Zach Merrett future: Eyebrow-raising asking price revealed for Essendon star

Last offseason, when Essendon star Zach Merrett made it clear he wanted out and Hawthorn was the desired destination, many wanted to know the asking price.

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Well, it was three first-round picks from the Hawks, but the Bombers wanted more. Talks continued until the final minutes, but a trade couldn’t be done.

Now, 12 months later, Merrett is reportedly set to want out again, with the Hawks again in line to secure his services.

But the asking price will be lower, right?

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Well, according to reporter Jon Ralph, who was on Fox Footy Tuesday night, it is significantly lower.

“Essendon is going to have to take roughly half the offer it would have secured for Zach Merrett (last year), 12 months on,” Ralph said via Fox Sports.

“He turns 31 two days before the trade period; it was an offer of three first-round picks — Essendon wanted four, and we know what happened. He’s set on an escape again, and he’s only got a single suitor in Hawthorn.

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“The initial consensus is the Dons would get a first-rounder, and then potentially a second-rounder.”

Bombers paying the price for Merrett stance

Did the Bombers get greedy in asking for more than three first-round picks? You could make that case.

Now, the club is set to get half of that, according to Ralph. Instead of three firsts, Essendon will likely get one, and maybe another selection.

Essendon’s stance was puzzling because, yes, they stopped him for one season, but surely the club knew he’d try again in another year, and his trade value would go down, right?

It just seems odd to me, and now the Bombers are set to seemingly pay the price for their hardline stance, at a time when they need an injection of young talent, of which that Merrett haul could have provided.

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