AFL Player 7: Indefatigable Zach Merrett - Stepping down as captain for 2026

[doug85]

Port traded 2 first round picks, 1 second round pick and about 5 3rd round selections for Hornet and Willie Rioli and scraps.

If the Sydney offer for Curnow is a genuine one it's not even the biggest offer of the day

You sure about that re the JHF trade?

Done deal: Horne-Francis, Rioli land at Port in four-club mega trade

And the swans are getting back a second rounder. It might be around the same value as the Merrett trade.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

Husthwaite could be our Josh Dunkley.

He's massive, a contested pig but has a defensive streak that can be coached to the fore - much of this has already been done. He's also got a serious engine and is probably Caldwell level by foot.

I would be all over him as part of this trade. He should slot straight into a starting spot in a 22.

I think he has more transferrable attributes than McKenzie when it comes to putting together a balanced squad. McKenzie is one of those guys like Cerra, basically the same player, really. He has quality but he's the sort of player that tends to create an imbalance. He's not an inside bull but he also doesn't have the speed to take opponents apart on the outside. He's a bit possession accumulatorish.

do you watch him in the VFL or are you basing this of gut feel?
For my mind he is as likely to be another one dimensional inside plodder like brodie/Crouch etc. If he had as much potential as you say why couldnt he break into a hawks midfield missing Day for most of the season, its not like the hawks are flush with midfield talent (which is why they are so keen on Zach), its basically Day/Newcombe then daylight.

 

[Zach Package]

What did Port get back?

Sydney are getting back pick 22.

a second tied to Collingwood, so not a good one, and a 3rd

I'm not opposed to giving back bits and pieces to consolidate as far up the draft as humanly possible

 

[Phone]

Carlton actually have a reason to want players so that's going to impact how that trade looks, including them sending back a 2nd to the Swans. Probably becomes a bit hard to compare the pair

 

[DallasCrane316]

 

[soafraid]

From a neutral: Ripper offer, take it and run.

I would have thought this would be the kind of thing dodo would knock back. Hopefully the new guy is more sensible.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

at least theyve made a genuine offer now, not tried to low ball. I think we would be stupid not to start dialogue with them, try negotiate to a better player than hustwaite or a better pick than their future first (ie get another team involved for the future first).

 

[Zach Package]

You sure about that re the JHF trade?

Done deal: Horne-Francis, Rioli land at Port in four-club mega trade

And the swans are getting back a second rounder. It might be around the same value as the Merrett trade.

Trade out: Picks No.8, 43, 53, 57, 2023 first-round pick, 2023 second-round pick, 2023 third-round pick

The 2023 first round selection was 20 and used on Taylor Goad, the 2nd and third got chopped up for parts.

 

[BOMBERBLITZ]

Husthwaite could be our Josh Dunkley.

He's massive, a contested pig but has a defensive streak that can be coached to the fore - much of this has already been done. He's also got a serious engine and is probably Caldwell level by foot.

I would be all over him as part of this trade. He should slot straight into a starting spot in a 22.

I think he has more transferrable attributes than McKenzie when it comes to putting together a balanced squad. McKenzie is one of those guys like Cerra, basically the same player, really. He has quality but he's the sort of player that tends to create an imbalance. He's not an inside bull but he also doesn't have the speed to take opponents apart on the outside. He's a bit possession accumulatorish.

So basically McKenzie is a Parish MK2...

 

[Beerfish]

Lots of Hawthorn ITK’s looking very silly.

For a good laugh, check out Abasi’s body of work regarding Zach.

Just catching up on this. Is it all still there or has it been deleted?

 

[The Dustbin]

I want Merrett out more than anyone, but offering a future first which will end up realistically from 14 - 22 and future second which could be anywhere from 40 and a player who is not even in their best 30 players and has played VFL all year is a shit deal. Haw have no assets. This is not even close from being accepted by Essendon.

 

[bomberlegend2007]

From a neutral: Ripper offer, take it and run.

I would have thought this would be the kind of thing dodo would knock back. Hopefully the new guy is more sensible.

Wrong board mate, you should be posting that on the Hawks.

 

[rumply]

Absolutely nuts if they don't do this

 

[Howard Moon]

I expect media bombardment with how fair the offer is and how ridiculous we are not budging starts now

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Absolutely nuts if they don't do this

agreed. Ship him off. Put it behind us. Cya

 

[DERO]

Just catching up on this. Is it all still there or has it been deleted?

Not sure. Can't be arsed checking.

 

[mad_monkey_j]

They’ll do the one thing Essendon know how to do best. Shit the bed.

 

[Beerfish]

Not sure. Can't be arsed checking.

Me either. Oh well.

 

[Doss]

I’d take that offer.

 

[Andronicus]

agreed. Ship him off. Put it behind us. Cya

First offer. Reject it and see what they come back with.

 

[rumply]

agreed. Ship him off. Put it behind us. Cya

yep. & those worried about the eventual pick values - none of us have a crystal ball especially when it come to sport. We all death rode the Dees this season & that was the ****ing highlight!

 

[Lance Uppercut]

I just want the following:

• Essendon takes the deal
• Zach finds Buddhism in the off-season and completely loses his competitive spirit
• Hawthorn shit the bed next year and finish bottom 4

Is that too much to ask? I don't think so

 

[Lance Uppercut]

First offer. Reject it and see what they come back with.

nah can't be ****ed. Just take the deal. It's already a win

 

[Andronicus]

yep. & those worried about the eventual pick values - none of us have a crystal ball especially when it come to sport. We all death rode the Dees this season & that was the ****ing highlight!

Maybe write something into the trade about Rosa getting to select the team hawks put out in a third of the games they play.

 

[Bjchan13]

So an official offer lodged with a full 24hrs to consider. The board, Scott, Rosa and Vozzo should be sitting down tonight and working through this. Essendon tomorrow morning shouldn't be running the "our position hasn't changed" line. Hawthorn's offer at the very least gets them a face to face with Rosa to discuss a deal.