AFL Player 7: Indefatigable Zach Merrett (c) - Not going anywhere

[Beerfish]

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

 

[yodellinhank]

Tail wagging the dog? Most clubs have there players vote on their leadership group. It’s the norm and it had nothing to do with driving standards, that’s fact.

And what makes you think a group that doesn't have high standards would vote for the guy who's trying to drive them?

 

[Lance Uppercut]

He didn’t break the tag on Sunday either

Oh right. I guess it was just going so well that they figured what the heck, let's just let Merrett be one of the best players, that will help us win; and stopped tagging him

 

[andleanback]

And what makes you think a group that doesn't have high standards would vote for the guy who's trying to drive them?

It was around his ability to communicate, connect and convey whatever he was trying to say when he spoke. If you don’t ever speak to large portions of the playing group outside of being on the field, it’s hard for them to think of you as a leader, when you aren’t ever communicating with them. That’s what Zach himself admitted he needed to work on, and still he’s not the greatest at it, Mcgrath is a much better leader overall but he isn’t at the level of a player that you would make captain. No one doubts zachs desire to win and push himself and everyone to be better, he’s one of the more highly driven players essendon has had on their list in a long time. You could say the same about shiel, but again that doesn’t make someone a great leader in the eyes of the group as a whole. Fyfe had the same issue at freo, he was their best player and made captain through the rebuild, but at the same time poor interpersonal skills and more insular in doing everything possible to get the best out of himself, but not the group as a whole.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Tail wagging the dog? Most clubs have there players vote on their leadership group. It’s the norm and it had nothing to do with driving standards, that’s fact.

The tail wagging the dog wasn't the issue. The laziness and complacency of the tail was the issue. Surprised it could wag at all.

More likely the tail was telling the dog "She'll be right cobber, just chill, we'll get a few scraps later".

 

[quotemokc]

Why is he such an awful kick at goal?

 

[Lore]

Why is he such an awful kick at goal?

is he?

 

[ant555]

is he?

Would not say awful. 56.55 career and 0.2 this season. like a lot of really good field kicks he is very 50/50 with his goal kicking although I do not have the break down on set shots v shots on the run.

 

[quotemokc]

Would not say awful. 56.55 career and 0.2 this season. like a lot of really good field kicks he is very 50/50 with his goal kicking although I do not have the break down on set shots v shots on the run.

Your stats don't factor in the amount of shots he has that don't make the distance.

 

[Lore]

Would not say awful. 56.55 career and 0.2 this season. like a lot of really good field kicks he is very 50/50 with his goal kicking although I do not have the break down on set shots v shots on the run.

I would suggest he has less set shots as a defender/midfielder than he did in his early days when he played off the half-forward flank.

 

[Call Me Cake]

misses one shot yesterday
"why is he so bad at kicking for goal?"

 

[citizen-erased]

misses one shot yesterday
"why is he so bad at kicking for goal?"

Was under pressure too, which is often how his shots are taken
Zach will look to pass before he shoots often as a last resort

 

[Bjchan13]

Impressive first 3 weeks. I think he's got another 30% improvement in him too

 

[ant555]

Your stats don't factor in the amount of shots he has that don't make the distance.

Do any of the stats ?

 

[citizen-erased]

Do any of the stats ?

it would be nice if the key forwards had a stat for set shot/snap on goal that misses everything
e.g. Stringer's shot saturday night won't count on the stat sheet as anything but a kick, and i guess a turnover.

but also why you don't just use stats to prove things.
Merrett has a decent peg on him, but i think in his career i've seen him attempt maybe 5 long range (40m+) shots on goal. Think he dobbed a couple from just outside 50 too.

Shiel and Caldwell are proving good goal scoring mids. Parish can def do it too.
Can handle Merrett being more score involvement than scoreboard mid.

 

[faible]

ike a lot of really good field kicks he is very 50/50 with his goal kicking

Can pick a player out in a small pocket of space amongst a number of opposition players from any angle whilst on the run, the giant gap between the giant two white poles though is a tough target.

Why is this so?

Do we need that Melbourne cheer squad guy who carries the bullseye target?

 

[Zach Package]

Have noticed a big improvement in his workrate without the footy, he’s even hitting up at the footy to receive on the lead now, which makes him all the more dangerous.

Less footy, more impact.

 

[frodos gardener]

Good start as captain. I think his kicking has even improved, as solid at it was previously.

 

[Yoda_]

Most under rated player in the comp. period

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Has improved noticeably with his defensive actions this year. Quite a few shepherds and blocks around the contest and a lot of his running went unnoticed, hard to see unless you were at the ground.

I was confident he would take his game to another level under Scott, and as Captain - looking spot on. May not be getting career high touches but just becoming a much more well rounded player.

 

[Lore]

Happy skip

 

[boncer34]

Radio commentary suggested he could be in trouble for a sling?

 

[Pweter]

Radio commentary suggested he could be in trouble for a sling?

Happened directly in front of me, I instantly thought it looked like Day's tackle on Close last week.

Haven't seen a replay so only going on that first impression

 

[Megabattimus]

Radio commentary suggested he could be in trouble for a sling?

Nobody on Fox mentioned it and it didn't get mentioned in the AFL website match report.

 

[Darealrath]

He buried him to the ground but I don't think there was the second sling motion they usually look for.

Been brilliant as captain.

 

[ant555]

Nobody on Fox mentioned it and it didn't get mentioned in the AFL website match report.

Nothing mentioned in any media this morning so far.