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.

 

[Xtreme]

View attachment 2456180

HILARIOUS!!

 

[Chubbs25]

How’s that possible when the drug cheats refuse to listen

It's all a performance to show their members that they didn't roll over

 

[mustang]

And again.

I hope HH stays now at takes Worpel role and shows what a mistake Essendon made by not taking the trade with him in it.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

I’m told they want one of Lewis, Scrim or Cam

It's a deadset certainty the name in the middle is the one we would hand over.

 

[Xtreme]

It's all a performance to show their members that they didn't roll over

If Merrett is a Hawk this time tomorrow night I will streak across the MCG during the ashes!

and also during the Hawks v Lions 2026 grand final

 

[hawkmang]

Honestly the only way we lose out here now is if we add a big player to the deal.

If it gets done for roughly what we put forward today then great, if he stays at Essendon then quite honestly it’s one if the more hilarious football things I can remember (unless you’re Zach ofcourse).

Essendon nuffies will be cheering their saviour Andrew Welsh

Andrew Welsh

Age

42

Ht

188cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.4

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

6.7

4star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

9.6

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.6

5star

stomping his foot and acting tough but in reality just inviting huge discontent back into their club for less return next year, and still be further away from winning a flag.

Essendon are absolute minnows in the league and it is truly fantastic

 

[CobberRodgers]

It's a deadset certainty the name in the middle is the one we would hand over.

It’s a dead set certainty not one of those blokes is stupid enough to say yeah ok I’ll go

 

[sociable hawk]

I have read that Richmond would be looking to add a later pick for father son pick Louis kellaway.
Would a trade of our pick 8 plus our 2nd and 3rd be enough to prise there pick 4 from them? Would just love to have a pick before Essendon, just to piss them off.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

I have read that Richmond would be looking to add a later pick for father son pick Louis kellaway.
Would a trade of our pick 8 plus our 2nd and 3rd be enough to prise there pick 4 from them? Would just love to have a pick before Essendon, just to piss them off.

Doubt it - they need as many high picks as they can get.

 

[To the Hawk]

So Essendon did end up responding to the trade offer. To me that suggests they are willing to negotiate.

The Age, requoted by Fox Footy, did suggest Lewis may be in play:

‘So far off the mark’: Blunt Merrett message as ‘gloves off’; star to join rival — Trade Wrap

‘So far off the mark’: Blunt Merrett message as ‘gloves off’; star to join rival — Trade Wrap

www.foxsports.com.au

Not sure where they are getting this from, could be Essendon themselves in hope. But feels that's what it will take.

I'm not sure we will play 4 tall forwards. Had pegged the 5 interchange to include Reeves given centre bounce rule changes. I also loved Weddle in moments he played a roaming forward in first 2 finals.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

You mean the guy who thought that Make Essendon Great Again actually made a terrible deal that didn't work out, but is still being backed in by sycophantic supporters?
Shocked, I am shocked and appalled

He didnt actually wear a MEGA hat did he?

I thought that was a photoshop?

 

[sinkintins]

If Merrett is a Hawk this time tomorrow night I will streak across the MCG during the ashes!

and also during the Hawks v Lions 2026 grand final

Can't wait for this

 

[Brucie Buffer]

I’ll take Jab’s Brownlow and your Captain!

 

[Hawked Wings]

Merrett will be a Hawk, don’t get sucked in

Whattttt

 

[Chubbs25]

It's a deadset certainty the name in the middle is the one we would hand over.

It's a deadset certainty the name in the middle is the one we would hand over.

Id take out HH add scrim and get a 3rd back

 

[user33]

Zak butters 2026

Just not happening. He’s only interested in the dogs or cats.

 

[Jethro!]

I'm really confused as to what the Essendon list strategy is currently. Are they aiming to compete for finals or rebuilding? I witnessed their 94 point drubbing first hand at gold coast. Their best players were their captain who wants out, a bloke they've desisted (Shiel), Archie Roberts (good young player) and a bloke who conceded 7 goals from the 8 disposals his opponent had. Injuries to their players aside, they are still way off it and have had their best ruck leave. Surely they're not delusional enough to think they're a finals chance and Merrett is key to that.
I get holding Merrett if he was going to a direct flag opponent. But it seems all they are doing are alienating any potential recruit. Particularly when recruiting young players and building them together should clearly be their aim. Or they have no trust in their development staff. It seems they believe Merrett is the only bloke at that club who has and can drive standards.

Either way, one trade never makes or breaks a team and we'll get through this with or without Merrett. We can apologise that we did our best but he would agree we cant comprise the exact reason he sought us out through losing key players.

this has played out terribly for them.

Edit: was actually a 95 point drubbing lol

 

[SSSSSS]

View attachment 2456180

POTY

 

[The Big Dipper]

Trying to look at things from an Essendon POV....

They have picks 5, 6, 21 in this years draft (a weak draft apparently), so they are likely interested in improving their hand in next years draft.

My tip, Hawthorn will now go and look to maximise the offer, focusing on 2026 first rounders to appease Essendon.

Essendon can then show their members they are clearly committed to a rebuild with multiple picks in the next two drafts, just in time before the Tassie raid on the draft. It's actually a good strategy, they have just gone about it the wrong way. It's likely been planned/staged all along to ensure Essendon save face.

 

[sinkintins]

Trying to look at things from an Essendon POV....

They have picks 5, 6, 21 in this years draft (a weak draft apparently), so they are likely interested in improving their hand in next years draft.

My tip, Hawthorn will now go and look to maximise the offer, focusing on 2026 first rounders to appease Essendon.

Essendon can then show their members they are clearly committed to a rebuild with multiple picks in the next two drafts, just in time before the Tassie raid on the draft. It's actually a good strategy, they have just gone about it the wrong way. It's likely been planned/staged all along to ensure Essendon save face.

They'll also be able to sell that they received the biggest trade this period by "holding out", another trade period "victory"

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Id take out HH add scrim and get a 3rd back

Nah, bad deal.

 

[hawkinoz]

Trying to look at things from an Essendon POV....

First mistake.. do this and you are always playing over as you try and hit an imaginary target. We fell into that tr@p. This deadline business should have been done soon after Day 2 or 3.

Don't try to engage with Scum, that is job of TP/Merrett. If they come back with a deal with Scum signature that turns our head, we will consider with whatever assets we have then.

Just focus on doing other deals, if you are not willing to walk away, you have zero leverage in negotiations. They said one shot at trade with the hope we gave our best offer and I feel like we have and it is massive overs( others don't and quite a few are still simping for a deal)

This is the state of the draft pick position, teams without a top 10 pick and who were not Top 8 are our ideal targets for F1 trade, next best target are teams outside Top 10 or so.

 

[FB19]

Merrett will be a Hawk, don’t get sucked in

As long as we don’t offer more as that deal was overs then that’s fine. If the trading pick 9 is simply to get them something they want but nothing else added then ok. Can’t imagine any player in our best 23 would want to go to that rabble. To be honest if I were list manager I would need a break as I am feeling like them at the moment, prioritising screwing then over than what is best. Sleep is good. Sleepy we hope is best.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Id take out HH add scrim and get a 3rd back

Why on Earth?

 

[birch]

What a shit article from Jake Niall in the age. Show us where we have gone hard at Merrett. Everything we’ve read and heard is how badly he wants out.
It’s not incumbent on us to pay a “disruption tax” as he puts it, just because those fwits can’t show their captain a future pathway to success