Hawthorn’s first offer to Essendon for Zach Merrett came about 30 hours before the trade deadline, and wasn’t sufficient for the Bombers to even consider it seriously.

In normal circumstances, the offer of pick No.9, a future first-round pick, a future second-round choice, and a fourth-rounder or a fringe player (Henry Hustwaite), would be reasonable for an A-grade player who is 30 years old.

But these are not normal circumstances at Essendon and, as everyone has discovered, Zach Merrett is far from a normal captain or player.

Hawthorn have to understand that they’ve chucked a small bomb into Tullamarine by trying to purloin a skipper – also Essendon’s best player by a lamentable distance – at a time of tumult for the Bombers.

The mere fact of attempting to prise Merrett out of Essendo

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