Merrett Trade Fallout, AFLW Concerns, and โฃDemons‘ โขMihocek Pursuit โDominate AFL Landscape
Hawthorn is โpoised โขto secure Essendon midfielderโ Zachโ Merrett in aโข trade, a deal reportedly soured by leaks originating within the bombers’ โคcamp. The impending move โคcomes after โฃweeks of speculation โand marks a significant โshiftโ for both clubs as they โprepare for the 2025 AFL season. Concurrently, concernsโค are mounting over perceivedโ disrespectโ towards โฃthe AFLW competition, while Melbourne is aggressively pursuing Collingwood forward Brody Mihocekโค to bolster their attackingโ lineup.
The breakdown in negotiations, andโข subsequent โฃleaking of details, has left Essendon officials frustrated and reportedly damaged โคtrust โฃwithin the club. Merrett, a two-time All-Australian, has been a mainstay in Essendon’s midfield for โover a decade, butโค the club has signaled aโ willingness to explore trades โฃto accelerateโ its rebuild. Hawthorn sees Merrett as a keyโข piece in โคits own resurgence, offering him a prominent โrole and possibly a leadership position. The trade is โคexpected to involve โคdraft picks,โข with discussions ongoing to finalize the details. Thisโ situation underscores the increasingโ pressure on AFL โฃclubs to manage player movements discreetly โฃand maintain internal cohesion.
Beyond the trade โdrama, the AFLWโค is โฃfacing โrenewed scrutiny regardingโค itsโ treatment compared to โthe โฃmen’s competition. Players and commentators have voiced concerns โover scheduling, marketing,โฃ and resource โallocation, arguing that the league is not receiving the investment it deserves. These issues โthreaten to undermine the growth andโ sustainability of the AFLW, which is entering a crucial phase in its advancement.
Adding โto the off-field intrigue, Melbourneโ is making a โ”big โplay” for Collingwood’s Brody Mihocek, according to Seven’s Mitch Cleary. โThe 32-year-old, a five-time leading goalkicker for โขthe Magpies, is out of contract โคand yet to โขre-sign with Collingwood. New Demons coachโ Steven King has publicly stated his desire to retain experience on the list, โandโ Mihocek fits that profile. “Theโข Demons haveโ come for Brody Mihocek in a bigโ way,” Cleary reported. “The Pies feel they’ve had a really strong offer to Mihocek on the table for some time.”
Despite the Melbourne interest, Collingwood’s โBeau McCreery expressedโข confidence that both Mihocek and jamie Elliottโข would remainโ with the club.โค “They’re two โof โฃmy โฃclosest matesโฆ I don’t think they’dโ be going anywhere,”โ McCreeryโ stated to foxfooty.com.au. the โoutcome of Mihocek’sโ decision willโข haveโ significant โimplications for bothโฃ clubs’ premiership aspirations โin 2025.
