Sam Mitchell responds after James Hird drops bombshell revelation about Hawthorn coach on live TV

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has confirmed claims from James Hird that his management sought a stunning trade from the Hawks to Essendon that would have seen him miss the club's famous three-peat. An Essendon player like Zach Merrett requesting a trade to Hawthorn would have been unthinkable in days gone by, such is the two AFL clubs' hatred of each other.

But Hird dropped a bombshell on Tuesday night when he revealed Hawks coach Mitchell wanted to go the other way during his playing days. Plenty has been made of Merrett wanting out of Essendon for a move to Hawthorn, with plenty of crusted-on Bombers fans furious that the skipper has chosen traditional enemies the Hawks.

But Hird has revealed that current Hawthorn coach Mitchell actually requested a trade to the Bombers when he was playing. Speaking on 'Footy Classified' on Channel 9 on Tuesday night, the Essendon legend revealed he received a call from Mitchell's manager when Hird was coaching the Bombers that Mitchell wanted out.

"It's interesting with the whole Sam Mitchell side of things," Hird said. "Because we got a call from Mitchell's agent Peter Lenton back in 2011 or 2012 saying 'Sam Mitchell wants to come to Essendon'.

"We were quite shocked. We rang Graham Wright at the Hawthorn Football Club to say 'we want to do a trade for Sam Mitchell' and he said 'no way'. And I think Sam was re-signed by the Hawks within two weeks. So everyone thinks Essendon players can't go to Hawthorn, but we almost got a Hawthorn player to come to Essendon."

Sam Mitchell confirms James Hird's story

The revelation came as a huge surprise considering Mitchell won three of his four premierships from 2013 to 2015 after staying put at the Hawks. It's a possibility that Mitchell and his management were simply using the Bombers as leverage to get a better deal from the Hawks, and as Hird stated he was re-signed just weeks later.

Responding to Hird's comments on Wednesday, Mitchell said: "I'm pretty pleased I stayed at Hawthorn - we had a fair bit of success (after) that. It all worked out fine.

"It's this time of year, isn't it? I've read there are probably 10 to 12 players whose names are getting pushed around. There's lots of talk ... that's how it works, that's what happens, and we happen to be at the middle of a couple of those stories. But we're also on the (periphery) of plenty of others."

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Discussing the Merrett situation, Hird said he still has hope the captain will stay put. "This is a guy who's played there 12 years, he's going to win his sixth best and fairest, he's done so much for that club," Hird said.

"As an Essendon person, all I want is the best for Essendon. I would love for Zach and the club to make up and go back together. What is disappointing is some of the negative stuff that has come out. I've coached the guy and he's a wonderful person of high integrity who's worked his backside off. He's the hardest worker I've coached at any level."

Crows have held discussions about Zach Merrett

Meanwhile, Caroline Wilson has revealed the Adelaide Crows have held discussions about potentially trying to lure Merrett. “I’m in fact certain that Adelaide have joined the conversation,” Wilson said on Channel 7 program 'The Agenda Setters'.

“They have a serious list management meeting on Thursday. They are not the club they thought they were three weeks ago when they entered into the finals series a game clear on the top of the ladder. They need to bolster their midfield.”

Wilson admitted: “He wants to go to Hawthorn. Which to anyone who grew up in the ‘80s and knows about the unadulterated hatred and rivalry between those two clubs knows how poisonous this has become for some people at Essendon.

“I don’t know what he thinks about Adelaide. But if I was Zach I’d be looking at Adelaide. Adelaide’s a good footy club, they need a midfielder. They spoke about him today as an unofficial chat about where they’re going. They said to me that it would be wrong to say we’re actively pursuing this but yes, we are in the conversation.”

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