‘Learnings’: Hawks to ramp up pursuit of Merrett, King
Callum Godde |
Hawthorn have learned from their previous failed run at Zach Merrett as the AFL flag contender make another play for the Essendon star and Gold Coast spearhead Ben King.
A deal for 31-year-old Merrett could not be reached last year after the Hawks waited until about 30 hours before the trade deadline to make an initial offer.
Essendon knocked back Hawthorn’s final offer of two first-round picks (10 and 22), a future first-rounder, and now-delisted midfielder Henry Hustwaite.
Hawthorn list boss Mark McKenzie said the Hawks had learned from previous trade periods.
“I won’t go into exact (details) about what learnings they are,” he told reporters on Monday as the AFL trade period opened.
“That was back then, and all we’d like to do now is move forward and have those conversations and see where they get to.”
Essendon have reportedly rejected the Hawks’ first offer of picks No.15, No.25 and a future third-rounder for Merrett.
McKenzie suggested discussions with the Bombers this time around had been respectful and healthy.
“I’m not going to go into exacts about what we will and won’t trade,” he said.
“But we’re getting an understanding of what some things (they) need for that, whether it’s the draft picks and also what it looks like for future years.”
Bombers president Andrew Welsh warned the Hawks not to get “too cute with us again” in an interview with the Herald Sun.
Essendon list boss Matt Rosa said the Bombers had held respectful discussions about Merrett with multiple clubs.
“No doubt the circumstances of last year were unique, and we just dealt with that as they come,” he said.
“There’s no doubt discussions around all our players are starting a little bit earlier this year.”
The former Essendon captain secured his seventh Crichton Medal after a two-win season and still has one year remaining on his contract.
“I won’t go into the specifics of where we value him,” Rosa said.
“But football it’s evolving in terms of players playing much later into their 30s and still playing at a really high level.”
Hawthorn’s pursuit of Suns tall forward King as a restricted free agent may hold up progression of a deal for Merrett.
The Hawks plan to lodge paperwork for King on Monday or Tuesday, with the Suns afforded three days to match the contract offer.
Gold Coast list boss Kall Burns said the Suns would take their time to consider whether to match or accept band one compensation, currently valued at pick No.7.
“You’ve got to weigh up what you can possibly get in if it’s a trade,” he said.
“It is only day one of the trade period.”
Hawthorn fell at the preliminary final hurdle for a second straight year, losing to eventual premiers Brisbane by nine points.
AAP