We are technically months removed from the failed Zach Merrett trade to Hawthorn, but the reverberations are still being felt just weeks out from the new AFL season.
Just as clubs are ramping up their pre-season training, the former Essendon captain has switched management groups, dumping Tom Petroro and TGI Sport in favour of Nick Gieschen and CDG Sports, according to Chris Cavanagh of Code Sports.
Merrett and Petroro infamously pushed hard at the trade deadline to get a deal over the line between the rival clubs, with Petroro at the time saying "Zach really wants to be a Hawthorn footballer... His instruction to me is to try and get him to Hawthorn this afternoon."
But a trade never materialised, and Merrett would relinquish his captaincy in the ensuing weeks, before soon being replaced by Andrew McGrath.
MORE: Why letting Lachie Neale go could be a "win" for Brisbane, according to Kane Cornes
Merrett has remained quiet since, but according to new club president Andrew Welsh, is said to be "training the house down."
Merrett and Essendon's first opponent of 2026 will ironically be Hawthorn in round one.