Higher powers to decide Merrett’s fate; Cats clarify rumour amid chase for stars — Trade Whispers

A Zach Merrett trade would need to be ticked off by the Essendon higher-ups.

Plus Geelong’s trade period plans and West Coast is set to land one of its targets for nothing.

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MERRETT TRADE WILL NEED TO BE TICKED OFF BY BOMBERS BOARD

Any Zach Merrett trade to Hawthorn would first need to be ticked off by the Essendon board.

That’s according to a report in the The Age after there was no significant discussions between the Bombers and Hawks on a Merrett deal during the first week of the trade period.

But while Essendon’s footy department could eventually agree to a trade involving its star skipper, the decision would need to be ticked off at board level.

That board is headed by new president Andrew Welsh, who’s been adamant since stepping into the role that Merrett won’t be traded.

Talks are expected to ramp up next week, though the Bombers are reportedly “holding firm with their line” that the midfielder won’t be traded.

The Hawks have indicated they’d be willing to trade their first-round pick, No. 9, but there has been no indication of potential players that could be included in the deal.

Nine’s Tom Morris reports there’s been “a lot of work going on behind the scenes” and “there’s every chance a third club gets involved to assist the Hawks”.

“This one is going to deep and the Hawks would need to come up with at least two first rounders to satisfy Essendon,” Morris said.

CATS STILL EYEING MARSHALL, CURNOW... BUT UNLIKELY TO DEAL PLAYERS

Geelong is still determined to acquire both Charlie Curnow and Rowan Marshall, despite having their initial offers for both players turned down.

But the Cats say it’s unlikely they’re prepared to send out players in a trade.

Geelong and the Saints were unable to strike a deal for Marshall in the first week of the trade period. The Cats offered their first-round pick, No. 19, but St Kilda preferred a future first-rounder.

It prompted Geelong to instead focus on Curnow later in the week. They offered Carlton three-first round picks over the next three drafts for the superstar forward in a package that also got rejected.

There’s a view that the Curnow deal, in particular, might require the Cats to include a player to get it over the line, with Gryan Miers’ name emerging in trade circles.

But Cats football boss Andrew Mackie suggested Miers nor any other Cats player would be dealt away.

“I don’t think so, we haven’t had a player come to us and ask to be traded. Someone like Gryan, and others, we just love part of our team,” Mackie told AFL Trade Radio.

“Some stuff we did well throughout the year, fell short. But there’s a lot to like and a player like Gryan is bloody important to that.

“I often heard in our conversations clubs wanting our players, I get the speculation out there.”

EAGLES TO LAND ROBERTSON FOR FREE

The West Coast Eagles could get Deven Robertson for nothing, with Brisbane set to delist the West Australian midfielder, according to multiple reports.

That would open the door for the Eagles to sign the 24-year old as a delisted free agent or even list him as a rookie, with a trade before next Wednesday’s deadline considered unlikely.

West Coast had four extra rookie spots as part of the assistant package given to the club after the wooden spooners finished in the bottom three for a fourth-straight season.

Lions list boss Dom Ambrogio all but confirmed Robertson would make his way to West Coast in any case.

“He’s been a great contributor for our footy club, he’s been a tough competitor. He’s just been stuck in a situation where he’s been behind a few other players,” Ambrogio told AFL Trade Radio.

“We’ll hold him through the trade period and see what comes off this, but he’s been pretty clear that he’d like to get over to West Coast and there’s been some ongoing interest there over the years.

“I’m sure when we get to the end of the trade period, he’ll find his way one way or the other there.”

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