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

 

[Zach Package]

Lets not overrate him. If Kommer misses, Chappy, Merrett Sr, Dell'Olio, Hardingham all have far more runs on the board up forward, let alone tweaking it a bit and bringing Ashby or Gleeson in down back.

Merrett has already shown a lot more than Dell'Olio

 

[Ben the Gooner]

I'm a huge fan of Zac, but I reckon Dell will have a much greater impact in Rd 1.

 

[Old Campaigner]

Probably correct. Merrett hasn't played a full game yet as far as we know so his impact would be pretty limited in the second half as he got tired.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Yep, totally agree.

Zac has been the highlight of the NAB games for me, but he's one to keep in the back pocket for a couple of years' time. Maybe the odd sub game later in the year after he's played some full length games in the VFL.

 

[Old Campaigner]

Definitely bring him on for a game or two to give him a feel for the pace of AFL footy and let him see the standard he is expected to acheive.

 

[Big Fresh]

He's way more likely to play round 1 than Dell'Olio: he's on the senior list, he's played an extra pre-season game, and he played much better than Dell. I'd only play him as sub but he's not that far off getting a game with all the injuries we've got already.

 

[hurlygurdy]

I'm a huge fan of Zac, but I reckon Dell will have a much greater impact in Rd 1.

I've stuck by Dell until now, but i'm losing faith. He looks out of his depth even when he is going at it 100% Z Merrett already looks more comfortable at this level. Wouldn't expect either to play round one unless it is Z Merrett as sub. For all that Colyer also looks like he is struggling, he will be picked ahead of Dell every time.

 

[Beerfish]

Maybe play him against the Aints in round 5.

 

[Vander18]

Think we are too advanced as a team to be gifting games - he'll earn games or play VFL.

I suspect he could play quite a bit. Using last years team as a starting point, Chapman in for Crameri leaving Kommer and Howlett most vulnerable. Howlett looking good so Zac competing with Kommer and Leroy for a spot.

I think he's a big chance....strong( has a little Daniel Kerr about him physically, small but powerful) gutsy ( anyone else notice that mark where he went back with flight against PA - did not flinch) and classy ( weights kicks to advantage, rare in our team). Always in the contest, looks like he's hungry and competitive.

Not sure he'll get the nod first up but predicting he'll be playing regularly by end of year

 

[Beerfish]

anyone else notice that mark where he went back with flight against PA - did not flinch

No I didn't actually. Don't suppose you remember which quarter it was?

 

[Vander18]

No I didn't actually. Don't suppose you remember which quarter it was?

Think it was third, just after he was subbed on. Pretty sure it was actually called out as courageous in coverage.

 

[Mercurial89]

Think we are too advanced as a team to be gifting games - he'll earn games or play VFL.

I suspect he could play quite a bit. Using last years team as a starting point, Chapman in for Crameri leaving Kommer and Howlett most vulnerable. Howlett looking good so Zac competing with Kommer and Leroy for a spot.

I think he's a big chance....strong( has a little Daniel Kerr about him physically, small but powerful) gutsy ( anyone else notice that mark where he went back with flight against PA - did not flinch) and classy ( weights kicks to advantage, rare in our team). Always in the contest, looks like he's hungry and competitive.

Not sure he'll get the nod first up but predicting he'll be playing regularly by end of year

I think because we are advancing well is just the reason we need to keep youngsters circulating through the seniors. Its what Geelong and Hawks have done for the past 5 years. Lets you develop youth whilst still being on top.

 

[Beerfish]

Think it was third, just after he was subbed on. Pretty sure it was actually called out as courageous in coverage.

The footage was poor so it wasn't really worth gifdom but I found it and yeah no fear. Just wants the footy.

Edit: Bugger it. Did it anyway. I like the kid.

 

[Vander18]

I think because we are advancing well is just the reason we need to keep youngsters circulating through the seniors. Its what Geelong and Hawks have done for the past 5 years. Lets you develop youth whilst still being on top.

All for youth but not sure Geelong or Hawthorn have been gifting games.....their drafting and development are exceptionally good and their kids have demanded games.

We're hopefully pushing for top 4 and not far off premiership contention, I want getting a game to be an achievement earned every single time. This creates competition which will either see a kid go past someone into our best 22 or they create pressure that forces a Kommer or Howlett to take their game up a notch to retain their spot - in either the scenario the team is better off.

 

[Vander18]

The footage was poor so it wasn't really worth gifdom but I found it and yeah no fear. Just wants the footy.

Edit: Bugger it. Did it anyway. I like the kid.

In the end there isn't really anything coming the other way but he has no way of knowing that....doesn't hesitate, doesn't flinch - absolutely unconditional.....very good sign.

Also interesting that the guy he stuck in the tackle was Impey - earlier in the coverage on Foxtel they showed Impey's athletic profile and that he tested extremely highly for power...point being he would be a very difficult guy to hold and then take down - he's a strong little unit is Zac.

 

[yaco55]

Ideally, you want Zac to play a full year in the VFL. He plays AFL if he shows he is a class above VFL level.

 

[Vander18]

Ideally, you want Zac to play a full year in the VFL. He plays AFL if he shows he is a class above VFL level.

Why is that ideal? Ideal to me would be that he improves us this year.

I've been clear that there should be no gifting of games, so if he earns it then play him every week. He plays AFL if he deserves selection in our 22 in a given week - being a class above VFL or not is irrelevant IMO.

I subscribe to the " if he's good enough, then he's big/old enough" theory.

 

[yaco55]

Why is that ideal? Ideal to me would be that he improves us this year.

I've been clear that there should be no gifting of games, so if he earns it then play him every week. He plays AFL if he deserves selection in our 22 in a given week - being a class above VFL or not is irrelevant IMO.

I subscribe to the " if he's good enough, then he's big/old enough" theory.

I belong to the school that you play AFL ( unless the team is in a development phase ) when you dominate the VFL.

 

[George Washington]

Also interesting that the guy he stuck in the tackle was Impey - earlier in the coverage on Foxtel they showed Impey's athletic profile and that he tested extremely highly for power...point being he would be a very difficult guy to hold and then take down - he's a strong little unit is Zac.

Power = vertical leap

 

[Vander18]

Power = vertical leap

=strong through the legs = hard to tackle.

 

[efcboy]

Lets not overrate him. If Kommer misses, Chappy, Merrett Sr, Dell'Olio, Hardingham all have far more runs on the board up forward, let alone tweaking it a bit and bringing Ashby or Gleeson in down back.

Dell'Olio has been ordinary in pre-season. Form doesn't warrant promotion

 

[Zach Package]

best thing about that, gets the footy with 2 defenders in his face...just stands there, no quick high kick to nothing, 'I got this', it's very Sam Mitchell.

 

[Vander18]

I belong to the school that you play AFL ( unless the team is in a development phase ) when you dominate the VFL.

What if you don't dominate in VFL but are clearly in the senior best 22? Possible, no?

Why does he need to dominate? Doubt Kommer would dominate VFL and have never heard any suggestion that Jackson Merrett or Dalgleish have either so why hold Zac to a higher standard? On the flip-side Dell is quite dominant at VFL level but struggles at senior level...

Zac is ready to play some senior footy this year - he's strong, hard and skilful, absolutely no reason to hold him back IMO.

 

[yaco55]

What if you don't dominate in VFL but are clearly in the senior best 22? Possible, no?

Why does he need to dominate? Doubt Kommer would dominate VFL and have never heard any suggestion that Jackson Merrett or Dalgleish have either so why hold Zac to a higher standard? On the flip-side Dell is quite dominant at VFL level but struggles at senior level...

Zac is ready to play some senior footy this year - he's strong, hard and skilful, absolutely no reason to hold him back IMO.

And my post says that if he is blitzing it at VFL level he plays AFL. Think some forget that players used to come through the under 19's and reserves, so would often be 19 or 20 before they made their debut, whereas TAC players are only 18.

 

[A. N. Onymous]

best thing about that, gets the footy with 2 defenders in his face...just stands there, no quick high kick to nothing, 'I got this', it's very Sam Mitchell.

I think he was actually paid the mark...