Zach Merrett returns to Essendon after failed trade request, Hawks grudge match locked in
Tensions are set to explode with Zach Merrett’s date with Hawthorn in 2026 is confirmed as the Essendon captain makes his return to the club following his dramatic trade request rejection.
Essendon superstar Zach Merrett is set to face-off against Hawthorn in a blockbuster Friday night clash in round 1 only months after his failed trade request.
Merrett returned to Essendon for the first time since his unsuccessful bid to leave the club on Wednesday as the AFL prepares to lock in a grudge match between the Bombers and Hawks.
Barring a late change before Thursday’s fixture launch, the clash is slated for the prime time Friday night slot at the MCG.
And it is expected to attract a monster crowd with enormous interest in how Merrett performs against the team he wished to join in 2026.
Hawthorn backed out of the trade when Essendon said it would only trade its superstar captain for a gun player or a package of four first-round draft picks.
Merrett was absent from the first day of pre-season training after attending a wedding in Queensland over the weekend, but he arrived at The Hangar on Wednesday afternoon to meet with physios and coaches and underwent his pre-season medical screening.
The 30-year-old does not have to return to formal pre-season training until November 24.
Merrett was spotted earlier on Wednesday at 7am training alongside his close friend and delisted Essendon teammate Jayden Laverde at Windy Hill.
They underwent a two-hour session with high performance coach Adam Larcom, who has run an off-season program for the duo as well as boom Gold Coast recruit Christian Petracca and Richmond defender Josh Gibcus.
In round eight, the Bombers are tipped to face-off against former ruckman Sam Draper when they take on reigning premier Brisbane Lions in Melbourne.
Draper quit the Bombers last year as an unrestricted free agent and will lead the Lions’ ruck division at his new home.
Jordan Ridley also met the Lions about a fresh start after repeated injury setbacks but opted to remain in red black.
Merrett may not remain Bombers’ skipper in 2026 and could stand down from the leadership position as part of a transition period and change in focus for him.
The brilliant midfielder, who won his sixth best-and-fairest last season, is yet to publicly reveal his intentions for the captaincy next season.
But a decision to stand down from the job could help alleviate pressure on his teammates to decide whether to back him again in the wake of the failed trade bid.
Defender Andrew McGrath is seen as the likely favourite to take over from Merrett.
There is no love lost between the traditional rivals after Essendon coach Brad Scott said the “gloves were off” as Merrett unsuccessfully sought to make a move to the Hawks in last year’s trade period.
The Bombers also launched a retaliatory trade strike at the Hawks’ excitement machine Josh Weddle, who is out of contract next season but tipped to remain in Sam Mitchell’s team.
The intrigue in Merrett and the intense rivalry between the two clubs could see the biggest crowd at an Essendon-Hawthorn match in round one since the 2001 preliminary final (86,468) or even the 1985 Grand Final (100,042).
This year’s round one clash between the two teams attracted 80,735 when the Hawks won by 26 points coming off a finals campaign in 2024.
Hawthorn will play its first two games of the season as away matches after an opening round clash on the road against GWS Giants to kick off the 2026 season.
Next year will be the fourth-straight season Essendon and Hawthorn have locked horns in round one as part of the 1983-1985 grand final anniversaries.
It will be an Essendon home game at the MCG in round one next year.
Originally published as Zach Merrett returns to Essendon after failed trade request, Hawks grudge match locked in
Inside crazy brave plan to end decades of Moorabbin misery
