Hawthorn Football Club has just played a big card in the AFL’s trade market. They are at the front of the queue for Essendon captain Zach Merrett. The centerpiece of the proposal is Hawthorn’s own No. 9 draft pick from this year. It features a first-rounder for next year and one second-rounder, either this year or next. This ambitious plan builds off of Hawthorn’s recent victories. After making it to the preliminary finals last month, they are looking to bolster their midfield.
One of the players who’ve proven their value to Merrett and the Bombers is three-time all-Australian Zach Merrett, who has won six best-and-fairest titles at Essendon. It was his acceptance speech for that sixth award, which almost sounded like a farewell address of sorts, that had heads turning. Despite this, Essendon officials maintain that he is “100% an Essendon player next season and beyond,” emphasizing their commitment to retaining him.
The situation has become increasingly tense as Hawthorn’s offer puts pressure on Essendon, particularly with rival clubs eyeing the valuable Pick 9. Because when Sam Mitchell, Hawthorn’s newly minted coach, sat down with Merrett last month, it shocked the AFL landscape. To keep negotiations moving along, Essendon has given Hawthorn a deadline to accept their offer.
Mitch Cleary noted, “It’s why the Hawks have told Essendon their current offer for Zach Merrett has a 7pm deadline.” As he noted, clubs like Collingwood are making big plays for a trade down the order for Hawthorn’s Pick 9. In exchange, they’re prepared to give up a future first-round draft pick. However, “to this point, no one at the Bombers has engaged with the Hawks.”
Commentator Tim Watson, a former Bomber, said the writing was on the wall for Essendon and Merrett. He stated, “In my mind right now he’s 100 percent an Essendon player next season and beyond.” And indeed, Watson thinks a conditioning process is already happening that will eventually lock Maston-Merrett to the Bombers.
The words of Matthew Lloyd, an additional heavyweight in AFL circles, further complicated the story. I’ve been 100 percent sure he’d get there and land at Hawthorn. I’m beginning to think otherwise, I really am. What I’m hearing is that Hawthorn have not put anything on the table which the Bombers would remotely consider let alone deal with.
