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

 

[jannissary]

on the bench, well done, well deserved

 

[Vindicater]

Well deserved zerret.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Who was Essendon's last 3x AA player?

 

[jannissary]

Who was Essendon's last 3x AA player?

jobe watson or dustin fletcher iirc

 

[doug85]

jobe watson or dustin fletcher iirc

Neither.

It’s actually Lloydy.

It’s that long since we’ve had a player of that calibre.

 

[jannissary]

Neither.

It’s actually Lloydy.

It’s that long since we’ve had a player of that calibre.

shows what i know!

makes sense though tbh

 

[fairbump_playon]

Brilliant. What a star.

Had a great year, it was the most I have ever enjoyed watching him.

 

[Algorithmic Hot Takes]

Clearly not a team player, wearing a bowtie. Not captaincy material at all.

 

[BrunoV]

I reckon he's had his Cotchin moment.

Lauded for being a stat merchant but then became a really good player because of the intensity he brought to his game.

I think he's now a truly elite player.

 

[I Remember Bluey]

Congratulations Zach

My BoY

 

[Lore]

I knew he had Selwood's number years ago, didn't realise it was an ongoing sorta thing..?

As a new captain of that group Merrett will lean on a range of mentors, some new and some old.

For years, he has had a surprising one. Every now and again Merrett’s phone would ping with a message from the same number.

It wasn’t someone selling solar panels; it was Selwood. The now retired Geelong premiership captain would randomly send him a message of congratulations on a milestone. Or wish him luck for a significant game. Sometimes it would be not to drop his head in tough times. The messages and calls have come sporadically over the past seven or so years, since a nervous Merrett reached out to Selwood for advice.

“I was very fortunate to captain a game when I was 20 ironically. I was quite nervous, excited but nervous and [Geelong premiership player, then Essendon player] James Kelly

James Kelly

Age

41

Ht

183cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.8

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

10.5

5star

M

4.2

4star

T

5.6

5star

MG

273.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

20.8

5star

K

9.6

4star

HB

11.2

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

6.8

5star

was at the club at the time and I just asked if I could get Joel’s number, which I was grateful to get,” Merrett said.

“I gave him a call that day and since then he’s been someone that obviously I looked up to massively from afar, but to have his phone number in my phone and to be able to call at any stage has been awesome. He sends through some messages every now and then of support or to celebrate things like this milestone, so to have him there is amazing. Everyone knows how big a figure he is in the game.

“It’s probably been a seven or eight-year relationship, obviously very competitive on the field, we’ve had some great battles together, but he’s a tremendous person, amazing role model on and off the field.

“For me, it was just learning and getting as many nuggets of gold off him as possible. So, he’s been a great person having your back.”

Merrett’s mission: to change ‘run and gun’ perception of Bombers

New Essendon captain Zach Merrett on captaincy, Joel Selwood’s help, and the Bombers fighting for a new, balanced brand of footy.

www.theage.com.au

 

[I Remember Bluey]

Brownlow wrap: Merrett joins rare air after topping Dons leaderboard

Captain Zach Merrett is now the fourth-highest vote-getter in Essendon history.

www.essendonfc.com.au

Brownlow wrap: Merrett joins rare air after topping Dons leaderboard​

Captain Zach Merrett is now the fourth-highest vote-getter in Essendon history.

Essendon skipper Zach Merrett has leapt some of the club's greatest-ever names to sit fourth in the Bombers' all-time Brownlow Medal leaderboard.

The three-time All Australian was Essendon's highest leading vote-getter with 17, taking his career tally to 128 to surpass 1996 Brownlow medallist James Hird (125), Jack Clarke (116) and former Captain Jobe Watson (113).

 

[jmoo wan]

Brownlow wrap: Merrett joins rare air after topping Dons leaderboard

Captain Zach Merrett is now the fourth-highest vote-getter in Essendon history.

www.essendonfc.com.au

Brownlow wrap: Merrett joins rare air after topping Dons leaderboard​

Captain Zach Merrett is now the fourth-highest vote-getter in Essendon history.

Essendon skipper Zach Merrett has leapt some of the club's greatest-ever names to sit fourth in the Bombers' all-time Brownlow Medal leaderboard.

The three-time All Australian was Essendon's highest leading vote-getter with 17, taking his career tally to 128 to surpass 1996 Brownlow medallist James Hird (125), Jack Clarke (116) and former Captain Jobe Watson (113).

oh wow, that’s impressive… awfully depressing too

 

[FlyingV]

This guy is an absolute weapon. My god we lucked out with him.

 

[faible]

Still criminally underrated outside EFC I'd argue.

 

[Lore]

 

[Lore]

Also I like that his partner is in the background, patiently waiting by herself in a pretty dress.

 

[jmoo wan]

Also I like that his partner is in the background, patiently waiting by herself in a pretty dress.

she’s wide open and he’s completely burned her, disgraceful from the captain

 

[Darealrath]

Uses the brownlow red carpet to practice kicking on his non dominant side. Freak.

 

[Lore]

Uses the brownlow red carpet to practice kicking on his non dominant side. Freak.

with what looks like a child size football. Planning to coach U9s?

 

[faible]

with what looks like a child size football. Planning to coach U9s?

He was kicking it with Archie (the child, not the AFL player)

 

[jannissary]

bloke just loves footy simple as

 

[I Remember Bluey]

He was kicking it with Archie (the child, not the AFL player)

same - same

 

[I Remember Bluey]

MY BOY

Happy 28th Birthday Zach

 

[Lore]

Wins his 4th BnF! In elite company