Trade Rumours 2025

[azabob]

I'm not sure that is quite the case. I believe he has met with some players during the season.

I can only take Luke on his word with what he says publicly. He mentioned Rowell was different as they had a preexisting relationship over the previous off season.

[doggies ftw]

We have an obvious pressing need in 2026 to bolster our quality key defensive stocks. We could easily finish 6-10 again next year with Zach Merrett in the side and with the same defensive 6.

We need elite key defenders (plus some tweaks to our game plan) to have a chance to make the jump to top 4 - even in a fantasy world where Merrett was somehow available, I would prioritise the signature of Wilkie before anyone else. I like the radio silence with regard to Wilkie - if it was totally dead in the water it would have been squashed already by his management or the Saints. I have no intel whatsoever but I reckon there's a more than a pulse to this story.

Butters is a free agency play for 12 months, not now - and we should go hell for leather to get him (which I'm sure we are in the background).

I wouldn’t say it’s a fantasy world, he’s literally done there see the way the club has publicly pushed him out to the point he’s not going to the BnF, nothing fantasy about it it’s a live option and we’d be in a good position.

I don’t see why we can’t target both backline & Merrett - we’ve made that clear targeting both Wilkie & Butters we can afford it. Look obviously Wilkie is top priority but we’ll know very soon whether it’s off the table. I agree the radio silence is good but also just means he’s still negotiating with the Saints for a bumped up extension. It’s still very unlikely and we can’t put all our eggs in that basket. Neither the Butters basket a year out, let’s not miss a live opportunity on hopes and dreams of 12 months away.

Merrett in and Richards to the backline makes us substantially better in defence and Richards is much better than anything on the market currently. It’s hard to imagine pulling him out of the middle but if an opportunity like this comes up I think you pivot and improve the side. If you can tell me a better defender than Richards available great we’ll get him and leave Ed in the middle.

Wed still need to get a FB too - obviously Wilkie priority over Merrett but if in 2 weeks time it’s done and he’s extended at the Saints. Butts & Merrett is achievable and allows us to significantly improve our backline to the extent that we can challenge next year.

Then you ship out what you need to next year to free up cash for a FA raid on Butters anyway. Let’s dream big why not, Hawks would be

[Sedat]

I wouldn’t say it’s a fantasy world, he’s literally done there see the way the club has publicly pushed him out to the point he’s not going to the BnF, nothing fantasy about it it’s a live option and we’d be in a good position.

I don’t see why we can’t target both backline & Merrett - we’ve made that clear targeting both Wilkie & Butters we can afford it. Look obviously Wilkie is top priority but we’ll know very soon whether it’s off the table. I agree the radio silence is good but also just means he’s still negotiating with the Saints for a bumped up extension. It’s still very unlikely and we can’t put all our eggs in that basket. Neither the Butters basket a year out, let’s not miss a live opportunity on hopes and dreams of 12 months away.

Merrett in and Richards to the backline makes us substantially better in defence and Richards is much better than anything on the market currently. It’s hard to imagine pulling him out of the middle but if an opportunity like this comes up I think you pivot and improve the side. If you can tell me a better defender than Richards available great we’ll get him and leave Ed in the middle.

Wed still need to get a FB too - obviously Wilkie priority over Merrett but if in 2 weeks time it’s done and he’s extended at the Saints. Butts & Merrett is achievable and allows us to significantly improve our backline to the extent that we can challenge next year.

Then you ship out what you need to next year to free up cash for a FA raid on Butters anyway. Let’s dream big why not, Hawks would be

For mine the biggest stumbling block in making a play for Merrett is the massive amount of draft/trade capital required to get a deal done. Both Merrett and WIlkie are in contract (so is Butts) - I just don't think Merrett is a viable option on that basis alone.

[River boys]

lets stop all the BS, we as a club cannot draw players to this club of any class we get the left overs. I would like to see us get ruthless in going after players a year or more earlier, stop being the MR nice club, if that means over paying do it.

[GVGjr]

I can only take Luke on his word with what he says publicly. He mentioned Rowell was different as they had a preexisting relationship over the previous off season.

That's exactly where I were going. There are at times some exceptions.

Here is a different approach by the Hawks
"No apologies": Hawthorn break silence on Merrett rumours


By SEN



Hawthorn will make no apologies for approaching contracted players from other clubs amid reports that coach Sam Mitchell met with Essendon captain Zach Merrett earlier this week.

The meeting between the pair has become something of a finals saga with the Bombers blindsided by the news and Merrett’s teammates going public with how “bitterly hurt” they are by their skipper's actions.

Despite having two years to run on his contract, Merrett is believed to have met with Mitchell on Tuesday night as he looks to exit Tullamarine.
It has also been reported that the Bombers captain will not attend the club’s Best and Fairest in October as relationships continue to sour.
All this as the Hawks prepare to meet the Crows in a do-or-die Semi-Final in Adelaide on Friday night.

While much of the week’s focus has been on Merrett, his conduct and what a trade could do to his legacy, Hawthorn president Andrew Gowers has broken his silence on the matter insisting that this kind of meeting between players and other clubs happens all the time.
“We make no apologies for wanting to get better and improve,” Gowers told SEN Sportsday. “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 (and) 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.
"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."

Flipping the narrative of the Merrett saga on its head, Gowers said he would be angry as a supporter if the conversations were not happening.
"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."
Asked if he felt the frenzy around Merrett risked derailing Hawthorn's finals campaign, Gowers added: "I don’t think it plays a part; we are focused on the game.
"The Crows are going to be incredibly hard to beat. There's a good reason why Adelaide are favourites and we now we are up against it."

[Bornadog]

The young fella tells me Jamarra just posted a photo of himself in his manager's office. I assume that doesn't happen often?
In the unlikely event that Wilkie doesn't get the value he deserves, could Jamarra end up at St Kilda as part of a trade?

also seen training with Brad Hill

image.png

[Grantysghost]

That's exactly where I were going. There are at times some exceptions.

Here is a different approach by the Hawks
"No apologies": Hawthorn break silence on Merrett rumours


By SEN



Hawthorn will make no apologies for approaching contracted players from other clubs amid reports that coach Sam Mitchell met with Essendon captain Zach Merrett earlier this week.

The meeting between the pair has become something of a finals saga with the Bombers blindsided by the news and Merrett’s teammates going public with how “bitterly hurt” they are by their skipper's actions.

Despite having two years to run on his contract, Merrett is believed to have met with Mitchell on Tuesday night as he looks to exit Tullamarine.
It has also been reported that the Bombers captain will not attend the club’s Best and Fairest in October as relationships continue to sour.
All this as the Hawks prepare to meet the Crows in a do-or-die Semi-Final in Adelaide on Friday night.

While much of the week’s focus has been on Merrett, his conduct and what a trade could do to his legacy, Hawthorn president Andrew Gowers has broken his silence on the matter insisting that this kind of meeting between players and other clubs happens all the time.
“We make no apologies for wanting to get better and improve,” Gowers told SEN Sportsday. “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 (and) 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.
"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."

Flipping the narrative of the Merrett saga on its head, Gowers said he would be angry as a supporter if the conversations were not happening.
"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."
Asked if he felt the frenzy around Merrett risked derailing Hawthorn's finals campaign, Gowers added: "I don’t think it plays a part; we are focused on the game.
"The Crows are going to be incredibly hard to beat. There's a good reason why Adelaide are favourites and we now we are up against it."

Gowers undoes everything he says by saying he doesn't know.

So I've disregarded his opinion.

[Pleather Sole]

also seen training with Brad Hill

image.png

Hi BAD yeah I mentioned that yesterday when my lad saw it.I think its a very good sign. If Sharman goes too it might open up more of a need for someone like Jamarra. They could do with a young, tall key forward.
"Yeah I understand that, part of a deal is more what I meant but didn't say. My lad says he's training with Brad Hill. Thought he might be a good fit with Hill as a solid mentor. Playing with Nasiah, Keeler, Hill, Windhager-if he stays, Henry, Collard. He certainly loved Winmar at the Saints. I can see him in their forward line. Liam Ryan could still land there too.
Regardless of where Wilkie plays I think it might be a win win."

[1eyedog]

I thought Saints have already said that Wilkie is going nowhere? In any case I don't believe what anyone says

Yeah I heard Wilkie said the Dogs won't be happening.