Zach Merrett has been traded from Essendon to Hawthorn, with the Bombers receiving picks No.15 and No.25 in this year’s national draft plus Hawthorn’s 2028 second-round pick for their former captain.
Essendon confirmed the deal on Monday 5 October, the first day of the AFL trade period, a year after the Bombers refused to let Merrett join the Hawks.
Merrett, 31, was still contracted at Essendon for next season. He is set to sign a four-year deal worth $4 million at Hawthorn, according to 7NEWS.
Why Essendon said yes this time
Twelve months ago Essendon knocked back a Hawthorn package that Zero Hanger reported included picks 9 and 22, a future first-round pick and Henry Hustwaite. This time the clubs got the deal done within hours of the trade period opening.
Essendon list boss Matt Rosa said the club wanted high draft picks while it rebuilds.
“Zach and his management made it clear in recent weeks that he wanted to play for Hawthorn. He’s a contracted player, but we were open to talking with Hawthorn about a trade,” Rosa said.
“It’s a hard decision given what Zach means to Essendon, but at this stage of our build, we believe the best result for the club is to bring in high draft picks in a draft that we really rate so we can add more top-end talent to the club.”
Rosa said Essendon now holds two first-round and two second-round picks this year.
A Bombers great
Merrett leaves after 13 seasons and 274 games. Taken with pick No.26 in the 2013 national draft, he won an equal club-record seventh Crichton Medal as best and fairest last week, and is a three-time All-Australian who captained the club from 2023 to 2025, the club said.
“Zach Merrett is a champion of our football club,” Essendon CEO Tim Roberts said.
“When people look back on this era of Essendon, Zach’s name will be one of the first they mention.”
What it means for Hawthorn
Merrett joins a Hawthorn side that won 15 home-and-away games, finished third and was beaten by eventual premier Brisbane in a preliminary final. 7NEWS also reported the Hawks have a commitment from Gold Coast key forward Ben King.
The deal is one of the first completed in a trade period that opened with Jesse Hogan joining Collingwood. Clubs have until Wednesday 14 October to finalise trades.
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