Hawthorn and Essendon have reached an agreement to trade Bombers star Zach Merrett for Pick 15, 25 and a 2028 second-round selection.
Merrett has been the subject of trade speculation for the past 12 months after his highly publicised failed attempt to leave Essendon for Hawthorn during last year's trade period.
The Hawks offered the Bombers Pick 9, 22, a future first-rounder and Henry Hustwaite for Merrett and a future third rounder in 2025.
However, Essendon refused the deal for its at-the-time captain.
Twelve months later and Merrett again requested a trade to the Hawks with the two clubs getting the deal done early in the trade period which goes from October 5 to 14.
Essendon CEO Tim Roberts spoke highly of Merrett as he announced the star's departure from the club.
"Zach Merrett is a champion of our football club," Roberts said.
"It's always hard to see a player of Zach's standing leave, but it doesn't take away from what he achieved here, or the pride he gave our members and supporters over 13 seasons.
"Zach set the bar for what it takes to be an elite footballer. His preparation, his consistency and his refusal to accept anything less than his best became the standard others were measured against, and the work he did guiding our younger players in recent years will benefit this club for a long time."
The 31-year-old midfielder won his seventh best-and-fairest award last Thursday. Merrett has played 274 games for the Bombers since being taken with Pick 26 in the 2013 National Draft.
Essendon was Merrett's boyhood club, however he is yet to win a final for the Bombers and is keen to finish his career with a flag at the contending Hawks.
Merrett's produced a stellar career at Tullamarine, winning three All-Australians and captaining the club for three seasons.
