New club ‘in the conversation’ to land Merrett; why captain ‘isn’t on the move’ — Trade Whispers

Hawthorn mightn’t be the only club in the mix to lure disgruntled Essendon captain Zach Merrett.

But a rival club skipper isn’t going anywhere.

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RIVAL ‘JOINS THE CONVERSATION’ FOR MERRETT

Hawthorn isn’t the only club in the mix for disgruntled Essendon captain Zach Merrett, according to veteran footy reporter Caroline Wilson, who believes Adelaide is also “in the conversation”.

Merrett’s time at Essendon appears over, with all signs suggesting the two parties are destined for an ugly divorce — despite Merrett being the club’s captain and contracted until the end of 2027.

The four-time best and fairest winner and three-time All-Australian is reportedly determined to join Hawthorn, with Hawks coach Sam Mitchell last week meeting with Merrett.

But speaking on Channel 7 on Tuesday night, Wilson said she doesn’t believe Hawthorn are “the only club in this conversation now”.

“I’m in fact certain that the Adelaide Football Club have joined the conversation,” Wilson said.

“They have a serious list management meeting on Thursday. They are not the club they thought they were three weeks ago when they entered into the finals series, a game clear on the top of the ladder. They need to bolster their midfield.”

Asked if Merrett would be open to joining the Crows, she said: “He wants to go to Hawthorn.

“You wouldn’t be surprised to hear that Zach isn’t taking my calls at the moment. I don’t know what he thinks about Adelaide.

“Adelaide is a good footy club, they need a midfielder, they spoke about him today (Tuesday) at an unofficial chat about where they’re going.

“They said to me that it would be wrong to say that we’re actively pursuing this, but yes we are in the conversation.”

WHY NEALE ‘WANTS TO STAY IN BRISBANE’

The manager of Brisbane superstar Lachie Neale insists his client isn’t going anywhere, despite links to a move back to WA.

Neale — the premiership Lion, dual Brownlow medallist, four-time All-Australian and five-time best and fairest winner — was reportedly approached by West Coast earlier this year around whether he would entertain a move back to WA.

It was an approach Neale reportedly turned down.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle on Tuesday night, Herald Sun reporter Josh Barnes stressed Neale was determined to stay with the Lions.

“This captain isn’t on the move,” Barnes told Midweek Tackle.

“His manager Tim Lawrence of TGI Sport went on the record with me today … there is absolutely nothing to the talk of him going back to WA.

“There is no interest in going back to West Coast, there is no home sickness with him or within his family.

“He wants to stay at Brisbane.”

Neale is eyeing a remarkable return to the field should Brisbane qualify for the Grand Final, despite initial fears he’d be sidelined for the rest of the season after a qualifying final calf injury.

Barnes said Neale had been using a hyberpabric chamber, as well as Red Light Therapy, as part of an ambitious bid to prove his fitness.

“What he wants to do is play in a Grand Final. That’s what he’s working to at the moment,” Barnes said.

“He did a running session today – could you believe only a couple of weeks after his calf tear.

“He’s doing everything he can … the door is slightly, slightly open.”

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