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

[To the Hawk]

They're calling it the **** Hawthorne Effect

Which is funny because cats and tigers are posting on ours how illogical bombers continue to be.

I know which group id rather be associated with to deliver success this last 20 years.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Which is funny because cats and tigers are posting on ours how illogical bombers continue to be.

I know which group id rather be associated with to deliver success this last 20 years.

Lol

Let it go mate it’s over

The majority concedes you blew it. Your club namely Mitchell needs to stop foreplaying with contracted players and just get it done.

 

[Doss]

Which is funny because cats and tigers are posting on ours how illogical bombers continue to be.

I know which group id rather be associated with to deliver success this last 20 years.

Nice burner m8

 

[Old Campaigner]

Which is funny because cats and tigers are posting on ours how illogical bombers continue to be.

I know which group id rather be associated with to deliver success this last 20 years.

If pea brained nuffies posting on big footy are associated with delivering success it’s no wonder the horkes have had such a stellar decade

 

[Foreverdon]

I keep reading how amazing the Hawks offer was … three firsts! Let’s be real 10, 22, and a f1 (around 20) is the same as pick 9 and a f1 They split a pick to make it look like three Nice try but the value still is two firsts and some spare change … and we even had to give a third back
Essendon asked for four firsts because 10 + 22 equaled 1 duh … If Hawthorn were serious they could’ve quickly countered with three genuine firsts 9 and two f1’s … Might’ve got it done Instead they tried the illusion of generosity and waited till the last minute hoping we’d crumble
Same deal all along … just rearranged to look better No magic just smoke and mirrors
holding someone to a contract not for trade and minimal compensation offered is the same as prison love this generation

 

[thepokey]

I keep reading how amazing the Hawks offer was … three firsts! Let’s be real 10, 22, and a f1 (around 20) is the same as pick 9 and a f1 They split a pick to make it look like three Nice try but the value still is two firsts and some spare change … and we even had to give a third back
Essendon asked for four firsts because 10 + 22 equaled 1 duh … If Hawthorn were serious they could’ve quickly countered with three genuine firsts 9 and two f1’s … Might’ve got it done Instead they tried the illusion of generosity and waited till the last minute hoping we’d crumble
Same deal all along … just rearranged to look better No magic just smoke and mirrors
holding someone to a contract not for trade and minimal compensation offered is the same as prison love this generation

If Hawthorn were serious they would have sent us that offer on day 1 of the trade period and then had like 8 days to try and hash something out rather than trying to do their assignment the night before it was due.

 

[JayJ20]

Which is funny because cats and tigers are posting on ours how illogical bombers continue to be.

I know which group id rather be associated with to deliver success this last 20 years.

This has to be one of the dumbest narratives on BigFooty. Club success doesn't equal knowledgeable fans lol.

You're talking as if we're all list managers that give meaningful input to list decisions.

 

[ydc55]

Would be very hard on Rosa, imo I got the feeling most of the bombers management team was licking their lips at the potential trades they could do.

Then all of a sudden they looked stunned like they had been over ridden.

I don’t think so.
The club stated before Welsh became president that it wouldn’t trade Merrett.
Only a compelling offer was going to work.
Pick 9 this year was a great asset but the rest of the hawks offerings were a bit speculative.
Sydney gave up three first round picks and Will Hayward.
They also did a pretty generous trade with Ollie Florenti
Hawthorn offered not one player who was in your best 30, pick 22 which is a very late first round pick and next years first round pick which will be very late as you are a good side. The hawks barely got out of their comfort zone in this trade and expected Merrett to get his way and Essendon to fold.
That didn’t happen with the after effect quite unknown.
I would have taken the deal but perhaps the hawks had to bite the bullet and put a player of note up to get the deal done.

 

[DERO]

look, Hawthorn ****ed it.

The football world seems to be pretty unanimous in that with he exception of hawks fans and sycophants.

I suspect in the future many will think twice before accepting an invitation for Lyndall’s moussaka.

 

[Foreverdon]

I don’t think so.
The club stated before Welsh became president that it wouldn’t trade Merrett.
Only a compelling offer was going to work.
Pick 9 this year was a great asset but the rest of the hawks offerings were a bit speculative.
Sydney gave up three first round picks and Will Hayward.
They also did a pretty generous trade with Ollie Florenti
Hawthorn offered not one player who was in your best 30, pick 22 which is a very late first round pick and next years first round pick which will be very late as you are a good side. The hawks barely got out of their comfort zone in this trade and expected Merrett to get his way and Essendon to fold.
That didn’t happen with the after effect quite unknown.
I would have taken the deal but perhaps the hawks had to bite the bullet and put a player of note up to get the deal done.

Pick 9 was a great asset until they swapped it for 10 and 22 to make it seem like they increased their first offer lol increased with spare change (late seconds) and then asked us for a F3

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

So Barrett says it was a good deal …



but then wasn’t!…..

 

[Maxabillions]

So Barrett says it was a good deal …

View attachment 2459404

but then wasn’t!…..

View attachment 2459405

That Hawthorn one is quite delicious, didn’t realise Bitchell said “Even if we are the same as we are this year, that's not going to make the eight next year”

 

[joey_jo_jo]

That Hawthorn one is quite delicious, didn’t realise Bitchell said “Even if we are the same as we are this year, that's not going to make the eight next year”

I've been reminding hawks fans of that all week when they try to say they didnt even need merrett. Even their coach has publicly admitted their midfield is shit

 

[Vindicater]

That Hawthorn one is quite delicious, didn’t realise Bitchell said “Even if we are the same as we are this year, that's not going to make the eight next year”

I mean...

They are not the same as last year. Maybe Sam subscribes to the idea of addition through subtraction.

I've been reminding hawks fans of that all week when they try to say they didnt even need merrett. Even their coach has publicly admitted their midfield is shit

They have now pivoted to the draft and have their hearts set on a bunch of players who will not be there when the time comes.

Oh and they should easily be able to trade 10 and 22 into one of Richmond's picks.

 

[Old Campaigner]

Oh and they should easily be able to trade 10 and 22 into one of Richmond's picks.

If that was so easy why didn’t they do it on Wednesday?

 

[Maxabillions]

I mean...

They are not the same as last year. Maybe Sam subscribes to the idea of addition through subtraction.



They have now pivoted to the draft and have their hearts set on a bunch of players who will not be there when the time comes.

Oh and they should easily be able to trade 10 and 22 into one of Richmond's picks.

He said that after the prelim loss. He would have been sooo keen to get a Merrett or Petracca. He will be crying right now

 

[bommer16]

And Jimmy hird thinks he can still remain captain.

 

[Vindicater]

And Jimmy hird thinks he can still remain captain.

It would be the most Essington thing ever to make him captain again.

 

[Vindicater]

Good to see the Hawthorn board is still full of ITKs who have inside information on

Hawthorn
Merrett
Essendon
Rosa
Dodoro
Welsh
Petroro

 

[King Patty]

And Jimmy hird thinks he can still remain captain.

Thats a bad take, not after what martin and Redman said.

I would leave him out of midfield - make him play martins HFF role while he is injured.

Can't be in leadership group.....you don't need leaders that are willing to leave the club as captain and go play for Hawthorn, and he likely will try again.

 

[bommer16]

It would be the most Essington thing ever to make him captain again.

Personally I think he should not as he has lost that privilege knowing his true feelings about the club, but James thinks he can still steer the group however he acknowledges there is a bit to work through.

 

[jannissary]

Zach's wife complaining on an instagram post that "it's not great". Spare me!

bet she hasn't even been to dingley before.

the grass is always greener

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

If that was so easy why didn’t they do it on Wednesday?

I wonder if the reason they left their bid so late was to have the excuse of not having time to talk to any players about moving to us. So in a way to bully us into just picks. Such a difference to the way Swans and Blues handled it

 

[Lore]

I wonder if the reason they left their bid so late was to have the excuse of not having time to talk to any players about moving to us. So in a way to bully us into just picks. Such a difference to the way Swans and Blues handled it

They acted like they had the whip hand and they didn’t.

 

[Old Campaigner]

I wonder if the reason they left their bid so late was to have the excuse of not having time to talk to any players about moving to us. So in a way to bully us into just picks. Such a difference to the way Swans and Blues handled it

Potentially, but it doesn't take long to arrange pick swaps either