AFL trade news, rumours: Hawthorn's offer for Zach Merrett

Kieran Francis

Cameron Ottenhoff

AFL trade news, rumours: Hawthorn's offer for Zach Merrett image

The 2025 AFL season hasn't even ended yet and we are already into the silly season.

Which players will your club trade?

Who will they get rid of?

The Sporting News tracks all the latest trade and free agency saga.

JUMP TO: Zac Bailey | Charlie CurnowZach Merrett

Zach Merrett trade news, rumours

Interested: Hawthorn

Hawthorn's draft hand for Merrett offer

September 11

Hawthorn will formulate their offer for Essendon captain Zach Merrett around their no.8 selection in the upcoming draft.

The Hawks have picks 8 and 26 (tied to Carlton) and their future first rounders in 2026 and 2027, that could be offered to the Bombers for Merrett, according to AFL.com.au.

At this stage, Essendon are adamant they won't be trading their skipper.

Charlie Curnow trade news, rumours

Interested: Gold Coast, Sydney, Geelong

Curnow will play for Carlton in 2026 - Wright

September 11

Carlton chief executive Graham Wright says Charlie Curnow will be playing at the club next season.

"We've been very clear from the start that Charlie's a required player, a contracted player for the next four years, and we want to see him finish his career here," Wright said in an interview for Carlton's website.

"It's been a big 12 months for Charlie.

"He's had two or three operations across that period of time.

"He's away on leave at the moment, and we're expecting him back in the next couple of weeks, prior to the to the best-and-fairest, and he'll be a Carlton player going forward."

Zac Bailey trade news, rumours

Interested: Adelaide, Essendon

Crows keen on Bailey

September 10

Adelaide are positioning themselves as a major player in the pursuit of Brisbane star Zac Bailey, with The Age reporting the Crows are set to be “one of the most aggressive” suitors for the 25-year-old.

Bailey, fresh from earning his first All-Australian blazer, looms as one of the hottest names heading towards free agency in 2026.

He is understood to be on the radar of several clubs, with Essendon already linked to a potential six-year, $8 million deal, a contract that would make him the highest-paid Bomber in history.

Read more.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.

Cameron Ottenhoff

Cameron Ottenhoff is a contributing Wires Writer at The Sporting News based in Australia.