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

 

[citizen-erased]

Article from the end of July that I somehow missed and don't remember seeing anywhere here before either..

A leader of Merrett: How Zach's role has changed at Essendon

Zach Merrett is the same person he was last year, but he is not the same player. Essendon are not the same club.

www.theage.com.au

Just the quotey bits, without the editorialising:

Regarding dealing with the tag:


About his change of position (playing more of a balance between inside and outside, rather than purely as an inside mid):


About not being in the leadership group this year:


About the new coaching situation:

i like that he got over the LT thing after 48hrs.
I knew our season was cooked when it happened. I'm still puzzled.

 

[CBombers17]

I'm not saying he is the perfect player, but you're underselling his impact. He doesn't score himself, but his scoreboard impact is in score involvements.

Kicking goals and running defensively are two areas he needs to improve in for sure, but what he does have gives him a point of difference in our midfield group.

Trading Merrett leaves us with Parish, McGrath, an injury prone Heppell and Shiel, who are all average to poor kicks. If we were to trade one person, then why would we trade our best kick when skills are clearly a big issue for us?

I don't disagree with your assessment regarding his weaknesses, but he is an important part of our side.

Depends what you want from him i guess. I agree we need to have much better disposal in the midfield, but when you have a highly touted inside mid (with currency) shoved onto a wing because he can't or won't do the team defensive work then what's it saying? Especially when all-in team defense that is the platform for our next tilt.

Add to that his demotion from VC to out if the leadership group entirely and It certainly doesn't scream untouchable to me. Personally I'd be building a new midfield around Shiel and McGrath (with Heppell for a year or 2). Bring in some talented kids with skill and size and replace him with a reasonably skilled winger who will run both ways. Build a new team culture and get currency for it from those that won't do the team things.

 

[gillon]

Unpopular opinion but Shiel is just as good a kick as Merrett. Merrett's kicking action is smooth but he misses the target way too often. His first couple years were a different story.

 

[citizen-erased]

Depends what you want from him i guess. I agree we need to have much better disposal in the midfield, but when you have a highly touted inside mid (with currency) shoved onto a wing because he can't or won't do the team defensive work then what's it saying? Especially when all-in team defense that is the platform for our next tilt.

Add to that his demotion from VC to out if the leadership group entirely and It certainly doesn't scream untouchable to me. Personally I'd be building a new midfield around Shiel and McGrath (with Heppell for a year or 2). Bring in some talented kids with skill and size and replace him with a reasonably skilled winger who will run both ways. Build a new team culture and get currency for it from those that won't do the team things.

Merrett's demotion screams the mediocre standards that have long seeped into this club over the years.

 

[I Remember Bluey]

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.

Well he is certainly better, than that Merritt guy he keeps bagging.

 

[doug85]

Now into outright 6th in the coaches association voting. Putting together a good season but seems to have gone under the radar a little. Maybe he gets taken for granted.

 

[ant555]

Well he is certainly better, than that Merritt guy he keeps bagging.

How does **** off sound.

 

[I Remember Bluey]

How does fu** off sound.

You still can't spell!!

 

[ant555]

You still can't spell!!

Yeah well some of us suffer from a condition that can make it difficult . But hey you spelling Nazi heroes would not consider that ...........................

 

[DERO]

Yeah well some of us suffer from a condition that can make it difficult . But hey you spelling Nazi heroes would not consider that ...........................

He was messing around mate, don't take offence. I have to keep checking to make sure I have spelled Heppell's name correctly and I still need to google Henneman to make sure I have spelled it correctly!

 

[ant555]

He was messing around mate, don't take offence. I have to keep checking to make sure I have spelled Heppell's name correctly and I still need to google Henneman to make sure I have spelled it correctly!

Well I do not find it amusing given I do actually suffer from mild dyslexia that does effect my spelling and I do not always pick these things up and in some cases can not stop spelling things the same way even though they are wrong. There are words I always get wrong despite knowing I am going to do it.
It is not over amusing for those who have an issue.

 

[Halftimehero]

Geez some absolute dribble spoken in here.

Zach has been our best player over the last 5 years by an absolute mile, 2 B&Fs and a massive chance to make it 3, All Australian, Polling well in all the different awards, Yet I just read his best has been no better than Zaharakis, give me a ******* spell.

 

[Milanista28]

He'll poll well in this years Brownlow, will get a few 3s, If he gets a couple in the last 3 games here then who knows...

 

[The Prosecutor]

He'll poll well in this years Brownlow, will get a few 3s, If he gets a couple in the last 3 games here then who knows...

He was suspended.

 

[Milanista28]

He was suspended.

Oh yeah!! Still interested to see how he polls.

 

[CBombers17]

Geez some absolute dribble spoken in here.

Zach has been our best player over the last 5 years by an absolute mile, 2 B&Fs and a massive chance to make it 3, All Australian, Polling well in all the different awards, Yet I just read his best has been no better than Zaharakis, give me a ******* spell.

Forgetting the rubbish 2016 season and B&F with our side suspended, compare Zakas 2011 B&F season with Merretts 2019 and argue it's a stupid call. That's what was said - that Merretts best is no better than Zaka at the same age (Zaka was 21) Explain why it's such a bad comparison and dribble?

Zaka won the votes from a stronger midfield group, was as just as good with the football and kicked 31 goals that season to Merretts 8 last year. Argue all you like but an extra goal every game for the whole season is significant extra damage for starters. We had seasons where we struggle to get forwards to kick 30 It also adds weight to him being just as just as good at the same age - which was the actual point if you have a look at what you are referring to.

They are both one way running mids who have clear defensive deficiencies- Both vary from reasonable to good by foot- one was quick and very damaging on the scoreboard The other is one paced and lucky to make the distance from 40.

In your opinion Merrett may be a far better player - I'd actually argue our current midfield would be more damaging with 2011 Zaka (i'd take a mid that could slot 31 goals in a season right now). Merrett should end up with the far better body of work but it will be at this level and this level is no better than Zaka's best IMO - that's hardly a stretch.

 

[Halftimehero]

Forgetting the rubbish 2016 season and B&F with our side suspended, compare Zakas 2011 B&F season with Merretts 2019 and argue it's a stupid call. That's what was said - that Merretts best is no better than Zaka at the same age (Zaka was 21) Explain why it's such a bad comparison and dribble?

Zaka won the votes from a stronger midfield group, was as just as good with the football and kicked 31 goals that season to Merretts 8 last year. Argue all you like but an extra goal every game for the whole season is significant extra damage for starters. We had seasons where we struggle to get forwards to kick 30 It also adds weight to him being just as just as good at the same age (Zaka was 21) - which was the actual point if you have a look at what you are referring to.

They are both one way running mids who have clear defensive deficiencies- Both vary from reasonable to good by foot- one was quick and very damaging on the scoreboard The other is one paced and lucky to make the distance from 40.

In your opinion Merrett may be a far better player - I'd actually argue our current midfield would be more damaging with 2011 Zaka (i'd take a mid that could slot 31 goals in a season right now). Merrett should end up with the far better body of work but it will be at this level and this level is no better than Zaka's best IMO - that's hardly a stretch.

Ok Zaka had one really good year, if he’d produced that for 4 or 5 seasons then you can measure him with Zach, its just disrespectful and you trying to justify your disliking of him to measure him with Zaka who most would agree has fallen short of the mark trying to reach those heights again.

I would argue his 2017 season was his best and that’s including his two best and fairest seasons, he’s been head and shoulders our best player for the past 5 years and he’s every chance to be All Australian and Best and Fairest again this season.

 

[NAB777]

Forgetting the rubbish 2016 season and B&F with our side suspended, compare Zakas 2011 B&F season with Merretts 2019 and argue it's a stupid call. That's what was said - that Merretts best is no better than Zaka at the same age (Zaka was 21) Explain why it's such a bad comparison and dribble?

Zaka won the votes from a stronger midfield group, was as just as good with the football and kicked 31 goals that season to Merretts 8 last year. Argue all you like but an extra goal every game for the whole season is significant extra damage for starters. We had seasons where we struggle to get forwards to kick 30 It also adds weight to him being just as just as good at the same age - which was the actual point if you have a look at what you are referring to.

They are both one way running mids who have clear defensive deficiencies- Both vary from reasonable to good by foot- one was quick and very damaging on the scoreboard The other is one paced and lucky to make the distance from 40.

In your opinion Merrett may be a far better player - I'd actually argue our current midfield would be more damaging with 2011 Zaka (i'd take a mid that could slot 31 goals in a season right now). Merrett should end up with the far better body of work but it will be at this level and this level is no better than Zaka's best IMO - that's hardly a stretch.

Just my opinion, but I reckon Merrett is a couple of levels above Zaharakis, who I personally thought benefited greatly from having Jobe in the same team. Whenever Zaka was the focus, he showed that he couldn't handle a tag.

Big deal if Zaharakis had one great year. He's in his 12th season & 75% of his career has been mediocre.

That's totally in line with where this club has been for a couple of decades.

 

[yodellinhank]

Just my opinion, but I reckon Merrett is a couple of levels above Zaharakis, who I personally thought benefited greatly from having Jobe in the same team. Whenever Zaka was the focus, he showed that he couldn't handle a tag.

Big deal if Zaharakis had one great year. He's in his 12th season & 75% of his career has been mediocre.

That's totally in line with where this club has been for a couple of decades.

I don't think Merrett has shown the ability to break a tag, has he?

 

[I Remember Bluey]

Can anyone open this please.

Merrett reveals the day
in footy he’ll never forget
MY STORY Zach Merrett has become one of Essendon’s most important players but his career hasn’t been without challenges so far. He reveals why he’ll never forget one day in January, plus his surprising reaction to being dumped from the leadership group.

 

[NAB777]

I don't think Merrett has shown the ability to break a tag, has he?

I think his performance stacks up pretty well over the past 5 years.

 

[yodellinhank]

I think his performance stacks up pretty well over the past 5 years.

Didn't realise he'd been tagged the whole time. That's a heavy burden.

 

[Lore]

Can anyone open this please.

Merrett reveals the day
in footy he’ll never forget
MY STORY Zach Merrett has become one of Essendon’s most important players but his career hasn’t been without challenges so far. He reveals why he’ll never forget one day in January, plus his surprising reaction to being dumped from the leadership group.

The reaction to being dumped from the leadership group was detailed earlier in the thread from a different article, so probably just rehashed. Took him 48 hours to get over it.

As for the day in January.......... the day the senior players were suspended in 2016?

 

[BOMBERROB2000]

Zac another nice player every club has them gets 20 doesn't hurt you but for some ****ing strange reason he keeps getting votes in the Brownlow and coaches vote. I have no clue then lol...!!!

 

[Halftimehero]

Zac another nice player every club has them gets 20 doesn't hurt you but for some ******* strange reason he keeps getting votes in the Brownlow and coaches vote. I have no clue then lol...!!!

You should have just skipped straight to your last sentence...