Breaking: Zach Merrett agrees to lucrative Hawthorn deal

Zach Merrett will sign a four-year contract at Hawthorn if he can find the Essendon exit door next month.

Merrett and the Hawks have agreed on a new contract, with the midfielder set to be paid $1 million a season up until 2030 should he join.

While a trade still needs to be struck 12 months after talks dramatically broke down, sources close to the situation are confident there will be no repeat of last year’s fireworks when the trade window opens on October 5.

Merrett and new coach Mark McVeigh have held talks in recent weeks.

“I think it’s really important we understand the players’ feelings,” McVeigh said last month during his first press conference as Essendon coach.

“It’s not just about the club’s feelings, it’s about his feelings and where he’s at. I respect him, I want him to be here, but I’ll listen to him as well.”

Merrett, 30, played 23 games this year after being held to a contract that doesn’t expire until the end of next year. Statistically, the midfielder produced a near mirror image of his 2025 campaign.

What Essendon receives in a Merrett trade 12 months after holding firm will be intriguing.

Hawthorn’s final offer as the clock ticked down last year was picks 10, 22, a future first and Henry Hustwaite for Merrett and a future third rounder back.

The Hawks are this year armed with their first-round pick and multiple second-round selections, as well as future first and second-round picks.

The Bombers this week cut Elijah Tsatas, Matt Guelfi, Jade Gresham, Liam McMahon and Saad El-Hawli.