Recommitted Zach Merrett [UFA 2027] - Wanted a trade to Hawthorn, but it didn't get done

[Lore]

There we go, that's the clip:

 

[TONYC3163]

Wow, must be easy to win finals and make prelims then if you don't even need A graders.

You listening to yourself?

A mare, Yoda is having here.
They actually have some reasonable things to say at times.

 

[TONYC3163]

Strapping Young Lad is Bigfoot royalty, show some respect

lol, you know exactly who I mean.

 

[HairyO]

Yes, Essendon finished 15th this year and are generally regarded as a bad football club. It is typical to improve a football club by moving out substandard players and replacing them with AFL standard players. Your suggestion to replace them with more substandard players is an interesting one, and something I'll raise at the next board meeting. Thank you for your attention to this matter

Do you think the 25th and 26th best players in a team which made a Prelim wouldnt still be outside the best 22 of a team which finished 15th?

Particularly when the 15th placed team is losing by far their best player as well as their 1st ruck (when not injured).

If Merrett goes, does Essendon have anyone a top 8 team would really want ?

 

[Vindicater]

If Merrett goes, does Essendon have anyone a top 8 team would really want ?

 

[TazHawk15]

Do you think the 25th and 26th best players in a team which made a Prelim wouldnt still be outside the best 22 of a team which finished 15th?

Particularly when the 15th placed team is losing by far their best player as well as their 1st ruck (when not injured).

If Merrett goes, does Essendon have anyone a top 8 team would really want ?

Maybe two but anything after that would be a real stretch.

 

[HairyO]

Maybe two but anything after that would be a real stretch.

Im genuinely interested in seeing how many A and B+ players Essendon fans think they have.

Ive seen Carlton fans mocking Hawthorn's list and would see far more B+ or better talent on their list than ours. Wanting to see the level of delusion in Dons supporters.

 

[katana]

Im genuinely interested in seeing how many A and B+ players Essendon fans think they have.

Ive seen Carlton fans mocking Hawthorn's list and would see far more B+ or better talent on their list than ours. Wanting to see the level of delusion in Dons supporters.

you want for very odd things.

 

[southern_crusher]

Im genuinely interested in seeing how many A and B+ players Essendon fans think they have.

Ive seen Carlton fans mocking Hawthorn's list and would see far more B+ or better talent on their list than ours. Wanting to see the level of delusion in Dons supporters.

Merrett is our only A grade talent.

 

[Skipper_]

Im genuinely interested in seeing how many A and B+ players Essendon fans think they have.

Ive seen Carlton fans mocking Hawthorn's list and would see far more B+ or better talent on their list than ours. Wanting to see the level of delusion in Dons supporters.

I’ll bite.

Merrett is our only A grader.

I would consider Durham, Caldwell, Martin and Ridley as B+ or high level B graders.

Reid, Roberts, Caddy and Kako also have the potential to be very good players in the next few years.

FWIW, I would consider Newcombe, Day and Gunston to be Hawthorn’s A graders. Sicily is one at his best but had a down year.

 

[RCAB]

Merrett is our only A grade talent.

What about Martin?

 

[Vindicater]

Im genuinely interested in seeing how many A and B+ players Essendon fans think they have.

Ive seen Carlton fans mocking Hawthorn's list and would see far more B+ or better talent on their list than ours. Wanting to see the level of delusion in Dons supporters.

Merrett is our only A grade talent.

Martin was trending there but did an ACL so will have to see how he returns.

Durham and Caddy are currently B grade with potential to be A grade. Kako showed some real good signs in the back half of the season when given a chance in the midfield. His statistics stack up well with other top line small forwards in their first year. He is still a C grade player at the moment but could be higher in a year or two.

Roberts also a very good prospect and a future B grader.

Ridley is B grade but can't stay on the park. Reid has shown A grade potential but is even more flimsy than Ridley so won't get there in my opinion.

McGrath is a B grade back pocket but a C grade midfielder where he will likely have to play once we trade Merrett.

Past that we are full of a lot of C grade talent with a sprinkling of D graders.

 

[Ambrosia]

What about Martin?

Probably needs to prove he can do it as onballer to be genuine A grader but he's very good.

 

[RCAB]

Probably needs to prove he can do it as onballer to be genuine A grader but he's very good.

So you have to be a onballer to be an A grader, you can't be a winger?

 

[Ambrosia]

Merrett is our only A grade talent.

Martin was trending there but did an ACL so will have to see how he returns.

Durham and Caddy are currently B grade with potential to be A grade. Kako showed some real good signs in the back half of the season when given a chance in the midfield. His statistics stack up well with other top line small forwards in their first year. He is still a C grade player at the moment but could be higher in a year or two.

Roberts also a very good prospect and a future B grader.

Ridley is B grade but can't stay on the park. Reid has shown A grade potential but is even more flimsy than Ridley so won't get there in my opinion.

McGrath is a B grade back pocket but a C grade midfielder where he will likely have to play once we trade Merrett.

Past that we are full of a lot of C grade talent with a sprinkling of D graders.

Could argue Wright has the value of a B grader given his skill set of decent ruck and decent forward is rare.

Langford in the injury prone basket but is quality.

Don't what happened to Mckay but he does perform to the B grade level at times

 

[TazHawk15]

I’ll bite.

Merrett is our only A grader.



FWIW, I would consider Newcombe, Day and Gunston to be Hawthorn’s A graders. Sicily is one at his best but had a down year.

I can’t believe you missed Massimo out

On a serious note it’s funny you leaving out two blokes that made the AA teams in 2024 and 2025 from your A grade list.

 

[hawkinoz]

Can't see Blues taking that.. they likely prefer to get 11 and then use 10+11 to move up before Dean bid. Plus lot overs from Hawks.

my best offer is

Sydney In: Curnow
Sydney Out: Pick 11, Swans F1, Hayward

Essendon In: Pick 8, Swans F1
Essendon Out: Merrett, Essendon F2

Carlton In: Pick 11, Hawks, F1, Hayward
Carlton Out: Curnow

Hawthorn In: Merrett, Essendon F2
Hawthorn Out: Pick 8, Hawks F1

Maybe they can trade 10+11 for pick 6+Swans F1 or trade it for Suns pick 7+Suns F1+36

0% chance Essendon do this.

Swans will likely improve next year so we’d only be marginally upgrading say pick 20 (our second) to pick 15 (their first).

Don't look at what others are getting.. just at what you are getting & giving and it is a big WIN. Swans F1 is a likely top 10 pick. Could understand a bit on hesitancy in giving up F2 for Hawks F1 but easy for Swans F1.

2 top 10 picks for a 30yr old on the downslope is massive overs, not to mention his relationship breakdown with club(don't deny it). If everyone focusses on what they are getting/giving alone.. its a massive WIN_WIN_WIN_WIN

Essendon has media acolytes from Hird/Lloyd/Cal + the Hawks haters in Whately/Robbo etc blowing air up its xxxx and if you beleived all that, then I see why you say 0%.

 

[Ambrosia]

So you have to be a onballer to be an A grader, you can't be a winger?

Yeah fair point. Not sure he has consistent A grade impact just yet, didn't love his time at HBF.

 

[Skipper_]

Don't look at what others are getting.. just at what you are getting & giving and it is a big WIN. Swans F1 is a likely top 10 pick. Could understand a bit on hesitancy in giving up F2 for Hawks F1 but easy for Swans F1.

2 top 10 picks for a 30yr old on the downslope is massive overs, not to mention his relationship breakdown with club(don't deny it). If everyone focusses on what they are getting/giving alone.. its a massive WIN_WIN_WIN_WIN

Essendon has media acolytes from Hird/Lloyd/Cal + the Hawks haters in Whately/Robbo etc blowing air up its xxxx and if you beleived all that, then I see why you say 0%.

Clearly you are a lot lower on the Swans then I am.

I don’t see their future first as a top 10 pick, if I did I’d do that deal.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

I’ll bite.

Merrett is our only A grader.

I would consider Durham, Caldwell, Martin and Ridley as B+ or high level B graders.

Reid, Roberts, Caddy and Kako also have the potential to be very good players in the next few years.

FWIW, I would consider Newcombe, Day and Gunston to be Hawthorn’s A graders. Sicily is one at his best but had a down year.

I’d almost say Reid is a B Grader already, potentially A very soon. Rate him highly.

I could break down Hawthorns more as I think Battle is close to being A Grade if he can back it up again this year in a good side, a lot in the B range and some who also may make the jump to A.

 

[DapperDon]

Big reason Bombers want 2/3 firsts is because they’ve got little idea and confidence in their recruiters identifying quality young talent and think we’ll hopefully get one good one out of 3! Delusional bunch

This just in: Clubs like having early draft picks!

 

[Skipper_]

I can’t believe you missed Massimo out

On a serious note it’s funny you leaving out two blokes that made the AA teams in 2024 and 2025 from your A grade list.

Forgot about Battle, but yes I would include him as well

Moore is a very good player but would still have him a tier below. I rate him similarly to Martin for us.

 

[SSSSSS]

Nothing has happened yet?

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Forgot about Battle, but yes I would include him as well

Moore is a very good player but would still have him a tier below. I rate him similarly to Martin for us.

I’d have both Martin and Moore as A Grade, I also have an S tier tho for those that are the very best in their position (say top 3).

 

[SSSSSS]

Why does the Dons board keep wanting to meddle into footy affairs?

Wasn't the selling point of Welsh was to bring a new direction to the club?

 

[Gavin Excell]

Why does the Dons board keep wanting to meddle into footy affairs?

Wasn't the selling point of Welsh was to bring a new direction to the club?

Sheedy set the standard when he was on the Board

They have a very warped view on their role