Essendon captain Zach Merrett is understood to have met with Hawthorn as he assesses his future with the Bombers.
Speculation surrounding the future of the Dons skipper has increased in the past week, with the five-time best and fairest winner believed to be a chance of seeking a move elsewhere.
Hawthorn have emerged as one club keen on the 29-year-old, who has reportedly met with key figures of the Waverley club, including coach Sam Mitchell.
As reported by 9 News' Tom Morris, Merrett met with the Hawks on Tuesday, with Hawthorn football boss Rob McCartney and Merrett's manager Tom Petroro also present.
Essendon have firmed their stance on Merrett as the star midfielder reportedly weighs up his future in the red sash, with the club's board of directors holding a meeting on Monday night to discuss the status of the Bombers skipper.
Morris has also reported that the directors ultimately decided "unanimously" that Zach Merrett would not be traded, with Merrett contracted at the Hangar until 2027.
"We still don't know what [Merrett] is thinking as he weighs up interest from several clubs," Morris said.
"What I can tell you is that Essendon's board sought to get ahead of the issue last night. At a scheduled board meeting, the Dons' directors unanimously agreed that Merrett would not be traded under any circumstances.
"This firm directive was then relayed to his manager a few hours later. It remains to be seen if they will hold this hard-line stance until deadline day, but that's certainly what it is right now."
Essendon had a scheduled board meeting last night and the directors unanimously decided that Zach Merrett would not be traded.
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— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) September 9, 2025
The decision from Essendon's board comes after reports emerged that Merrett felt "disillusioned" with the club following the 2025 season, with rival clubs beginning to circle after hearing about his unrest.
According to SEN's Sam Edmund, Petroro has relayed the following reasons as to why his client is open to exploring a potential move away from the Bombers:
- He's craving success given he's closer to the end than the beginning
- He can see the young talent on Essendon's list and thinks the last two drafts have been excellent
- He is wondering, however, whether this talent can mature fast enough for him to have that success
Merrett, who has played 251 games for Essendon since being drafted to the club in 2013, carried the Bombers through a disastrous, injury-riddled 2025 campaign, averaging 27.8 disposals, 5.3 inside 50s, and 3.9 clearances per game.
