Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Merrett or Petracca? Who Hodge would prefer at the Hawks
SEN • September 16th, 2025 7:30 pm
Christian Petracca, or Zach Merrett?
Hawthorn have been linked with both star midfielders, but if given the choice, which of the two would most benefit their side going forward?
Zach Merrett’s situation with the Bombers has been well documented over the past week, with the Essendon captain determined to find his way into the brown and gold ahead of 2026.
As for Petracca, reports have revealed that the star Demon remains open to a move away from the club, following a full-blown saga over the 2024 off-season. While the 29-year-old and the club are both open to a move, this time around Petracca has ensured that any request will not be dealt with in the same manner as previous years.
With two star midfielders on the market, the Hawks are sure to prioritise at least one recruit for next season, but which would better suit their side?
If it were up to Luke Hodge, it would be a simple decision.
“It all depends on what you need,” Hodge told SEN’s Whateley.
“Every club's different. Where's the game at at the moment?
“What we've seen with Melbourne, what we've seen with Carlton, that bigger body midfielder, that clearance king - that has sort of gone out of the game.
“We looked at Melbourne going, you've got (Clayton) Oliver, you've got Petracca, you've got (Jack) Viney, you've got those bigger body, hard-nosed in and under players which you build your club off.
“It's the same at Carlton. Carlton went along the same lines; they had those bigger body midfielders with (Patrick) Cripps.
“The game has changed. In two years, the game has changed so fast that now you need that zip, you need the X-factor, you need touch.
“If I was Hawthorn, I'd be looking at a Merrett because that's what they need. How does Sam Mitchell want to play?
“He wants to be exciting, switch the ball, move the ball, change angles, and most importantly, he's got that chaos ball movement that going inside forward 50. He needs someone to dispose of the ball.
“Petracca, he's still going to be an asset there, but that last kick where he'll just surge and kick it in long, that's what opposition teams want.
“A Merrett has touch. A Merrett will know where to kick it for someone to lead to. He'll know the ins and outs and where a forward would like the ball disposed to him.
“So, because of how the game has changed, I would lean towards a Merrett because it's all about disposal centre forward and not just turning the ball over, because it's turnover footy that hurts you these days.”
