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

[Lore]

There we go, that's the clip:

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

 

[Lana]

Essendon will do well from this. 2 first rounders and some healthy change.
I don't think their midfield performance will drop off either.

 

[Jcpdragonx]

Bought the dream but they sold him one. This is 100% on Essendon, 13 years he gave to that club and its still a shambles.

 

[Milanista28]

This is the most energised ive been about the club in years. Build it again.

 

[Del203211]

Maybe he just tears up his contract, quits football all together and goes and lives in the country somewhere where he can have peace

This is the Merrett thread, not Jamarra.

 

[perplexed]

Same as Dunkley. The overs asking price didn't suit Essendon, so we pulled out.
Even though we wanted him so we were apparently obliged to pay 2 top 10 picks.

I understood it from both sides - The dogs and us.

That is an interesting recollection of why the Dunkley trade failed. As I recall it, Essendon only offered picks to WB that would be absorbed by a bid on JUH. Essendon had a perfectly good F1 that WB would have accepted but Dodoro refused to trade it.

 

[HeHateMe]

I think it’s all the same strategy.

We’ve hit Fox footy, sen, the age and AFL media.

I reckon the herald sun and RSN will be tomorrow.

I'm going to be blunt here but that strategy feels a bit like your trying to push shit up hill...

I said the other day before alot came out that the Dons needed to take emotion out of it and do what's best for them in the long long term. It's publicly and rapidly becoming clear Merrett wants out.

Club now needs to explore every avenue to improve the list with the cards they are dealt, and it needs to be deeper than just putting a huge asking price. They need to keep talking to players to recruit looking at what bundling picks and moving up the order or ways to benefit from other trades with the strong draft hand. Maximise the shitty situation, forget about the optics in the immediate...

 

[Lore]

I'm going to be blunt here but that strategy feels a bit like your trying to push shit up hill...

I said the other day before alot came out that the Dons needed to take emotion out of it and do what's best for them in the long long term. It's publicly and rapidly becoming clear Merrett wants out.

Club now needs to explore every avenue to improve the list with the cards they are dealt, and it needs to be deeper than just putting a huge asking price. They need to keep talking to players to recruit looking at what bundling picks and moving up the order or ways to benefit from other trades with the strong draft hand. Maximise the shitty situation, forget about the optics in the immediate...

 

[Lore]

That is an interesting recollection of why the Dunkley trade failed. As I recall it, Essendon only offered picks to WB that would be absorbed by a bid on JUH. Essendon had a perfectly good F1 that WB would have accepted but Dodoro refused to trade it.

Recollections usually differ but its one of several examples of contracted players requesting trades recently so comparing and contrasting the two situations is probably reasonable enough

 

[Altum Volantes]

Definitely trade him - maybe not to Hawthorn if they can't offer anything near value but get the guy gone and move forward.

He's shown his hand.

Don't end up like Melbourne with wantaway stars reducing in value by the week while you slide down the ladder and wait for them to retire.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Definitely trade him - maybe not to Hawthorn if they can't offer anything near value but get the guy gone and move forward.

He's shown his hand.

Don't end up like Melbourne with wantaway stars reducing in value by the week while you slide down the ladder and wait for them to retire.

Went the nuclear option did Zac as a club captain and respected player in the league i expected better from him. You want to leave that's fine but the way he has handled this makes him look selfish and is burning bridges along the way.

 

[Joffaboy]

Makes no difference. You make a deal or he stays/goes elsewhere/fights his way back to the captaincy/apologises/sacks his manager/learns his lesson/goes to Brisbane next year/whatever.

No one owes Hawthorn anything in this right now.

Like any contracted player, Merrett has two choices if he categorically refuses to play for Essendon
1. He goes where Essendon get the best deal
2. He sits out of football.
Enough of players signing long term contracts and then reneging halfway through.
Merrett's manager used the Saints offer to make Essendon up his money, Essendon has every right to get as much capital as they can.
However wants him will need to cough up.

 

[perplexed]

Recollections usually differ but its one of several examples of contracted players requesting trades recently so comparing and contrasting the two situations is probably reasonable enough

It's fine to compare them, but the suggestion was that the trade failed because price was too high when really it was bad faith negotiations. Essendon were only offering picks that they knew the Dogs couldn't really use and refused to involve one they could. It was a deal that should have been done. The equivalent in the Merrett situation would be Hawthorn only offering up players Essendon don't want.

 

[tl92]

Like any contracted player, Merrett has two choices if he categorically refuses to play for Essendon
1. He goes where Essendon get the best deal
2. He sits out of football.
Enough of players signing long term contracts and then reneging halfway through.
Merrett's manager used the Saints offer to make Essendon up his money, Essendon has every right to get as much capital as they can.
However wants him will need to cough up.

Shame he wants success or the saints would be all over him

 

[HeHateMe]

Like any contracted player, Merrett has two choices if he categorically refuses to play for Essendon
1. He goes where Essendon get the best deal
2. He sits out of football.
Enough of players signing long term contracts and then reneging halfway through.
Merrett's manager used the Saints offer to make Essendon up his money, Essendon has every right to get as much capital as they can.
However wants him will need to cough up.

Not a bad point, what's the best offer a club is going to offer for Merrett realistically. Is there a club who can turn his head and offer Essendon what's required?

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

Hawthorn are not going to make any friends with their trading strategy, but the may very well win a premiership with it, so kudos to them I guess, but my lord I hate the arrogant pricks.

Hopefully a third club can emerge as a viable trade destination to keep Hawthorn honest, because if it all goes **** up, it doesn't seem like Merrett staying at Essendon is a viable option, which seriously reduces their bargaining power.

Look if it makes you feel better, I can assure you that you are not alone in your feelings about Hawthorn. Your are probably 4th generation in that stance.

It is why anything Hawthorn does, it gets so much opposition supporter emotion. You come to accept it.

I have read many of the musings about what a trade might look like. So much of it driven by the not-Hawthorn hate.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

It's fine to compare them, but the suggestion was that the trade failed because price was too high when really it was bad faith negotiations. Essendon were only offering picks that they knew the Dogs couldn't really use and refused to involve one they could. It was a deal that should have been done. The equivalent in the Merrett situation would be Hawthorn only offering up players Essendon don't want.

Collingwood gave up their future first rounder for picks in the 30's. Could have easily had Finn Callaghan, used one of our picks on Jamara and taken Max Holmes with your own pick you would have saved from the Jamara bid.

 

[Joffaboy]

Shame he wants success or the saints would be all over him

Didn't even mention the Saints. Got nothing to do with who I support. It has to do with what Essendon can get and if there is a better offer, Essendon can send him there.
He can refuse to play for Essendon, break his contract and not get paid, if he wants.
A year out coming back at 31, how much will the $$$$ be diminished? If Essendon LM have any integrity, the get the best deal for a contracted player

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Not a bad point, what's the best offer a club is going to offer for Merrett realistically. Is there a club who can turn his head and offer Essendon what's required?

Saints managed to turn his head last year im sure other clubs would be able too as well

 

[LegendLewis]

Recollections usually differ but its one of several examples of contracted players requesting trades recently so comparing and contrasting the two situations is probably reasonable enough

Just wanted to commend you for sticking fat with this 'conversation' with everyone that has posted and doing it with grace.

 

[Lore]

Just wanted to commend you for sticking fat with this 'conversation' with everyone that has posted and doing it with grace.

I get to play good cop in this thread, it’s almost enjoyable…

 

[vanders]

Went the nuclear option did Zac as a club captain and respected player in the league i expected better from him. You want to leave that's fine but the way he has handled this makes him look selfish and is burning bridges along the way.

What has he done besides have a meeting? The rest of it has just been chatter in the media and comments from everyone except for him.

 

[HeHateMe]

Saints managed to turn his head last year im sure other clubs would be able too as well

Yeah makes sense, they have alot going on though do they have the currency to broker a trade or could offer more that other rival clubs? Also can they meet Merretts salary demands after their recent spend?

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Hawthorn are not going to make any friends with their trading strategy, but the may very well win a premiership with it, so kudos to them I guess, but my lord I hate the arrogant pricks.

Hopefully a third club can emerge as a viable trade destination to keep Hawthorn honest, because if it all goes **** up, it doesn't seem like Merrett staying at Essendon is a viable option, which seriously reduces their bargaining power.

I don't really get how we are pissing clubs off though. Not even trying to be provocative here.

I mean saints have clearly spoken to lots of players given that TDK, and Liam Ryan and Leek Aleer and Silvagni during the course of the season. Nobody is saying they're underhanded or doing the wrong thing.

Brisbane obviously spoke to West coast captain Oscar Allen through the season and I would be shocked if they got him over the line without ever having a conversation with Chris Fagan - but nobody is filthy on that.

What is it about this situation that makes it "Zac going Nuclear" and "hawthorn wont make friends with this trading strategy"? What is it that people think we are doing that other clubs aren't?

 

[perplexed]

Collingwood gave up their future first rounder for picks in the 30's. Could have easily had Finn Callaghan, used one of our picks on Jamara and taken Max Holmes with your own pick you would have saved from the Jamara bid.

Dogs aren't my team, but with hindsight that would have been a great result. However, Essendon could also have traded for a future first and offered it to the Dogs, I think they tried but they couldn't get a good one and didn't want to use their own. At the time nobody thought Collingwood would finish as low as they did in 2021, they had been regular finalists.