Trade war reignited after Bombers block Hawks’ Merrett offer
The Hawks′ opening trade offer to the Bombers for their former skipper Zach Merrett has been knocked back, as the two clubs resume their arm-wrestle that started 12 months ago.
The two clubs last year could not agree to terms for Merrett to be traded, despite the Hawks’ last-ditch offer of draft picks 10 and 22, a future first-round pick, and midfielder Henry Hustwaite.
The Bombers have rejected the Hawks’ first trade offer for Zach Merrett. Getty Images
Merrett is contracted with the Bombers until the end of 2027.
According to The Age, the Bombers on Thursday night indicated they would refuse the Hawks’ latest offer of picks 15 and 25 plus a future second or third-round pick.
It came as Merrett won Essendon's best-and-fairest award for a record-equalling seventh time, cementing himself as a club legend.
His seventh Crichton Medal moved him level with Bombers legends Bill Hutchison and Dick Reynolds. They are the only three in the club's 154-year history to win the gong seven times.
Merrett said winning the award made him feel "overwhelmed" and "a little bit uncomfortable".
"It's pretty hard to put into words, what it means to me," he said.
He also won a fourth-consecutive McCracken Medal, a peer-voted award to recognise the player who best-represents the club's on-field values.
The battle for Merrett between the Hawks and Bombers dominated last year's trade period. After a deal fell through, Merrett relinquished the captaincy, but was still among one of the Bombers' best in a disastrous season in which they won just two matches and collected their first wooden spoon in a decade.
The Age reported the two clubs are more confident of reaching an agreement than they were last year, but the Hawks want to get it done sooner rather than later as they also chase free agent Ben King from the Suns.
On Friday, Calsher Dear rejected interest from several other clubs and a monster offer from the Demons to sign a two-year extension with the Hawks.
Dear was out of contract, and will now remain in the brown and gold until the end of 2028 at least. The 21-year-old is the son of late Hawks premiership player and 1991 Norm Smith medallist Paul Dear.
Calsher Dear - pictured playing for Box Hill in the VFL Grand Final last month - will remain at Hawthorn for two more years. via Getty Images
"We're really pleased that Calsher has recommitted to Hawthorn; he remains an important part of what we are trying to achieve as a club," Hawks national recruiting and list manager Mark McKenzie said.
"Following his debut season, Calsher showed us all the special talent that he is, but as a key tall at 21, we've needed to be patient with his progression.
"Having battled several injuries over his first three seasons in the system, we are very excited about what the future holds for Calsher with a strong pre-season under his belt and greater continuity into 2027 and beyond."
He had attracted interest from Collingwood, Geelong, Carlton, St Kilda and Melbourne. The Demons had reportedly tabled a four-year deal.
The trade period officially opens on Monday.
