“I think it’s great. It’s just a part of the game now and it needs to be embraced.”
Barrass said Merrett was a quality player he would love to see in Hawthorn’s midfield next season.
“It’s certainly a big move, and it takes a lot of thought, for sure,” Barrass said.
“I’d imagine Zach spent 12 years waking up at 6am every day contributing to the [Essendon] footy club and he’s well within his rights to try and explore his options as a professional.
Hawthorn’s Tom Barrass.Credit: AFL Photos
“Like Sam [Mitchell] has been saying, hopefully that’s at the Hawks. But who knows where it’s going to be?
“I can’t read the trade period; it all seems very uncertain. I wish him all the best and I think it’s very much up to him.”
‘I can put that to bed’: Nick Daicos rejects suggestions he could be trade bait
Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos has dismissed any hint of a suggestion he could be tempted into a trade move, amid reports rival AFL clubs have asked questions about luring him away.
Daicos, who finished runner-up in the Brownlow Medal for the second straight year, is contracted to the Magpies until the end of 2029.
But that hasn’t stopped rivals making contact with Daicos and his management, while launching audacious bids for the 22-year-old midfield gun.
“I guess it’s just that time of year, isn’t it?” Daicos said on Saturday at Caulfield racecourse. “I’ll leave all that business with my manager, Robbie D’Orazio – he does a great job.
“He always says to me, ‘If it’s anything serious and I need to let you know, I’ll let you know.’
Loading
“He hasn’t let me know as of yet. There’s always movement going on, but I just wait to hear from a call from Robbie.”
Pressed on whether Collingwood fans had anything to worry about before Wednesday’s trade deadline, Daicos was adamant.
“I can put that to bed. I don’t think so,” he said. “As I said, Robbie handles all that stuff and I haven’t heard anything, so it’s just business as usual and I’m contracted.
“I keep putting my effort and energy into the Collingwood Football Club.”
The Magpies are considering a move for North Melbourne’s Jy Simpkin, who is searching for more midfield time elsewhere after finishing the 2025 season in a wing role.
“That would be awesome,” Daicos said.
Nick Daicos at the Brownlow count.Credit: AFL Photos
“As ‘Fly’ [coach Craig McRae] has said many times, we want to keep improving and become a better football club.
“So any time that you can welcome in a star player from an opposition, you’d jump at that opportunity, and I think the club’s doing their best to try and get him across.
“He’d definitely help us, so that would be great.”
Daicos also addressed the controversy surrounding McRae’s comments about Collingwood’s best-and-fairest award, after ruckman Darcy Cameron pipped Daicos to the honour this year.
Loading
McRae last week admitted he felt Daicos could have received more votes and said he wanted to “challenge” the process the Magpies have in place.
“Darcy Cameron is one of my good mates, and he had a great year,” Daicos said.
“Often I’m the beneficiary of a lot of the work he does in the ruck.
“There was probably a lot of boys that could have won it, and I’m glad it went Darcy’s way.”
AAP
