It is go time for Hawthorn.

The Hawks have won at least one final in consecutive years and led Geelong by 21 points before losing the clubs’ preliminary final clash last month.

Essendon captain Zach Merrett could be the missing piece in Hawthorn’s premiership puzzle.Credit: Getty Images

Coach Sam Mitchell told everyone at their club champion function that he hated watching the grand final because he felt his players would have been comfortable in the grand final pressure-cooker.

And they are just 0.3 years younger and 16.2 games more inexperienced than the average in both categories for the AFL’s past 23 premiers.

This is all why Hawthorn must secure Essendon captain and triple All-Australian midfielder Zach Merrett by Wednesday night. He might be the missing piece in the Hawks’ premiership puzzle.

Mitchell and co. stirred a hornets’ nest when news leaked that Merrett had met with the Hawks coach .

The competition is becoming more mature about player movement, but a contracted captain meeting with an opposition coach? That is still viewed as treacherous, and triggered the Bombers to put a series of senior players up for various media outlets, who........

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