Zach Merrett, former Essendon captain, is now viewed as “the enemy” by Hawthorn as both teams prepare for their opening match of the AFL season. Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell had previously sought to acquire Merrett during the trade period but was unsuccessful. With a crowd of 90,000 expected at the MCG, Mitchell acknowledged the challenges posed by Merrett’s role in a powerful midfield, while also emphasizing the need for his team to improve after a disappointing loss to GWS Giants.
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