“He is a contracted captain. Our club’s position is that we will not be trading him under any circumstances.”
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Hawthorn are desperate to add class to their midfield next season. Jai Newcombe has emerged as a potential A-grader but is seen as a more inside bull, while Will Day continues to battle a lingering foot injury.
Mitchell was coy when pressed about Merrett on Wednesday morning ahead of his team’s final training session before heading to Adelaide for the clash with the Crows.
“I’m not sure – you’ll have to talk to the list management guys about that,” Mitchell said.
“I hope that they are working behind the scenes to improve our list. That’s what their job is, and I hope they’re going about that.
“It’s not really a focus for right this minute, but I think improving our list is what every club is doing. Everyone is trying to figure out how we can be better in 2026 than we were in 2025.”
To add a layer of intrigue, Merrett was standing on the MCG in his second season when Mitchell, who was then playing for Hawthorn, made a syringe gesture to Bombers players, referencing the infamous supplements saga that has plagued Essendon.
Mitchell said he later regretted the incident.
Scott’s tone changed when he was directly asked if he was disappointed in Mitchell meeting with his captain. He conceded times have changed dramatically.
“The gloves are off. All is fair in love and war and if they want to play at that game, we will play at it too.”
Merrett is contracted for two more seasons at Essendon.
Zach Merrett has met with Sam Mitchell.Credit: AFL Photos
The superstar midfielder, who turns 30 next month, is set to win his sixth Crichton Medal and is already one of the most decorated players in the history of the club.
Scott left the door ajar for Merrett to return to the club on day one of pre-season and continue to skipper the team.
“No one is perfect,” Scott said.
“I don’t think anyone’s captaincy is perfect, anyone’s coaching is perfect. It’s a learning process. Of course he can [still] be captain. Will it be a challenge, based on this situation? Absolutely it will be.”
Essendon’s board had indicated the club was not prepared to trade him.
This is not the first time Merrett has met with a rival club during a period in which he was reconsidering his future at Essendon.
In previous years, Merrett has sought catch-ups with Carlton captain (and friend) Patrick Cripps, and then-Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley.
This time last season, the Bombers captain fielded interest from St Kilda, who indicated they could make him a life-changing offer.
Merrett told this masthead at the time that the interest was serious enough that he felt compelled to discuss it with his partner, Alexandra, before dismissing the prospect of a trade.
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