Merrett deal done and it’s still day one
The Zach Merrett deal is about to become official.
The highly decorated former Essendon captain will bolster the Hawks’ midfield in 2027 when the two clubs agree to a trade involving three draft picks.
Those picks are poised to be a first round selection this year (set to be pick 15 based on the current order) followed by a second-rounder (25) and a second round pick in the 2028 draft.
Tell us what you think in the poll below, or ask our journalists a question for today’s Real Footy podcast about this trade by emailing realfootypod@theage.com.au
… As the Hawks issue a welcome
In a statement credited to the club’s list manager Mark McKenzie, who said:
“We are delighted to welcome Zach, his wife Alexandra, and their son Jude to Hawthorn.
“A seven-time best and fairest winner and three-time All-Australian, Zach has long been celebrated as one of the most elite midfielders in the AFL and he will play a key role in our side for many years to come.
“In addition to his relentless desire to succeed, Zach’s professionalism and competitiveness are second to none – he’s the sort of player that drives high standards and helps make others around him better.
“We are very excited about what Zach brings to our club, I’m sure he’s incredibly motivated to get to work with his new teammates and help propel Hawthorn towards its next premiership.”
Bombers farewell Merrett …
Essendon have thanked their departing former skipper Zach Merrett, describing him as leaving with a “legacy as one of the club’s greatest players of the 21st century”.
Across 13 seasons and 274 games, the Bombers said, Merrett etched himself into the club’s history with an equal-record seven Crichton Medals as best and fairest, as well as four of a possible six McCracken Medals for embodying the club’s values on-field.
Essendon CEO Tim Roberts praised Merrett for the professionalism, performance and standards he set during his time in red and black.
“Zach Merrett is a champion of our football club,” Roberts said.
Merrett deal becomes official
It’s official: the AFL has lodged the paperwork for the Zach Merrett trade from Essendon to Hawthorn.
The deal was confirmed right on 5pm. But it’s day one of the trade period, so this wasn’t quite the white-knuckle ride of last year when the clubs went to the last minute in their haggling over the midfielder but failed to reach a mutual agreement.
Carlton identify what’s on the table for Whitfield
Carlton have put this year’s two first-round picks off the table in any deal for Giant Lachie Whitfield, whose preference, if he is traded, is to join the Blues.
Carlton are prepared to offer pick 23 in this year’s draft but won’t part with their own picks 11 and 16 due to the need to cover any early bid for prized father-son Cody Walker.
If a bid were to come for Walker at No.3 (Richmond), which is viewed as a highly feasible scenario, Carlton would go close to covering the bid, but need to go slightly into deficit for 2027.
They have their own first pick, and Sydney’s from the Charlie Curnow trade, plus picks 23 (Gold Coast) and 24 (North Melbourne) in the second round.
Whitfield has already done a medical with the Blues, Melbourne are another club that has shown interest in the No.1 pick from the 2012 draft, who the Giants are willing to trade as part of their list reset. Whitfield is contracted for 2027.
Merrett deal done and it’s still day one
The Zach Merrett deal is about to become official.
The highly decorated former Essendon captain will bolster the Hawks’ midfield in 2027 when the two clubs agree to a trade involving three draft picks.
Those picks are poised to be a first round selection this year (set to be pick 15 based on the current order) followed by a second-rounder (25) and a second round pick in the 2028 draft.
Tell us what you think in the poll below, or ask our journalists a question for today’s Real Footy podcast about this trade by emailing realfootypod@theage.com.au
OPINION: ‘Merrett has given Essendon more than enough’
Zach Merrett is a central figure of this year’s AFL trade period, as he was last year when Hawthorn unsuccessfully tried to prise him away from Essendon in a testy negotiation that went down to the wire.
Still under contract, and with a seventh Bombers best and fairest award now under his belt, Merrett is again keen to cross to the Hawks, who remain keen to land him.
Early talk suggests the negotiations are progressing more hopefully this year.
Writing for us this afternoon, Sam McClure opines it’s time for both parties to put down their weapons and get their deal done.
Got a question for today’s podcast?
It’s eight days since we last dropped an episode of the Real Footy podcast, but our team will be back in you earholes tonight … and for the following days.
That’s right, our reporters will be recording podcasts daily during the trade period to give all the news and views on the comings and goings from the 18 AFL clubs.
If you’ve got any questions for our podcasters today, email it to – realfootypod@theage.com.au – in the next hour.
Otherwise, if you’ve like to catch up on our latest episode – the grand final review – you can do that wherever you get your podcasts, or even right here:
All the best-and-fairest winners so far
Seventeen of the 18 clubs have held their 2026 awards nights, with St Kilda’s to come tonight.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera would have to be the favourite to take out the Saints’ Trevor Barker Awards.
For those of you keen to keep of track of who finished on the podium at the other clubs, we’ve compiled this ready reckoner:
North Melbourne coaching job decided: Jaymie Graham appointed
Jaymie Graham will coach North Melbourne in 2027, after winning the race to fill the role vacated by Alastair Clarkson.
Graham, 43, gets the role after a modest playing career (37 games for West Coast from 2005-2008), but with a big reputation for his work as an assistant coach, most recently at Fremantle as they surged to the minor premiership this year.
‘He may or may not finish his career with us’: Pies list boss on De Goey
Collingwood list boss Justin Leppitsch believes any deal for premiership Tiger Jayden Short will be challenging after Richmond gave an initial trade asking price for him.
There is also still intrigue around star Jordan De Goey’s future as he enters the final season of his current deal next year.
The Magpies have already signed dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale in free agency, and sent a fourth-round selection (No.75) to the Giants for Jesse Hogan on Monday. They also agreed to a deal for games record-holder Scott Pendlebury to join Gold Coast, in exchange for the Suns’ pick 65.
Pendlebury could have crossed to Gold Coast as an unrestricted free agent, but the Suns wanted to do a deal to avoid diluting their potential compensation pick for Ben King, who will join Hawthorn this off-season.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
