Unveiled: The details behind Hawthorn’s Merrett trade threat

3 hours ago 2

Hawthorn finally made an offer for Essendon skipper Zach Merrett on Tuesday but gave the Bombers just hours to respond or risk having pick nine, the central part of their offer, taken off the table ahead of Wednesday night’s official deadline.

In an offer sent via email just after lunchtime, Hawthorn proposed a deal including pick nine, next year’s first-round pick, a second-round pick in 2027 and either pick 61 this year or young midfielder Henry Hustwaite.

Want away Essendon skipper Zach Merrett.

The email, sent to Essendon list manager Matt Rosa, coach Brad Scott and president Andrew Welsh, and described to this masthead by multiple competition sources who had read it, gave the Bombers until 7pm on Tuesday to respond.

Essendon considered the offer insufficient and were dismissive of the 7pm deadline threat.

New Essendon president and former hard-nosed player Andrew Welsh is a hugely influential property developer.

The Hawks email had stated that, as of 7pm Tuesday, they would open to talks with other clubs regarding trading pick nine.

After weeks of posturing and speculation about Merrett moving, on Tuesday the captain formally contacted his club and asked for a trade and Hawthorn made direct contact with the Bombers with their offer. All previous discussions about a trade had been done with Merrett’s manager Tom Petroro acting as intermediary.

Tension is high between both clubs, and the Bombers are unhappy with Hawthorn’s trade tactics over their captain and six-time best-and-fairest winner. The Bombers believe that, having wined and dined their captain, Hawthorn have then offered nothing of commensurate value.

Forward Mitch Lewis, who kicked three goals in the preliminary final loss to Geelong, has not been ruled out of negotiations by either club, unlike midfielder Cam Mackenzie, who was ruled out as a trade option by the Hawks on Monday.

Hustwaite, 21, has played just four games this year to bring his career tally to 10. As an inside midfielder, he does not fit a position of need for the Bombers and is on Hawthorn’s fringe.

As it stands, the four big names seeking homes elsewhere – Merrett, Charlie Curnow, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver – all remain in limbo heading into the final day of the trade period. All trades are now suspended until 2pm.

Melbourne and Gold Coast remain in meaningful talks over Petracca, a trade that, like Oliver to GWS, is expected to be completed. Carlton and the Swans have not had direct discussions over Curnow in days, despite the Blues forward touring the Swans’ facilities on Monday and having dinner with president Andrew Pridham that same night.

There has been speculation of a trade that involves Will Hayward and Ollie Florent tied in with this year’s first-round pick and next year’s first-rounder, but that offer has not been tabled with Carlton. Several competition sources said the Swans are battling salary cap difficulties.

Hawthorn dasher Changkuoth Jiath has not been tied into an offer to Essendon, but the rebound defender has emerged as late trade mover, with Melbourne interested in him as a replacement for Judd McVee, who was traded to Fremantle.

Changkuoth Jiath could yet find a new home late in the trade period.

The Demons are making a play for the 26-year-old, who played a career-high 20 games under Sam Mitchell this year, but has been made available as a trade this year by the Hawks.

Jiath has had soft-tissue problems throughout his career, but his best football is electric and he still has two years to run on his deal. The Hawks’ willingness to make him available means he could be a cheap addition for the Demons’ new-look line-up.

Essendon, meanwhile, finally concluded a deal for Brayden Fiorini from Gold Coast for a third-round pick in next year’s draft. Fiorini was a free agent and theoretically free to Essendon but, by trading for him instead, the Bombers avoided diluting the compensation pick they received for losing Sam Draper to the Lions.

St Kilda skipper Jack Steele looks set to return to Moorabbin for the final two years of his contract after Adelaide decided not to pursue the dual All-Australian.

The Crows and Essendon emerged as potential third clubs for Steele during the trade period, but neither went beyond doing their due diligence.

The trades of some big names will come down to the final day.

The Saints encouraged the 29-year-old to explore his options, after making him the fourth AFL captain ever to start as the substitute in a late-season clash with North Melbourne.

Steele’s preference all along was to stay despite St Kilda hoping to move him on.

The Saints were already prioritising younger midfielders over Steele, but they also added ex-Sun Sam Flanders last week on a big-money deal and promise of more on-ball opportunities than he had at Gold Coast.

Steele told the club’s leaders at his exit meeting that he would relinquish the captaincy and focus on his football in the twilight of a career that started at GWS.

Collingwood and the Lions did a minor pick swap, with the Magpies securing picks 45 and 56 this year for picks 59 and a future third-round pick. The additional picks help Collingwood cover the points for academy player Zac McCarthy and provide a pick to offer Sydney for fringe forward Jack Buller.

The Bulldogs, meanwhile, secured the Suns’ Connor Budarick for pick 37 and pick 70 in a trade.

Gold Coast also continued working through the details relating to Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s new contract as they look to finalise a trade with the Bulldogs before the deadline.

The Suns have spent a significant time ensuring all parts of the club’s leadership, from the board, to the executive, to the coaching, medical and welfare staff and the player leadership group, were on board with the decision to recruit Ugle-Hagan. The Suns have been determined to assess his response to the plans for him to revive his career, and want to set him up for success.

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.