Hunting Hawks vow to keep sights on big-name targets

Roger Vaughan |

The Bombers and Zach Merrett may have to rebuild bridges after his move to Hawthorn fell through.
The Bombers and Zach Merrett may have to rebuild bridges after his move to Hawthorn fell through.

The 2026 AFL trade period could be a bad case of deja vu for Essendon, with Hawthorn potentially making another bid for captain Zach Merrett in 12 months.

Minutes after their audacious bid to recruit Merrett fell through, Hawthorn list boss Mark McKenzie said on Wednesday night that they would keep targeting big-name players at rival clubs.

Merrett was the biggest star among players not to find new homes at 7.30pm on Wednesday when the trade period ended.

“We put our best foot forward with the deal we thought was very strong and reasonable. It just didn’t get done,” McKenzie said.

“What we have done is put ourselves in a great position for this year’s draft, but then to go again next year.

“We want to be aggressive, we haven’t made a secret out of going after those high-end talented players — and that will happen again.”

Hawthorn are now in a premiership window, having made the preliminary final this season, and Merrett wanted to join them after being starved of success at Essendon.

The Bombers were blindsided last month when news emerged that Merrett had met with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell.

West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen also met with Mitchell earlier this year, before ultimately deciding to join Brisbane through free agency.

While Essendon and Merrett now must rebuild some bridges – it also appears unlikely he stays as captain – Callum Ah Chee’s manager is furious that no trade was struck for the two-time Brisbane premiership player to join Adelaide.

Callum Ah Chee
The Lions’ Callum Ah Chee could join the Crows in the pre-season draft. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Ben Williams said there was “zero chance” that Ah Chee would stay at the Lions, adding the plan now is for the player to join the Crows through the pre-season draft.

St Kilda ruck-forward Rowan Marshall (Geelong), North Melbourne captain Jy Simpkin (Collingwood) and Western Bulldogs defender Buki Khamis (Carlton) were other players whose trade hopes were dashed.

Charlie Curnow
Charlie Curnow was the biggest name to move, joining Sydney from Carlton. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Blues key forward Charlie Curnow was the biggest name to switch clubs, joining Sydney for three round-one draft picks and Swans player Will Hayward.

Melbourne stars Christian Petracca (Gold Coast) and Clayton Oliver (GWS) are gone, while Western Bulldogs’ 2020 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will go to the Suns.

While Merrett and Simpkin are staying put, fellow captain Jack Steele left St Kilda for Melbourne.

AAP