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.

 

[Alite]

Advice to all quality Essendon players:

1. Don't agree to become captain. They will use it against you.
2. Don't be known as an ultimate professional who will try their best. They will use that against you.
3. Don't believe the dream that they are selling about their path to success. They will pivot to a youth policy on you.
4. Don't sign a contract beyond free agency.
5. When your free agency comes up, use it to get out!





This post is in memory of Zack Merrett's career. It held so much promise but the chance of actual team success died in a hanger.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Worpel and CJ were woeful footballers and I am more than happy to bank on internal improvements.

Worpel is an experienced body. And nobody had an issue with his performances in our winning finals.

Unless we pick up a DFA or VFL gun, we aren't able to replace that type of player.

I actually think we should be asking Dom Brew to train with us all summer. Strong, inside bull who should have been given a chance at AFL level by now.

Expected him to be the Shaun Mannagh of 2025 but everybody passed on him again.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Essendon did the trade period equivalent of flooding the backline for the entire trade period.

They didn't want to win, they had no interest in actually seeking to improve their list, they only wanted to 'not lose'.

As much as I'm disappointed that Hawks didn't get their man I would be absolutely shattered if I were an Essendon fan. It's another fist pump moment for them. They actually weren't even going for players, and their best chance of stocking up on draft picks they were playing games with.

 

[hardway]

Our side has enough improvement left in it to get us into the top four during the H&A. That's not the issue for us, IMO. It's going the next step.

The midfield is what takes you all the way in big finals, and this is what we will be up against:

Rowell, Anderson, Petracca, Miller, Humphrey, Davies

Neale, Washcroft, McLuggage, Dunkley, Bailey + Berry, Lashcroft, Marshall, Fletcher

I don't see how anyone else can overcome those units.

Queensland to dominate for years to come. Southern clubs should be working together to bridge the gap rather than increase it.

 

[kazzooka]

Huh?

That was aided in a BIG way by the additions of D'Ambrosio, Chol, Ginnivan, Battle and Barrass.

And Gunston, Watson and Dear.

 

[Since 2001]

Who looks likely at 10 and 21? Does greeves make it to us?

 

[BIGHAWK23]

Because depth is important and we added nobody. Absolutely nobody.

Brisbane will continue to get better.
Geelong were runners up and added another experience mid and a ruckman who is super underrated.
Sydney added a two time Coleman medallist.
GWS have taken a risk, but they'll look like geniuses if the Oliver trade works out.
Gold Coast added a former number 1 draft pick AND a Norm Smith medallist.

We did nothing.

Other challenges got better. We didn't.

We need to bank on internal improvement now, but I guarantee Sam Mitchell will be furious.

Geelong added no ruckman

 

[Randy Campbell]

That guy is a bit of an amateur. In the last 15 minutes he finds out that Essendon want 4x1st rounders and a player. Constantly leaks information to the media, rage texts Damo on air after failing to do the deal. He didn’t know what he was doing.

No one can translate Hawthorn into Essendon.

We both speak English but we both speak a different language.

 

[Blackhawk42]

What ruck did Geelong add?

Sorry, You're correct. Somebody told me Marshall to Geelong went through for 'not much'.

Just fact checked that and turns out it didn't go through!

 

[seysearles]

I tried to warn you all.

It panned out almost exactly as I thought it would.

Despite all the bull sh!t that was posted on here. Not going for Petracca is a major f@ck up no matter how the coolaiders will try and spin it.

Essendon have a history of this. Can't say we shouldn't have know from the start it was a huge possibility.

I still have a strong feeling that Petracca wont play deep into his 30's. Those italian genetics tend to hit a wall and when they do the drop off is significant. Remember Dipper's decline? Mark Ricciuto retired at 32 and his last two seasons were compromised. The Roccas. Also he seems focused on other things. I bet hes done by 33. I'm not convinced it would have been a win blowing 3 firsts on him.

 

[Jethro!]

Queensland to dominate for years to come. Southern clubs should be working together to bridge the gap rather than increase it.

Southern clubs should be demanding equal draft access

 

[MasterSamurai]

Try to get Robey in the draft. 192 cm Mid who uses the ball well and doesn't mind a goal. There's other plug and play options as well. No need to panic. We have nothing to do with those idiots from tulla. Let them worry about their captain.

 

[aSym]

Can this work- Zac retires and then nominates for the mid season- season draft in 2026 and nominates Hawthorn ?

If he retires, he'll be out for the length of his contract. Hawks would still need to trade for him and only in the trade window.

Another way out would be Essendon could delist/release him and he could nominate for the PSD.

 

[swampy]

Disappointed to not land Zach who is a terrific player and obviously had his heart set on playing for us. But I must admit I’m still a traditionalist when it comes to player movement. Somehow poaching another team’s best player to jag a flag feels like a shortcut to success (like Richmond did with Lynch and Cats with Danger & Cameron) and it would be much more satisfying to go “the hard way” and grow a premiership team largely using drafted players or low-cost discards like Chol, Ginni, Mass etc.

For 2026 we’re now all in on developing internal talent like Ward, Mackenzie, Butler (and maybe a smokey like Ramsden or Anderson?) into A graders. And of course the return of a healthy Day, Lewis and Dear with a full pre season, etc. We weren’t far away in 2025 and I think we can nudge a GF or flag next year if we can finish top 4.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Couldn't do that deal. 4 first rounds plus a second as well. We are better off not doing that. Overall happy we avoided Merritt's trade price but would have liked something coming in. Trading CJ and Serong and Worpel will have no impact on our 2026 or 2027 or 2028. outcome. The draft choices we have this year might.

Agreed. I'd have liked to have Merrett, but as I said earlier, I honestly feel the first offer was sufficient. Had we have gone crazy, it would have put way too much pressure on the club to pull off premiership success over the next couple of years.

Also, I was a little miffed at Merrett not requesting a trade until less then 48 hours before the deadline. Didn't sound like someone who was desperate to play for the Hawks to me. I think he just wanted out to anywhere who was a premiership chance.

Meanwhile, Essendon's best player is one who has already bemoaned that he'll have no success at the club and wanted out.

 

[To the Hawk]

A few ITKs said his contract and the additional year he wanted put him out of reach. Just going by what they said.

Out of reach when we were talking about getting both.

I'm not overly fussed about Trac but, not sure he lasts 4 years as a top liner..but reckon he's got a big year in him next which might be a bitter pill if suns are better than us.

 

[SSSSSS]

Sorry, You're correct. Somebody told me Marshall to Geelong went through for 'not much'.

Just fact checked that and turns out it didn't go through!

So they added one of our offcuts.

Really the only teams in the eight who moved the Needle in terms of selection is Brisbane and GC. Sydney could bounce back.

Freo, Geelong, Collingwood, Adelaide and Hawks sat on their hands. Dogs didn't address their defensive issues either. GWS made no major improvements.

Out of those I can see natural improvement in Freo, Crows and us.

I don't think it's all doom and gloom.

 

[Hurricanehawk]

Can this work- Zac retires and then nominates for the mid season- season draft in 2026 and nominates Hawthorn ?

Reckon Mal Michael ballsed that scheme up from Lions to Scum back in the day….

 

[Buzz Hawk]

I did feel Zach was never going to happen when Welsh became president.
This was his line in the sand moment after talking tough in his early interviews.
The soft player trying to remake himself as the tough guy president.
We move on, land a gun with our top ten pick and keep developing the list.

 

[The Seaword]

Essendon did the trade period equivalent of flooding the backline for the entire trade period.

They didn't want to win, they had no interest in actually seeking to improve their list, they only wanted to 'not lose'.

As much as I'm disappointed that Hawks didn't get their man I would be absolutely shattered if I were an Essendon fan. It's another fist pump moment for them. They actually weren't even going for players, and their best chance of stocking up on draft picks they were playing games with.

They did a terry wallace on us.

Hope we use 10 and 22 to get in front of them in the draft! Would be gold.

 

[StackedHunch]

"Most of the picks were going to be futures which we can still get our hands on at the draft or in 12 months time

We gave up 2025 pick 10 and 22 to keep him. Picks we couldn't have actually used this year anyway, we'd have to trade it forward or up."

They seem to think they've still got cattle to trade for more draft capital next year...

 

[QuietB]

Sorry, You're correct. Somebody told me Marshall to Geelong went through for 'not much'.

Just fact checked that and turns out it didn't go through!

Which makes you wonder what the hell the saints are doing. Apparently they have a unicorn kid who will be a ruck, they still have Marshall, and they are paying $1.7m for the most expensive ruck ever

 

[QuietB]

They did a terry wallace on us.

Hope we use 10 and 22 to get in front of them in the draft! Would be gold.

Would not bother - Essendon will take two potatoes so pick 10 is basically pick 8.

 

[Dont_be_a_Plonka]

This might sound harsh but imo we have absolutely improved our best 22 this trade period by cutting dead wood.

Worpel and CJ were best on for the opposition half the games they played.

 

[Gut Runner]

Just realised Adelaide have done nothing either. Ah Chee trade didn't go through.

Seems like not much really happened all round.