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

[bombersim]

I reckon it was a stand more than anything in a draft where we could do it. We already had five top 30 picks and limited list space and their offers were more draft picks this year plus one more pick next year which would have been in the twenties.

They needed to come to the party with a good future pick or a decent player.

Which is fine, but maybe tell them in advance we want a player, maybe even specify one (MacDonald etc).

Look, it’s not just on us. Hawthorn were incompetent too (if not more so).
It just feels like we’ve cut off our nose to spite our face by keeping someone that doesn’t want to be here, when we could have moved him for future draft capital to a series of clubs. To me, keeping him is relatively pointless - I think a fresh start for both parties made more sense.
I think we will still be able to get two first for him, most likely from a contender.

As an aside, I wonder if he left during UFA what our compensation might be?
I’m not au fait with the compensation rules, but it he gets a 4 year contract, I wonder what that would net (just curious). Should still be a first but who knows…?

 

[boncer34]

Which is fine, but maybe tell them in advance we want a player, maybe even specify one (MacDonald etc).

Look, it’s not just on us. Hawthorn were incompetent too (if not more so).
It just feels like we’ve cut off our nose to spite our face by keeping someone that doesn’t want to be here, when we could have moved him for future draft capital to a series of clubs. To me, keeping him is relatively pointless - I think a fresh start for both parties made more sense.
I think we will still be able to get two first for him, most likely from a contender.

As an aside, I wonder if he left during UFA what our compensation might be?
I’m not au fait with the compensation rules, but it he gets a 4 year contract, I wonder what that would net (just curious). Should still be a first but who knows…?

We did?

 

[Vindicater]

Which is fine, but maybe tell them in advance we want a player, maybe even specify one (MacDonald etc).

Look, it’s not just on us. Hawthorn were incompetent too (if not more so).
It just feels like we’ve cut off our nose to spite our face by keeping someone that doesn’t want to be here, when we could have moved him for future draft capital to a series of clubs. To me, keeping him is relatively pointless - I think a fresh start for both parties made more sense.
I think we will still be able to get two first for him, most likely from a contender.

As an aside, I wonder if he left during UFA what our compensation might be?
I’m not au fait with the compensation rules, but it he gets a 4 year contract, I wonder what that would net (just curious). Should still be a first but who knows…?

We did tell them we wanted a player.

It all happened very quickly.

There were no series of clubs, there was only Hawthorn.

 

[MiguelM]

We did tell them we wanted a player.

It all happened very quickly.

There were no series of clubs, there was only Hawthorn.

Exactly.

None of this was on us it was ALL on them. They just didn't pony up for the best player on our list, Captain at that and contracted.

It was amateur hour with the manager running around like a goose in the last hour. They had weeks to negotiate but thought we would cave.

It was like getting cold feet when feeling pressured by a dodgy car salesman!

 

[Lore]

As an aside, I wonder if he left during UFA what our compensation might be?
I’m not au fait with the compensation rules, but it he gets a 4 year contract, I wonder what that would net (just curious). Should still be a first but who knows…?

It wouldn’t be a first because of his willingness to accept a decent but not crazy salary. Would be lucky to get a band 2 comp and could even drop further with his age.

It’s the thing about formulas that assume everyone gets paid according to their worth and that everyone has the same career longevity and injury experiences and so on.