Boom AFL recruit Zach Merrett is open-minded over what role he will play at Hawthorn under coach Sam Mitchell.<\/p>\n
More than a year after the bombshell revelation that the Hawks were trying to lure Merrett from Essendon, a deal was finally struck for the former Bombers captain when the trade period opened on Monday.<\/p>\n
Essendon will receive the number 15 and 25 picks in this year’s national draft, as well as Hawthorn’s 2028 second-round selection.<\/p>\n
The bitter rivals were unable to reach a deal for Merrett in trade talks a year ago.<\/p>\n
Merrett would obviously boost Hawthorn’s midfield, but he noted on Tuesday in a club interview that he could also play in defence or across half-forward.<\/p>\n
“It is funny that Gia and I are back together,” he said of former Essendon assistant coach Daniel Giansiracusa, who is now at the Hawks.<\/p>\n
“We worked for three years on trying to be the most flexible player in the competition, being able to play a number of different roles.<\/p>\n
“I have no preconceived ideas with Sam. We’re going to be pretty open-minded, to what that could look like.<\/p>\n
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“There are already so many incredible players out there for the Hawks, so wherever I fit in, I will make sure I make that work \u2014 whether that’s back, forward, mid, or wing, or whatever it looks like.”<\/p>\n
Merrett has toured Hawthorn’s Dingley headquarters and met with captain Jai Newcombe.<\/p>\n
“It’s been a bit overwhelming, the last 24 hours,” Merrett said.<\/p>\n
“To see the whole facility and to get so many incredible messages, I feel extremely welcomed, and so is my family.”<\/p>\n
Last Thursday Merrett became the third player to win Essendon’s best and fairest award seven times, alongside Dick Reynolds and Bill Hutchison.<\/p>\n
“It was a really hard decision, it was probably something I weighed up for six to nine months,” Merrett said of the move.<\/p>\n
“It felt like Hawthorn was going to be the best place for me and my family, moving forward, to keep achieving, to achieve out of footy.<\/p>\n
“I also have so much respect and love for Essendon as well, so it is a unique feeling, a little bit.<\/p>\n
“But I’m keen to move forward, get stuck into work.”<\/p>\n
Hawthorn, whose season ended with an epic preliminary final loss to premiers Brisbane, are also expected to recruit key forward Ben King from Gold Coast.<\/p>\n
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