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Essendon trades Merrett and Ridley early in break from hardball approach

Bombers complete two marquee deals a week before the trade deadline, marking a shift at the trade table

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources3 outlets
Essendon has traded two of its premier players, Zach Merrett to Hawthorn and Jordan Ridley to Geelong, by lunchtime on Wednesday, a full week before the AFL trade period closes on October 14, in what has been described as a reset of the club's approach at the trade table.

Both deals were consummated on Wednesday, more than a week before the October 14 deadline, arriving without the usual flurry of late-game bluffs and threats between rival clubs.

According to reporting from Jake Niall, the trades represent a departure from how the Bombers have traditionally done business. Historically, Essendon played hardball with competitors at the trade table. While the club enjoyed some occasional wins in October, its methods and choices did not yield victories in the preceding month over 20 years.

"These trades were made by a different version of Essendon," Niall writes, framing the early, low-drama completion of the Merrett and Ridley moves as evidence of a changed approach.

Zach Merrett is headed to Hawthorn, while Jordan Ridley, who has had an injury-interrupted run, moves to Geelong. The early completion of both deals, without the extended negotiation saga that has often characterised the Bombers' trade periods, suggests a deliberate shift in strategy under the club's current football operations.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • Essendon has moved on two of its best players, a significant reshaping of its playing list either side of the trade deadline.
  • The early, low-drama execution signals a possible new negotiating culture at the club after two decades of hardball tactics that did not translate into on-field success.
  • The trades will shape how rival clubs approach Essendon in future trade periods.

Background

Essendon is one of the AFL's oldest and most famous clubs, but its record at the trade table has long been a point of criticism. The Bombers were known for playing tough in negotiations, yet that approach did not produce results in the month before October across 20 years. This year's early completion of two marquee deals suggests a deliberate move away from that style.

Key Perspectives

Essendon's new approach: The club appears to be prioritising getting deals done cleanly and early rather than squeezing rivals, a shift implied by the rest of the reporting. Hawthorn and Geelong: Both acquiring clubs benefit from securing players without a prolonged saga, gaining certainty early in the trade period. Critics and skeptics: The risk is that abandoning hardball tactics means Essendon gives up leverage or value in negotiations, and the early deals may be judged by whether they ultimately help the list improve.

What to Watch

  • Whether Essendon makes further trades before the October 14 deadline and on what terms.
  • How the Merrett and Ridley deals are judged in hindsight, particularly against the club's future results.
  • Whether other clubs adjust their approach to dealing with the Bombers.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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