year old (who they may still lose for significantly less).

It still feels like it is as much about posturing and protecting Welsh, etc (from the way a short-term dip and trading captain to old rivals would look) than it is about the best interests of the club's ability to contend in the medium to long term. The thing is, most of the Essendon supporters highlighting how it was the right move are the same ones that proposed a 'good and fair deal' that they wanted prior to the trade offer that was considerably less than what ended up being rejected.

Time will tell in the end.