Down to the wire: How Zach Merrett could be stranded at Tullamarine

3 hours ago 1

Of the three bona fide, proven and contracted guns who want to be traded over the next week, Zach Merrett faces the highest degree of difficulty in navigating a landing at his preferred club.

Melbourne and Gold Coast are at least in conversations, even if the Suns are firm, to this point, on their unwillingness to use Bailey Humphrey in any Petracca exchange.

Essendon captain Zach Merrett at the Brownlow.

Carlton doesn’t have to trade Charlie Curnow, yet they are open to a deal; it is just a matter of finding the right price from either the Swans (more likely) or Geelong (long shot). Draft capital is needed for their two gun father sons, Harry Dean (this year) and Cody Walker (2026), with the imminent rule change making Walker, a potential pick one or two, more expensive. They have two decent compensation picks already – nine and 21 – courtesy of St Kilda.

Do they need a quality player and a first round pick, or it is possible with just two good picks and a player whom the Blues could use? We will see.

But Merrett’s prospects of having safe passage to Hawthorn are the most fraught, and he might well be forced into reconciliation with Essendon, who have taken an uncompromising stance and largely stuck to it ever since it emerged that Zach had met with Sam Mitchell.

Officially, the Bombers have repeated that Merrett will not be traded. Unofficially, “never” really means “only if the deal really suits us”.

A few weeks ago, when Merrett’s wish to leave exploded - just as Hawthorn was about to upend Adelaide and march into the preliminary final - he and Essendon seemed to be headed into a situation somewhat comparable to that of Newcastle United’s then star striker Alexander Isak, who was contracted on squillions for four years but had requested a trade to Liverpool.

Merrett’s stance – even though he had not and still has not requested a trade – was one in which Essendon was being forced to ask: What damage will we do to ourselves if we keep this guy?

The most incendiary aspects of Merrett’s wish to leave were, a) that he’d chosen Hawthorn, of all clubs, and b) that he was captain of the Bombers.

Isak’s position was sufficiently hardline – he was estranged from the team, and posted on social media explaining why he wanted out – that he made his continued union with Newcastle untenable. He was duly traded, before the deadline, for an English Premier League transfer fee record of £125 million (about $255 million).

Merrett and Essendon seemed on that path, in that many observers believed that the rift - and sense of betrayal by a leader - meant that Essendon were well rid of him.

It should be noted that Merrett took only a few steps in the EPL playbook direction. He didn’t stop talking to Essendon, he held a catch-up with incoming president Andrew Welsh (before Welsh ascended to that perch) and, despite speculation, he dutifully turned up at the best and fairest and made a speech.

His address to the faithful was far from a renewal of vows – he talked about his love of the club, while notably avoiding any commitment to remaining at Tullamarine.

Hawthorn is focused almost entirely on Merrett in this trade period, and assuming Zach doesn’t give up, this shapes as one of those deals – or collapsed trades – that goes right down to the wire on Wednesday evening next week.

If Melbourne can choose to hold Petracca, it is also evident that the Demons are looking for a cultural overhaul and refresh of their list. A trade with Gold Coast should be completed on that basis, provided it furthers the Demons’ medium term objectives. Pick seven is already a starting point. More will be required, but there is a path forward.

While Curnow is more vexed - Sydney’s offerings look limited, on the player front (since Isaac Heeney, Errol Gulden and Nick Blakey are off the table) - Carlton’s position appears more accommodating than the Bombers’ on Merrett.

At Carlton and even Melbourne, these deals will be assessed as wholly football decisions - what they can get for players who are unhappy. Petracca is having his second attempted escape, too.

At Essendon, there are still political considerations beyond the pure value of Merrett (their best player by an embarrassing margin), because of the club’s wretched season(s), the potential for outside agitation and need to placate a sullen membership.

Emotions were raised due to Merrett’s meeting with the hated Hawks and his apparent blindsiding of teammates, who went on the record with their disappointment.

The man with the toughest diplomatic task here is Merrett’s agent Tom Petroro, who has strong relationships with most of the key parties - Essendon chief executive Craig Vozzo, Merrett obviously and also Mitchell, whom he handles.

Hawthorn, if they are to get this done, will likely need to find a player of value whom they’re willing to relinquish in exchange. Dylan Moore would be ideal for Essendon, alongside Hawthorn’s first draft pick (8, formerly Carlton’s). But the Hawks won’t be amenable to losing Moore, who is also a leader. Would Cam McKenzie cut it for Essendon? Doubtful.

The noises coming out of Essendon are not encouraging for the Merrett camp, though there is more than week left to find a path to Hawthorn.

If foiled, Merrett will share the fate of many Australians on domestic journeys and be stranded at Tullamarine.

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