If you can’t trust SILENTGHOST263 then frankly I’m not sure who you can trust.
16 Likes
That’s an interesting view. I’m hoping it escalates.
When it comes down to it Hawks don’t have anything of value to trade cant see how a deal will get done
How Hawthorn and Essendon could come to a deal over Dons skipper Zach Merrett
Even if the Bombers relent and agree to trade their skipper Zach Merrett — how could Hawthorn possibly get a deal done? Josh Barnes unpacks how the Hawks can get their man to the club.
Modern trading tells you that clubs just don’t give up players they value to bring outsiders in.
The needle has been pushed so far from clubs trading players for players of equal value, that Hawthorn would likely look at a potential Zach Merrett trade and cycle through deals for hours before contemplating trading any of its best 15 players.
The last captain to be traded was Ryan Griffen back in 2014, and that was also the last time two star level player assets were swapped, with Griffen going with pick six to GWS for Tom Boyd.
Since then, the market has shifted so that high profile players either get moved for draft picks or in megadeals involving several clubs.
And given the value of their future first round picks will decline in value like a bad NFT by adding Merrett to their side, any possible negotiations about a trade will surely drag in multiple other clubs.
That makes trading Merrett even harder for Essendon – who has only been steadfast that it would not consider moving out the captain – given an already aggrieved fan base is unlikely to be kept warm at night by future draft picks.
The best asset Hawthorn has on the draft front is Carlton’s first round pick this season, brought in as part of the Tom Barrass trade, which sits at No.8 currently.
Essendon could put its hand out for picks in the idea of pulling a Richmond and resetting the playing list on one November night.
But this current draft crop is seen as far weaker than the one the Tigers sifted through last year, and given Essendon already holds current picks four and five, two second-round choices and will have a Sam Draper pick incoming, its thirst for draft capital isn’t that great.
While the sign on the door at Tullamarine may still say Essendon is closed for business, Hawthorn will no doubt be considering what it could put on the table if Merrett properly stakes a claim for a trade.
This is where things could start.
DRAFT PICKS
Essendon gets: 2025 Carlton R1 pick (currently No.8), Haw 2026 R1, Haw 2027 R1
Hawthorn gets: Zach Merrett, Ess 2026 R3
Normally three first-rounders for a 29-year-old would be fantastic going, but Essendon would probably turn a deal around this framework down.
The Dons already hold two top-10 picks (their own and Melbourne’s first rounder) in the upcoming draft as well as St Kilda’s second round choice.
While the idea of rebooting with five choices in the top 25 sounds nice, this draft is seen as weaker than past classes and Essendon may want draft picks but the quality here isn’t amazing.
Hawthorn would surely be top-four bound for 2026 and 2027 with Merrett so the future picks are not that enticing.
CHUCKING A PLAYER IN
Essendon gets: Mitch Lewis, Cam Mackenzie, 2025 Carlton R1 pick, 2026 Carlton R2
Hawthorn gets: Zach Merrett
You can plug and play Hawks players in this deal, like Jiath, Sam Butler, or even Ned Reeves.
In this hypothetical, Hawthorn would probably have to give two picks to get it over the line, potentially an upside future pick like one from Carlton, if the Hawks sent ruck Reeves to Ikon Park.
Lewis would be a good foil for Nate Caddy in the Bombers’ forwardline and Mackenzie would walk straight in to the centre square as a starting midfielder.
But these are two players that were not selected for Hawthorn’s first final, so as useful as they would be for Essendon, it’s hardly a fair swap for one of the club’s best ever players.
Essendon tried to lure Finn Maginness last off-season but he would only be a steak knives addition to any deal.
Also out of the Hawks team, Noah Mraz has impressed in his first year at the club as a young flyer.
A SERIOUS TRADE
Essendon gets: Calsher Dear, Cam Mackenzie, 2025 Carlton R2 pick
Hawthorn gets: Zach Merrett
If this was the early 2000s, this is the kind of deal that would make sense.
Two young chips for a proven star would be seen as a win-win move, but the current landscape means Hawthorn would have no interest in trading a player like Dear.
That means any Merrett swap would be a complex deal involving multiple teams, where the Bombers would need to get both a worthwhile player and strong draft capital to consider.
The Hawks have just under four weeks until the start of the trade period to try and pull together a deal like that.
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How can you read that and think the Hawks have nothing to offer? The first scenario suggests 3 first round picks.
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Pick 2, thank you.
Potentially 2 x Pick 20’s.
No thanks
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This.
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People saying this is a bad deal for a 30-year-old need their ■■■■■■■ head checked. Take it and run.
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Club ain’t desperate for picks imo we will have 5 inside top 30.
We want an even spread of high picks over the next 3-5 years.
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If we can get picks for 2026 then that’s different but Hawks 2026 and 2027 first rounders will be teen picks.
I would be trading those to teams like North,WC etc and try to get their 2026 first rounders
It’s up to hawthorn to do the trading with other clubs to get what we demand.
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Pretty much
If Merrett, Draper & Ridley are all gone next year. And Martin is injured for most of the year. I’ can absolutely see us finishing bottom 2. I would then be asking the AFL for a priority pick.
There are so many ways to manipulate this.
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Where do I sign
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And if Hawks finish top 4 in 2026 and 2027?
Hawks trade Mcknize to Saints for pick 7
Essendon get 7+8
Hawks get Merret
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We still have at least 2x first round picks in both drafts to play with.
Would you take pick 1, 2 & 15 next year??
Don’t forget Tassie coming in and dilution of top picks in the coming years.
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Tasmania get 7 of the top 13 picks in 2027 so if Hawthorn finish 4th , their first round is pick 21 before any f/s and academy bids (if they exist by then). Pretty well worthless.
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People saying we don’t need anymore picks, how about:
Inside mid - 5 - Sharp
Attacking Defender - 6 - X. Taylor
2nd Mid - ? - Cumming
Potential Star with Upside - ? - Robey
2nd Defender - ? - Farrow
Small Forward - ? - Dovaston
Small Forward - ? - Pickett
Sweid & Huss.
Not all will be successful, but they would be a wonderful platform, after being added to Caddy, Kako, Roberts, etc, going forward.
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