‘We’re all grown-ups’: Hawks president makes no apologies for Merrett meeting

1 day ago 7

Hawthorn president Andy Gowers is adamant the Hawks have nothing to apologise for after meeting with Essendon captain Zach Merrett this week.

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell and football department chief Rob McCartney met with Merrett on Tuesday, the chat blindsiding the Bombers, including coach Brad Scott, who’d dined with Merrett days earlier.

Merrett, 29, is contracted until the end of 2027, the Bombers having twice raised his salary over the past three seasons. But Merrett is hungry for premiership success, and questioning whether that opportunity will come with the Bombers, who again missed the finals this season.

It’s the second time this season Mitchell has met with a rival club’s captain, having also attempted to lure Eagle Oscar Allen. The latest move came just days out from the Hawks’ semi-final against the Crows.

The Hawks have been fierce in their recruiting under Mitchell, luring former Eagle Tom Barrass and former Saint Josh Battle in last year’s trade period, prompting Gowers to declare his club will continue to strive to improve its list.

“We make no apologies for wanting to get better and improve,” Gowers told SEN.

“I know this has become a big story over the last day or two, but we are realists. We know other clubs are talking to our players and this story has become big, I understand it, I get it.

“I watched with interest Brad Scott’s interview, I would be saying the same thing if I was him, but I think we are all realists.

“What I would say to all members and fans is we make no apologies for wanting to improve. Multiple conversations happen within the club let alone outside. We are always looking to improve our list.

“We’re all grown-ups, everybody knows these things go on. I can’t confirm if Sam Mitchell met with Zach Merrett - I actually don’t know as I’m not at the coalface.

Essendon coach Brad Scott and skipper Zach Merrett.

“I do know Hawthorn is doing all it can to get better. We have to look at free agency, trading and the draft, and we will explore all three.”

Scott said on Fox Footy this week he did not like the way the Hawks had operated in this case.

“Look we’ve all got to accept that the old school, the old timers, we probably have a problem with it,” Scott said.

“This is the second club captain Sam Mitchell has met with in one year. The difference is our club captain is contracted for another two years. So, I think you’ve got to accept that players are going to do this and now coaches are doing it. But I think the reality is that Zach’s a process-driven guy. He’s got a checklist, he’ll go through his process, he likes to come to his own conclusions.”

Gowers said, as a supporter, he would be angry if the Hawks were not chasing rival talent.

“I know Sam is getting the headlines and Merrett is too, but we have a whole department that looks after recruiting,” he said.

“We’re not making any apologies. These conversations, I can’t confirm if it happened or didn’t, I honestly don’t know. I would be frustrated as a member or fan if we weren’t looking to improve.”

Gowers denied the Merrett fireball had impacted the Hawks’ on-field focus this week.

The Bombers remained adamant on Friday Merrett would not be traded, but he may have to cede the captaincy should he remain. His bond with teammates is also strained, injured forward Nic Martin telling this masthead he was disappointed and a “little bit angry”.

Martin said, “we are going to have to build the bridge again”.

The Bombers are in the awkward situation of having to determine whether Merrett attends their best-and-fairest count on October 2 if the impasse has not been resolved. Merrett is a five-time winner, and is likely to claim his sixth Crichton Medal.

In his 12 seasons with the club, the Bombers have made the finals four times – 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2021 – but lost in the opening week each time.

Injury-riddled defender Jordan Ridley is another Bomber weighing up his future, and has met with the Brisbane Lions. Ridley is frustrated by the number of repeat soft-tissue injuries he has endured.

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