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

[thepokey]

That's a Bigfooty answer to a Bigfooty question I guess.

I don't care so long as Hawthorn don't get what they want haha

 

[DapperDon]

Best deal for us, we owe Zach nothing. We paid him handsomely made him captain and in the end he backdoors us and speaks to the biggest germ in the comp.

His legacy at Essendon is dead so **** his feelings, I know we'll cave but I really hope we keep him 12 months and play the campaigner in reserves every week. If Hawks think they'll get him for just pick 8 then they can go swim in a pool of their club colours.


*I may have possibly reached Stage Anger

 

[doug85]

Who Jakovich has said there are rumblings about returning coming from the club. Again.

He’s an idiot

 

[doug85]

Sam Mitchell has promised Zach the world and is now handing him an atlas.

We really need another club to have serious interest (and Zach to take an interest in them) for the sake of leverage.

 

[bommer16]

At the end of the day after the emotion settles the hierarchy will do what’s best for Ess.

Treat it as a reset. A door closes but a window opens. (Maybe even a flag window eventually)

 

[Stopher]

Honestly we should use Merrett's nuclear tactic against him. He's blown everything up and pissed off all his team mates? Ok cool. Then we refuse to deal with Hawthorn. Now you either walk back in with your tail between your legs and face your team mates of you accept being shopped around for a better deal for us

Lloyd made a good point though. Zach's agent has obviously played a big part in this going public. One aspect of that is Hawthorn's confidence (and consequent assurance to Zach) that a deal will get done. Use that in our favour.

I think most of the football world would see a 6x B&F, 3x AA, 250+ games player as worth a lot more than 1 pick. Oh, and he's also a captain. Oh, and 2 years left on his current contract. And he's very durable, barely missing any games in his career.

He's worth plenty and everyone knows it. Make Hawthorn pay up. And stfu with the age thing. The last 3 Premiers who are also in prelims this weekend, all have players several years older than Zach. Experience counts for a lot at the pointy end. And Zach's ability in a functioning system would be ****ing deadly.

 

[Stopher]

Best deal for us, we owe Zach nothing. We paid him handsomely made him captain and in the end he backdoors us and speaks to the biggest germ in the comp.

His legacy at Essendon is dead so **** his feelings, I know we'll cave but I really hope we keep him 12 months and play the campaigner in reserves every week. If Hawks think they'll get him for just pick 8 then they can go swim in a pool of their club colours.


*I may have possibly reached Stage Anger

 

[andiamo_nguyen]

Zach staying seems pretty untenable now, with what Twomey's writing, but if all this writing an PR tactics from our end leads to us losing him for unders I would be sooo mad

 

[BomberManU]

Besides Haw, are there any other genuine suitors? I know there are clubs with more to give, but any that would actually want ZM? Personally, I think it's Hawks or nothing. He/his manager must be very confident in a deal, for it to have gone this far. Also personally, I couldn't give a stuff where he goes, makes zero difference to me.
I know the players are reportedly pissed, but it wouldn't surprise me if it causes a divide among the playing group, if it hasn't already - though it increasingly looks like he didn't really have players aligned with him anyway.

 

[BomberFan355]

He’ll be at Hawthorne next year and we will have to take unders, that’s just the way it is. Too bad he went about it like this but people burn their work mates every day at regular jobs to get what they want, I’ve seen it happen plenty of times.

 

[faible]

Besides Haw, are there any other genuine suitors? I know there are clubs with more to give, but any that would actually want ZM? Personally, I think it's Hawks or nothing. He/his manager must be very confident in a deal, for it to have gone this far. Also personally, I couldn't give a stuff where he goes, makes zero difference to me.
I know the players are reportedly pissed, but it wouldn't surprise me if it causes a divide among the playing group, if it hasn't already - though it increasingly looks like he didn't really have players aligned with him anyway.

17 other clubs in the AFL would be interested in a player of Merett's calibre.

How many would Merrett want to go to? And how many of them have the currency to get a trade for him done?

It also doesn't seem like he's open to moving interstate which eliminates Gold Coast (who have the most currency), Brisbane, Adelaide, Fremantle and even though they didn't make finals this year - Sydney.

Leaving Geelong, Collingwood, Hawthorn and possibly the Bulldogs given their percentage put them as a good side. I don't think Collingwood or Geelong could afford what he's likely to want to get paid.

 

[Bjchan13]

He’ll be at Hawthorne next year and we will have to take unders, that’s just the way it is. Too bad he went about it like this but people burn their work mates every day at regular jobs to get what they want, I’ve seen it happen plenty of times.

What's unders in your opinion? Any from the below article are about right if Hawthorn dont want to include other clubs. One thing is for certain, no player Hawthorn wants to seriously keep will be part of the deal. The bulk of it will be mix of draft picks

How Hawks could satisfy Bombers — FIVE hypothetical Zach Merrett trade packages

Bombers and Merrett are headed for a ‘nasty’ split. These five trade packages could seal the divorce

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[quotemokc]

We need future picks. Have plenty for this draft.

 

[sup3rfish]

Gee i would absolutely love our once great and powerful club to just send him to whoever is willing to pay the highest for him. Be the first club with some balls to not just let great players walk to whoever they want. He's contracted. Ball is fairly in our court. Real chance to set an example to all that its a privilege to play for Essendon and an honor to be the club captain.

 

[Old Campaigner]

We need future picks. Have plenty for this draft.

Hawthorne’s and Brisbane’s (Ridley) would give us three next year

 

[cAsEy_18]

Gee i would absolutely love our once great and powerful club to just send him to whoever is willing to pay the highest for him. Be the first club with some balls to not just let great players walk to whoever they want. He's contracted. Ball is fairly in our court. Real chance to set an example to all that its a privilege to play for Essendon and an honor to be the club captain.

We need a FAQs at the top of this thread or something.

It's not American sports, we can't just send him to the highest bidder. Richmond offer us 6x first round picks for him? That's great. Merrett still has to agree to go there.

Having said that, I do think more suitors will appear outside of just Hawthorn. I just don't think any of them will really have any better trade packages to put together than the Hawks (Eg: Collingwood, Geelong). Merrett wouldn't decline a trade to either of them, and they'd both be interested. But they are likely to have an even worse hand of assets to offer.

 

[doug85]

We need a FAQs at the top of this thread or something.

It's not American sports, we can't just send him to the highest bidder. Richmond offer us 6x first round picks for him? That's great. Merrett still has to agree to go there.

Having said that, I do think more suitors will appear outside of just Hawthorn. I just don't think any of them will really have any better trade packages to put together than the Hawks (Eg: Collingwood, Geelong). Merrett wouldn't decline a trade to either of them, and they'd both be interested. But they are likely to have an even worse hand of assets to offer.

If the hawks lowball us, then the cats/pies/dogs could come up with a better offer. It might still be less than ideal, but at least it will put some pressure on the Hawkes to pull their fingers out.

 

[BratPack]

If the hawks lowball us, then the cats/pies/dogs could come up with a better offer. It might still be less than ideal, but at least it will put some pressure on the Hawkes to pull their fingers out.

What part of "Merrett still has to agree" is still unclear to you?

 

[cAsEy_18]

If the hawks lowball us, then the cats/pies/dogs could come up with a better offer. It might still be less than ideal, but at least it will put some pressure on the Hawkes to pull their fingers out.

But low ball us how?
They're gonna come in with absolute minimum of Pick 8 + something. We'll obviously want a lot of stuff to be that "+ something".
But what on earth are Geelong or Collingwood going to offer? They're gonna have first picks in the very late teens, as opposed to Pick 8. Even if they offer their 1sts this year and next - is that any better? Say Pick 18 this year, and a future first from Geelong or Collingwood? They're not teams I want to be death-riding.

 

[doug85]

What part of "Merrett still has to agree" is still unclear to you?

What part of “those teams fit his criteria of destinations” is unclear to you

Champ

 

[Howard Moon]

Can you smell that?

Getting testy in here...

 

[Don Won]

I for one like this…a learning opportunity…see kids this is why we hate the hawkes

 

[Lethal]

What part of “those teams fit his criteria of destinations” is unclear to you

Champ

Unless something happens to change here is a list of Merretts "criteria of destination"

Hawthorn

 

[JayJ20]

Hawthorn doing all of that and offering pick 8. I'd hang up the phone and cease all communications until they're actually serious.

 

[Squeaky]

Hawthorn doing all of that and offering pick 8. I'd hang up the phone and cease all communications until they're actually serious.

This is the go.
And if we can't get it done - EFC need to hold firm and let him rot on our list rather than go to the villains for cheap.
Then we'll see who is genuinely hard to deal with!