Zach Merrett has broken his silence on the move that defined this AFL trade period, describing his departure from Essendon as a "tough" decision in his first public comments as a Hawthorn player.
The experienced midfielder, who spent his entire career to date with the Bombers, opened up on the emotional weight of walking away from the only AFL club he had known, while signalling his commitment to the next chapter with the Hawks.
Merrett's candid admission offers a rare insight into the personal toll that high-profile trade decisions can take, even when a player is ultimately the one driving the move.
