“I wouldn’t do it”: Cornes warns Hawks over Merrett deal

Kane Cornes wasn’t blown away by the deal for Zach Merrett to join Hawthorn.

SEN's Sam Edmund reported on Wednesday afternoon that the Essendon star has agreed a four-year contract at around $1 million per year with the Hawks, provided a trade can be agreed by the two clubs.

Discussing that news, Cornes has warned the Hawks that Merrett may no longer be the player they expect.

“It’s not outrageous, is it?” Cornes said on SEN’s Locked In.

“It doesn’t knock me over like the Zak Butters (deal) or the Zac Bailey or the Mac Andrew deals of the world.

“There are a million contracts we can talk about – Harry Himmelberg, when they sign him and then they want him gone, that was good for the Giants.

“I wouldn’t do it, and I certainly wouldn’t give up significant (assets for Zach Merrett). I just don’t think Hawthorn need him.

“I’d like to see how the next two weeks play out, and Josh Ward and Cam Mackenzie’s role in that.

“Connor Macdonald, Jack Ginnivan… they’ve got some good, young midfielders.

“I just hope that the Merrett minutes doesn’t take away or come at the expense of these low 20s mids that are coming through and progressing really nicely.”

Edmund, who broke the news, countered: “He’s better than all those guys at the moment, isn’t he?”

Cornes answered: “It depends on what you want.

“If he’s going to take Karl Amon’s spot, play a bit of half-back, a bit of wing… he’s not an inside mid for me.

“Zach Merrett doesn’t want contact anymore, he is not a clearance player, and he is not going to knock out Will Day, Jai Newcombe, Cam Mackenzie or Josh Ward as a genuine, combative midfielder. It’s not the role that he plays.

“If you’re thinking that he is going to come in to be a needle-mover in the midfield and win you a big clearance at a critical stage in a prelim final… he’s not that player anymore. He gets walked through in tackles.

“We can argue in the way that he’s playing – if he’s coming to play an outside role, ball use across half-back, not really defend anyone and get involved in the offensive stuff then no worries.

“Just be careful what you think you’re getting with Zach, in my view.”

Merrett agrees to lucrative Hawthorn deal

By Sam Edmund

Zach Merrett will sign a four-year contract at Hawthorn if he can find the Essendon exit door next month.

Merrett and the Hawks have agreed on a new contract, with the midfielder set to be paid $1 million a season up until 2030 should he join.

While a trade still needs to be struck 12 months after talks dramatically broke down, sources close to the situation are confident there will be no repeat of last year’s fireworks when the trade window opens on October 5.

Merrett and new coach Mark McVeigh have held talks in recent weeks.

“I think it’s really important we understand the players’ feelings,” McVeigh said last month during his first press conference as Essendon coach.

“It’s not just about the club’s feelings, it’s about his feelings and where he’s at. I respect him, I want him to be here, but I’ll listen to him as well.”

Merrett, 30, played 23 games this year after being held to a contract that doesn’t expire until the end of next year. Statistically, the midfielder produced a near mirror image of his 2025 campaign.

What Essendon receives in a Merrett trade 12 months after holding firm will be intriguing.

Hawthorn’s final offer as the clock ticked down last year was picks 10, 22, a future first and Henry Hustwaite for Merrett and a future third rounder back.

The Hawks are this year armed with their first-round pick and multiple second-round selections, as well as future first and second-round picks.

The Bombers this week cut Elijah Tsatas, Matt Guelfi, Jade Gresham, Liam McMahon and Saad El-Hawli.