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

 

[I Remember Bluey]

Not sure about that . Apart from the defensive issues one reason he was dropped from the leadership group was he was considered a bit hard on his team mates . Some thought it was a bit hypocritical giving them solid feed back when he was not exactly the poster guy for doing everything defensively.
Will be interesting to see how it goes.

H-Sun - Demotion helped new captain ‘be himself’ (Possibly paywalled.)

Demotion helped new captain ‘be himself’ Zach Merrett says a leadership group demotion he initially saw as a setback was crucial in helping him arrive at the helm of the Bombers. Browse the BigFooty Forum Ad Free Continue reading...

www.bigfooty.com

Merrett spoke for the first time after his appointment as Essendon skipper on Tuesday, saying his surprise leadership group demotion in 2020 had ended up playing a crucial part in his ascension to the role.

After he was promoted to Essendon’s leadership group in only his third season and led the club in two games during the same year, Merrett suggested he may have come to be viewed as out of touch by some of his teammates.

“Being in a leadership group at 20 – (players) get pulled apart in a lot of ways in meetings formally all the time, and guys probably didn’t want to say things around me,” he said.

Zach Merrett says his demotion from the Essendon leadership group led him to earning his teammates’ trust. Picture: Dylan Burns/Getty Images

“I think (2020) was unique in a number of ways – being in a hub, being out of the leadership group was a great opportunity.

“I spent three months with teammates I probably hadn’t spent time with before.”

Merrett said spending the season without the additional responsibilities had allowed him to show his teammates his true colours.

“For three months I was able to have coffees, informal chats, corridor chats … I was just able to sit by the pool on the Gold Coast and have chats about footy and life,” he said.

“That was a great opportunity to learn, and looking back now it was probably a great asset for me.

“I opened up a little more and gave those guys more of an into me, and in turn those guys opened up to me as well.”

 

[Call Me Cake]

It's funny how we've gone from a captain with a consonant, E, double/repeating consonant, E and double consonant to another one of the sort.

HEPPELL. (Consonant, E, double/repeating consonant, E and double consonant.)
MERRETT. Ditto.

This is actually pretty freaky, ngl.

 

[fairbump_playon]

This is actually pretty freaky, ngl.

It's funny how we've gone from a captain with a consonant, E, double/repeating consonant, E and double consonant to another one of the sort.

HEPPELL. (Consonant, E, double/repeating consonant, E and double consonant.)
MERRETT. Ditto.

In this pattern the H has moved 5 spots forward, the R has moved 2 and the L has moved 8.

Note this is all forward movement, very promising.

I can confidently predict the next Essendon premiership captain will be RETTEBB

 

[jdstorm]

In this pattern the H has moved 5 spots forward, the R has moved 2 and the L has moved 8.

Note this is all forward movement, very promising.

I can confidently predict the next Essendon premiership captain will be RETTEBB

If you reverse that it means the next captain will BBETTER

 

[fairbump_playon]

If you reverse that it means the next captain will BBETTER

So we have to consider RETTEBB and then make the opposite choice?

Will probably be Sam Draper

 

[jdstorm]

So we have to consider RETTEBB and then make the opposite choice?

Will probably be Sam Draper

Well he is the opposite choice compared to McGrath who seems next in line

 

[andleanback]

Finn maginness hard tag on Daicos tonight. Dare say he’ll be standing next to merrett r1.

 

[faible]

Finn maginness hard tag on Daicos tonight. Dare say he’ll be standing next to merrett r1.

Daicos won't be running around seagulling 35 uncontested possies a week this year it seems.

 

[Call Me Cake]

 

[fairbump_playon]

View attachment 1625152

Like going in to the dealership and getting to touch a Porsche

 

[I Remember Bluey]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-captains-day-zach-merrett-responds-to-essendon-criticism-darcy-moore-on-jordan-de-goey/news-story/6f94a51fd2679a977ba4d5cbbb350b4e

Merrett responds to legend’s criticism of lacklustre Dons​

- Jon Ralph

Zach Merrett says Essendon is determined to play with the passion of past Bombers sides as he welcomed club legend Matthew Lloyd’s criticism of the current list.

Club legend Lloyd this week made clear it was time for the senior Essendon players to take control of the club after a dispiriting pre-season clash against St Kilda and admit they had not been strong enough on or off the field.

Merrett did not quibble with Lloyd’s right to call out the club or the contents of that spray.

“I’m actually quite close with Matt. He’s a passionate Essendon person, which we love and as players we respect his opinion. He’s been a champion of not only our club but the whole AFL. He knows what he’s talking about, for the most part. So yeah, he has his views. We’re certainly trying to establish a brand and trying to be consistent and trying to play with that passion that past Essendon teams have had. I have got full respect for Matthew so I have got no issues with him having a pot or having a shot at us.”

Merrett revealed he sought out Ross Lyon as a mentor as he attempts to strike the balance between his compassionate side and desperation to maximise his career.

Merrett’s mentors in his football journey include Chris Judd, Joel Selwood and former Bomber Brendon Goddard, but Lyon’s return to senior coaching has meant he is now the enemy.

But Merrett caught up with Lyon during his hiatus from coaching to probe tactical trends and ask about how he could improve his game.

It is part of the fastidious approach to the game that has seen Merrett rise to football’s elite, even as he admits he needs to soften the ruthless edge that at one stage saw him dropped from the Essendon leadership group.

“I have been a curious person across my whole career and probably annoyed a number of former players and other guys from other teams but all those guys have been extremely helpful. So the list is pretty long,” he told the Herald Sun.

“(Ross) is a good man. I have reached out to him a few times and he’s been amazing with his time and obviously sees the game extremely well and I am just very grateful.

“Talking to Brendon Goddard who Ross coached, he only spoke glowingly about his ability to manage the list, manage people, manage the players. But it was also his ability to understand game plan Xs and Os and ability to manipulate certain things in games in great detail. So for me personally trying to grow my understanding to read all those things Ross is a great person to speak to.

“He was very open. He has the ability to call a spade a spade, but also he has the ability to understand the detail behind it and explain it.”

Goddard was famously forthright and demanding of his teammates and Merrett says he will embrace the challenge of showing compassion while also attempting to drive high performance in his first year as captain.

“For me, I just want to make the most of my career, make the most of my teammates’ career. So I’m not going to shy away from being honest with those boys in trying to establish what we are but I am not perfect and will never be perfect. I have to have a bit of compassion at times but also take a few pages out of ‘BJ’s’ book.”

 

[Lore]

XD Essendon didn’t get a single vote to make finals this year from the captains of the 18 clubs.

Someone tell us again about how we shouldn’t be putting a lid on expectations, premiership lists and getting ahead of ourselves…

 

[andleanback]

XD Essendon didn’t get a single vote to make finals this year from the captains of the 18 clubs.

Someone tell us again about how we shouldn’t be putting a lid on expectations, premiership lists and getting ahead of ourselves…

The media (robbo) don’t like how no one is pumping us up this year, means they can’t tear them down at round 7.
They’re desperately waiting for a malthouse article saying we can win the flag.

 

[Maxabillions]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-captains-day-zach-merrett-responds-to-essendon-criticism-darcy-moore-on-jordan-de-goey/news-story/6f94a51fd2679a977ba4d5cbbb350b4e

Merrett responds to legend’s criticism of lacklustre Dons​

- Jon Ralph

Zach Merrett says Essendon is determined to play with the passion of past Bombers sides as he welcomed club legend Matthew Lloyd’s criticism of the current list.

Club legend Lloyd this week made clear it was time for the senior Essendon players to take control of the club after a dispiriting pre-season clash against St Kilda and admit they had not been strong enough on or off the field.

Merrett did not quibble with Lloyd’s right to call out the club or the contents of that spray.

“I’m actually quite close with Matt. He’s a passionate Essendon person, which we love and as players we respect his opinion. He’s been a champion of not only our club but the whole AFL. He knows what he’s talking about, for the most part. So yeah, he has his views. We’re certainly trying to establish a brand and trying to be consistent and trying to play with that passion that past Essendon teams have had. I have got full respect for Matthew so I have got no issues with him having a pot or having a shot at us.”

Merrett revealed he sought out Ross Lyon as a mentor as he attempts to strike the balance between his compassionate side and desperation to maximise his career.

Merrett’s mentors in his football journey include Chris Judd, Joel Selwood and former Bomber Brendon Goddard, but Lyon’s return to senior coaching has meant he is now the enemy.

But Merrett caught up with Lyon during his hiatus from coaching to probe tactical trends and ask about how he could improve his game.

It is part of the fastidious approach to the game that has seen Merrett rise to football’s elite, even as he admits he needs to soften the ruthless edge that at one stage saw him dropped from the Essendon leadership group.

“I have been a curious person across my whole career and probably annoyed a number of former players and other guys from other teams but all those guys have been extremely helpful. So the list is pretty long,” he told the Herald Sun.

“(Ross) is a good man. I have reached out to him a few times and he’s been amazing with his time and obviously sees the game extremely well and I am just very grateful.

“Talking to Brendon Goddard who Ross coached, he only spoke glowingly about his ability to manage the list, manage people, manage the players. But it was also his ability to understand game plan Xs and Os and ability to manipulate certain things in games in great detail. So for me personally trying to grow my understanding to read all those things Ross is a great person to speak to.

“He was very open. He has the ability to call a spade a spade, but also he has the ability to understand the detail behind it and explain it.”

Goddard was famously forthright and demanding of his teammates and Merrett says he will embrace the challenge of showing compassion while also attempting to drive high performance in his first year as captain.

“For me, I just want to make the most of my career, make the most of my teammates’ career. So I’m not going to shy away from being honest with those boys in trying to establish what we are but I am not perfect and will never be perfect. I have to have a bit of compassion at times but also take a few pages out of ‘BJ’s’ book.”

Please don’t soften your ruthless edge too much

 

[HirdsTheWord]

The media (robbo) don’t like how no one is pumping us up this year, means they can’t tear them down at round 7.
They’re desperately waiting for a malthouse article saying we can win the flag.

If Geelong are the most likely to win the GF how are they not a lock for finals?

makes zero sense

 

[jdstorm]

Or Essendon could just only keep players around who get on board with Merretts edge/determination.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Or Essendon could just only keep players around who get on board with Merretts edge/determination.

yeah lets see...

Merrett is known for not running 100% defensively. I'm glad he is captain now so i am happy he has the chance to drive standards. But he needs to start with himself.

 

[ant555]

yeah lets see...

Merrett is known for not running 100% defensively. I'm glad he is captain now so i am happy he has the chance to drive standards. But he needs to start with himself.

Already has worked on it although it is still a work in progress. He has gone from poor to average overall.
Will need to lift it some more.

 

[TheUnicorn]

View attachment 1625152

"Wtf is this thing?"

 

[bombreys]

yeah lets see...

Merrett is known for not running 100% defensively. I'm glad he is captain now so i am happy he has the chance to drive standards. But he needs to start with himself.

He’s better defensively than all of McGrath, Parish and Langford, imo. And considering we need the ball in his hands because of how good his disposal is, I’m okay with him not being our best defensive midfielder.

 

[eth-dog]

He’s better defensively than all of McGrath, Parish and Langford, imo. And considering we need the ball in his hands because of how good his disposal is, I’m okay with him not being our best defensive midfielder.

Parish yes
Langford 50/50
McGrath is laughable

 

[bombreys]

Parish yes
Langford 50/50
McGrath is laughable

McGrath has no idea how to defend in the midfield. He jogs around with his head on a swivel

 

[eth-dog]

McGrath has no idea how to defend in the midfield. He jogs around with his head on a swivel

Literally only reason he played midfield so long was because he was streets ahead of Parish, Merrett and Shiel defensively.

He had a head on a swivel because he was covering the rest of the front runners.

 

[bombreys]

Literally only reason he played midfield so long was because he was streets ahead of Parish, Merrett and Shiel defensively.

He had a head on a swivel because he was covering the rest of the front runners.

Don’t agree at all with Merrett - he at least busts his gut. Shiel I feel is a bit similar, it looks like he actually knows what he’s supposed to do but he sees the younger guys not doing it so thinks ‘why bother?’. Which is an issue. But when he’s on, I think he’s fine defensively. McGrath looks around, sees his not covering where he’s supposed to be and seems to think that because he’s not there, he’ll just jog around until the opposition kicks a goal or the ball comes back down the other end

 

[Happyskeret]

Whatever Zach’s weaknesses are I understand why he would be a more attacking player than defensive as his field kicking is elite. Definitely in the top 5 players in the league when it comes to that skill.