Time is ticking on Zach Merrett's desire to get to Hawthorn, and his manager has swung for the fences as the countdown to trade deadline heats up.
On Tuesday night, Hawthorn presented Essendon with a significant offer in an effort to tempt the Bombers, but as of now the Dons have held firm that he will remain at Tullamarine.
In response, Merrett's manager, Tom Petroro, provided an honest update on where things stand in negotiations.
"They're ongoing. We've got four and a half hours to go, we're trying our best," Petroro told Trade Radio on Wednesday afternoon.
MORE: Hawthorn give Zach Merrett trade ultimatum to Essendon
"Zach really wants to be a Hawthorn footballer. He's all in on this. It's been a difficult five or six week period. His instruction to me is to try and get him to Hawthorn this afternoon.
"He's at home. He's motivated to get to Hawthorn. He's in a position where he feels like he's given his all to the Essendon footy club over the last 12 years. He's never wavered. He's bought it all out. But he needs a fresh start, and he wants to chase success at Hawthorn.
"Hawthorn are looking at different alternates. Things that they can throw up... I've been lucky enough to be in this game for 23 years, I've never seen a deal like this for a 30-year-old.
"I would've thought three top picks is probably better than a 30-year-old to take the club forward."
Meanwhile, the Hawks are set to prepare another offer for Essendon, according to SEN's Sam Edmund.
"Hawthorn is about to take another swing at Merrett. The new offer is poised to be 10, 22 and a F1. Hawks about to get 22 from the Blues in a separate deal that involves them sliding back from 9 to 10. Hawthorn view this as a triple first round package that a rebuilding club like Essendon would like," Edmund reported on X.
Hawthorn is about to take another swing at Merrett.
— Sam Edmund (@Sammy__Edmund) October 15, 2025
The new offer is poised to be 10, 22 and a F1.
Hawks about to get 22 from the Blues in a separate deal that involves them sliding back from 9 to 10.
Hawthorn view this as a triple first round package that a rebuilding club…