AFL Player # 7: Indefatigable Zach Merrett (c) - 5 time Crichton Medallist! 🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅

[Beerfish]

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent 2027
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 10, I Remember Bluey

 

[BrunoV]

So you mean the 2019 version that could kick goals yeah?

It's a fair question. I haven't watched him play a lot but he's conversion have been putrid. Not sure that's the mark of an AA season.

 

[JayJ20]

So you mean the 2019 version that could kick goals yeah?

Yeah that one. The whole Brisbane side has completely lost the ability to kick straight for whatever reason this year.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Thought he was very good tonight. Some of those i50 passes were scrumptious.

 

[eth-dog]

Was our best midfielder by some margin

 

[foj1]

I think Zac is a good player- no more than that
however he is symptomatic with Essendon problems.
he lacks size- height and weight
he lacks speed
he lacks defensive intensity and run
he doesn’t hit the scoreboard enough
and he is not a consistent effective kick who is too left sided
he has not been able to influence his side to win often enough
if I could get an Oliver or brayshaw type for Zac I would pull the trigger
zac is a victim of being one of many 180 cm midfield brigade

 

[Red Black and Blue]

The best he’s looked off the wing. Worked quite well tearing in off the paint and sweeping the stoppage. Thought we had some the cleanest clearances we’ve had in some time.

 

[Zach Package]

Yeah v good.

At his best off cutting off the line as the winger or as a first receiver, not at the coalface

 

[Red Black and Blue]

I think Zac is a good player- no more than that
however he is symptomatic with Essendon problems.
he lacks size- height and weight
he lacks speed
he lacks defensive intensity and run
he doesn’t hit the scoreboard enough
and he is not a consistent effective kick who is too left sided
he has not been able to influence his side to win often enough
if I could get an Oliver or brayshaw type for Zac I would pull the trigger
zac is a victim of being one of many 180 cm midfield brigade

Probably not the game for it. Most pressure acts on the ground, most score involvements.

 

[blitzer]

I think Zac is a good player- no more than that
however he is symptomatic with Essendon problems.
he lacks size- height and weight
he lacks speed
he lacks defensive intensity and run
he doesn’t hit the scoreboard enough
and he is not a consistent effective kick who is too left sided
he has not been able to influence his side to win often enough
if I could get an Oliver or brayshaw type for Zac I would pull the trigger
zac is a victim of being one of many 180 cm midfield brigade

Well he is in the top 10 in the CA votes even before today's game and he'll almost certainly add a few votes today as well. So the coaches seem to think he goes alright.

He doesn't lack pace, he's at least average for a midfielder. Also if you think he doesn't have a good impact on the game, look at all his high possession games and the match results. You can pretty much guarantee we either win or put up a close fight in the matches where he racks them up. The few matches where he doesn't touch the ball much we often get smashed. As for him not being a consistent effective kick - well his kicking is not as elite as it was several years ago but he's still easily a pretty good kick and most of the so called elite mids of the competition are worse kicks. For example Merrett is a miles better kick than Oliver, Cripps, Fyfe and Dangerfield.

The legitimate criticisms are that his defensive efforts are inconsistent and he doesn't hit the scoreboard enough. Those are the areas he needs to continue to work on. Obviously he ain't getting taller.

Also he's not a victim of too many 180cm players, he's just the best one of the lot. We need to surround him with some guys that complement him not trade him out and keep the guys that aren't as good as him. Plus Merrett's pretty versatile and can play a number of roles.

 

[TheWeapon]

His outside work tonight was back to near his best. Needs to add some bulk to get to the next level - very low contested / uncontested ratio and his tackles were broken a bit too easily

 

[boncer34]

Not as a premiership contender. Neither do enough to negate an opposition tactically.

It's Geelong, West Coast and Richmond at this point in time. Collingwood has fallen into a trap but its also the Andy Murray of the 4.

Not sure about that.

 

[DERO]

Yeah v good.

At his best off cutting off the line as the winger or as a first receiver, not at the coalface

I reckon you just described his role precisely.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

He's not our problem.

Our problem is the bottom 6 players on our list and the fact we have to carry a TBC and Hurley and Hooker will never operate at the same level.

 

[Yoda_]

More accredited tackles tonight (6) than his last 4 weeks combined (5).

Probably his best game of the season

 

[jmoo wan]

Starting to fire again - keep playing like this and history might rate him more highly than his brother Jackson

 

[DERO]

 

[Bjchan13]

More accredited tackles tonight (6) than his last 4 weeks combined (5).

Probably his best game of the season

Love his game when he hunts. Looks so much better. 9 score involvements as well. And 3 times he hit up Joe directly. I reckon its hurt his soul not having his best bud out there consistently since 2017.

 

[citizen-erased]

View attachment 948618

Did clarko copy wooshas notes

 

[ghostdog]

In fairness I cant think of a current forward (other than Langers) that leads to direct the ball carrier and present an opportunity. McKernan seems to run around in circles until they pop it on his head. Stewart needs a bit of time but for a big bloke seems to prefer going for ground balls, and Tippa can look dangerous at times but lately tends to be more reactive to the last play rather than going for it initially. Add Stringer, Raz, Joey and all of a sudden you watch guys like Merrett, McGrath, Hepp & Shiel's kicking be much more effective going inside 50. They'll have team mates presenting, rather than waiting.

I'd be inclined to put a line through Raz and think conservatively. Even Joey, to an extent.

I get what you're saying though. I think we need to find growth from the likes of Gown, Jones and Crauford so they can step in. I'd also be looking to Mosquito now, ahead of Raz. Raz is done.

 

[andleanback]

Sitting 7th in the coaches votes and is to games behind some players. Would have to be in all Australian calculations.

 

[ant555]

I think Zac is a good player- no more than that
however he is symptomatic with Essendon problems.
he lacks size- height and weight
he lacks speed
he lacks defensive intensity and run
he doesn’t hit the scoreboard enough
and he is not a consistent effective kick who is too left sided
he has not been able to influence his side to win often enough
if I could get an Oliver or brayshaw type for Zac I would pull the trigger
zac is a victim of being one of many 180 cm midfield brigade

Sums it up really.
The defensive issues are not as bad when he plays on the wing as he does not leave a big hole in the midfield zone.

 

[ant555]

You do not have to be great to be leading the coaches votes. If your side is full of B grade players then as a B grade player you can be one of the better ones.

 

[CBombers17]

He's a fourth or fifth best mid on a strong list. Being number one or two on ours we assume he will be more damaging when he eventually gets less attention (we have ben doing this for years see Zaka before him). This is what that looks like and it's not damaging enough.

If he wins our B&F again plus makes AA then great - we should seek maximum value from a contender and start building something dangerous in the middle for the first time in 20 years.

 

[DERO]

You do not have to be great to be leading the coaches votes. If your side is full of B grade players then as a B grade player you can be one of the better ones.

Lachie Neale is leading the coaches votes. He is a pretty handy player.

Carn mate. You are allowed to admit that Merrett is at least a little bit good.

 

[DERO]

He's a fourth or fifth best mid on a strong list. Being number one or two on ours we assume he will be more damaging when he eventually gets less attention (we have ben doing this for years see Zaka before him). This is what that looks like and it's not damaging enough.

If he wins our B&F again plus makes AA then great - we should seek maximum value from a contender and start building something dangerous in the middle for the first time in 20 years.

This is one of the dumbest posts I have read on here for a while.