AFL Player # 7: Indefatigable Zach Merrett (c) - Interview with The Age - 20/9

[Beerfish]

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

 

[Beerfish]

the last 20 years?

No I'm thinking the drug saga. Thought that would be obvious. The rest of the time we've just been regular average to shit.

At least if Merrett did leave we would get something back so not a disaster. Just bad.

 

[Lore]

Yep, all an elaborate ruse to shake a lemon from the top of the tree. After expressing their disinterest over a couple of seasons now they've surely lowered his value, it's a very diabolical plan.

Or Parish, or maybe to empty our coffers and stop us poaching their players

 

[sup3rfish]

I don't believe we should at all. He's contracted for another 3 years, he's agreed to that so honour it. He was happy to sign that contract so that's what it is. Essendon would be in my humble opinion overacting if they were to 'lock him away.' Zach can decide in 3 years if he wants to be a one club player.

We absoloutley shouldnt at this stage, maybe in 12 - 18 months we look at it but dont jump now based on a reporters opinion piece or whatever that was

 

[Vander18]

I wouldn’t like to see Zach go but is it a piece to the puzzle that is Harley Reid?

Now we are thinking big!

Not saying this is definitively what we should do. Saying it is definitively how we should be thinking - Chase elite talent, be bold, nothing is off the table.

We should have had this approach last year and gone after pick 1 (noting that I don’t know for a fact that we didn’t).

 

[coastalpipeline]

Or Parish, or maybe to empty our coffers and stop us poaching their players

The Parish Saga

 

[P Money]

Clubs don't approach a star player / captain of a club a few weeks out from trade period expecting it to get done that offseason. Clubs are in talks and negotiations with player managers months and even years in advance to get these types of huge moves done. We saw with Petracca there was no way he was going to be able to move clubs within the timeline he wanted, and that was a month before the talk of Merrett/St Kilda seemed to arise. I wouldn't be super confident of keeping Petracca after next year if I was the Dees - if he still wants out it'll get done and his manager/chosen club/s will be working together all next year to make it happen.

Saints will be playing the long game and planting the seed now in hopes that Ess have another underwhelming year and the Saints show some promise with the intent of luring him across via the next trade period.

IF there wasn't an absolute flat out 'no way' from Merrett / his management to even entertain the thought, that should be enough to put a major rocket up the club - they would want to be showing Merrett a clear pathway to team success by mid next year to keep the wolves at bay.

I agree with Whateley - our captain and only genuine gun player walking out on the club, given where we are at with talent, culture and leadership - would be a disaster.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Whateley’s gone over the top. 6 years! He turns 29 next month. Plus his new contract was front end loaded ..now it’s coming towards shit bit of the contract he wants to look elsewhere? At end of this current contract he’ll be turning 32. Like others have said I’d say negotiate in a couple of years

 

[The Donners]

Whateley’s gone over the top. 6 years! He turns 29 next month. Plus his new contract was front end loaded ..now it’s coming towards shit bit of the contract he wants to look elsewhere? At end of this current contract he’ll be turning 32. Like others have said I’d say negotiate in a couple of years

Essendon’s strategy to front end contracts in a bid to throw cash at big fish when it reaches its “window” works if players back it in. If players want to renegotiate when their contracts come towards the back end then let them go. They’re not the team-first players hungry for success that we need.

Back when Essendon were good (what feels like a lifetime ago), players took pay cuts to keep the side together.

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

Whateley’s gone over the top. 6 years! He turns 29 next month. Plus his new contract was front end loaded ..now it’s coming towards shit bit of the contract he wants to look elsewhere? At end of this current contract he’ll be turning 32. Like others have said I’d say negotiate in a couple of years

Whately is a clown. The exact type who would jump at shadows like this. Need balls of steel in this caper and I’m surprised a little weasel like Gerard has any cachet in the game…

 

[Kazzie1]

You do not know how it works do you ?

Yeah, like some people and sarcasm

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

• Exclusive
• Sport
• AFL
• AFL 2024

‘That didn’t add up’: Merrett on Stringer, Saints and that Brad Scott meeting​

By Peter Ryan​

September 20, 2024 — 4.56pm
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Essendon captain Zach Merrett has revealed he felt obligated to make his partner Alexandra and parents aware that St Kilda might be prepared to make him a life-changing offer to change clubs before he dismissed the prospect of a trade.
The 28-year-old said he was too focused on leading the Bombers into a successful period alongside senior coach Brad Scott, and too loyal to Essendon supporters and club people to consider leaving despite the potential dollars being floated.

Zach Merrett admitted he is desperate for success at Essendon.CREDIT: AFL PHOTOS VIA GETTY IMAGES
In a frank post-season interview with The Age, the Bombers skipper also said he was angry at the suggestion he would put personal relationships ahead of the club’s interests after the Dons told Jake Stringer

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Jake Stringer

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30

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192cm

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12.9

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8.5

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4.4

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M

3.3

3star

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2.5

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G

1.8

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D

8.5

2star

K

7.0

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1.5

1star

M

2.8

3star

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3.8

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G

2.5

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7.2

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4.8

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HB

2.4

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2.6

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1.4

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1.4

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they would not give him a two-year deal.
He said he was desperate to lead the club into finals and experience success, and it was likely he, Scott and vice-captain Andy McGrath would travel to Los Angeles in mid-October to gather ideas to improve the football program.

Merrett admitted he was taken aback when his manager rang him to say the Saints would be prepared to put together a mega-offer for him if he was open to considering it.
“I was driving home one day and got a call from my manager and I had not had one single thought about leaving or wanting to leave, so got a call from him to say there is a potential offer from St Kilda that is quite large … I felt I had to take it to my partner [Alexandra] even though I did not have the appetite to leave, I felt it was the right thing to do,” Merrett said.
“It was not that I wanted to leave. It was more: ‘This is potentially life changing.’ After a few discussions with my partner, who obviously knows me very well … money is one thing, but it never got to the stage where I want to entertain this, or I want to have a discussion with St Kilda.”

Zach Merrett said he never contemplated leaving Essendon. CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
Merrett signed a six-year deal tying him to the club until the end of 2027 midway through 2021. He said recent events had reinforced his desire to lift the Bombers into big finals and a grand final.


“To be here 11 years and go through those tough times and have an enormous and massive and passionate, and probably impatient, supporter base, I feel indebted to them,” Merrett said.
“Essendon drafted me and every other team had a pick before Essendon so once I got here I felt very indebted to the club.
“[There are a] lot of layers to it. I’m personally very loyal and my family are loyal and humble. The relationships I have at the football club through staff or players or supporters I could not see myself leaving.”
The Saints have made no secret of their desire to attract A-grade midfielders but said on Monday that no formal offer was made to Merrett, nor were there formal discussions with him or his manager. The Bombers said they would not trade him.
Merrett said he was “pissed off” at the suggestion he would put personal relationships with teammates ahead of the club’s best interests when he spoke with Scott post-season about what was required to lift the club into premiership contention.

The midfielder admitted he didn’t enjoy seeing any teammates being delisted or caught up in unresolved contract discussions, and it was even more difficult when off-field friends, such as Stringer, Jayden Laverde

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Jayden Laverde

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28

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193cm

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92kg

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11.8

3star

K

6.3

2star

HB

5.4

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.8

4star

MG

152.8

2star

D

8.8

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.8

3star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.5

3star

MG

116.5

2star

D

11.2

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

5.8

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

3.6

5star

MG

141.2

3star

and the delisted Nick Hind

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Nick Hind

Age

30

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180cm

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78kg

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10.7

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7.2

3star

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3.5

3star

M

2.0

2star

T

1.9

4star

MG

117.0

2star

D

9.5

2star

K

4.0

1star

HB

5.5

3star

M

2.0

2star

T

2.0

3star

MG

117.0

2star

D

10.2

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.0

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T

2.2

4star

, were involved.
However, he understood such decisions were the nature of professional sport.
“I would never, ever put personal relationships or personal biases ahead of what is right for the team or decisions people are making at the club,” Merrett said.
“[Brad and I] chatted about everyone. He updated me on their exit interviews and the discussions that they had at the club with Jake and Jayden [Laverde] and their managers, but also with the guys who got delisted and also other players that may not have seemed as prominent or that I may not be as close with personally.

Jake Stringer

25

Jake Stringer

Age

30

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.9

3star

K

8.5

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.5

4star

G

1.8

5star

D

8.5

2star

K

7.0

3star

HB

1.5

1star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.8

4star

G

2.5

5star

D

7.2

2star

K

4.8

2star

HB

2.4

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.4

5star

will be a headline during the trade period as he seeks a two-year deal.CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

“It was more of a discussion, and he was keen to hear my thoughts on where I see individuals and the guys I thought could help us moving forward as well. It was a healthy discussion.
“I can cop feedback on my footy and give me as much feedback as you want and how bad I am at footy but when it was tossed up that I would try to push to get two of my mates on the list that just didn’t add up to me. That pissed me off.”
He said Stringer had been mature in accepting the club’s position that he would need to go elsewhere to get a two-year deal.
“Jake is not naive. He’s 30. He’s not stupid. He is respectful that Brad has [been honest]. We have chatted a lot and I have actually been pretty impressed with his response,” Merrett said.
“Obviously, there are things to play out at his end, whether he does stay or go … It’s certainly the healthiest and fittest and mentally clear he has probably been for a long time. Hopefully [he stays] with us but, if not, he has got himself in a position to play some of his better footy.”

He also understood Laverde might have other clubs interested in him, and that delisting Hind was the sort of decision clubs had to make.
“As captain you probably reflect on what more I could have done? That is the starting point: what could I have done better? From there you get to the point where you know the industry moves quickly and six to eight guys minimum are going to move every season,” Merrett said.
“I have been in the industry for 11 years now [and] I have no one left on the list from when I started, given Dyson [Heppell] retired. I am the only one left. It’s not that I am not emotional about it or that I don’t get sad or disappointed that guys are finishing, but I have become accustomed to it.
“It makes it a little bit harder [when it involves] guys you are a bit closer to, given you might not be with them every day any more.”
The four-time best-and-fairest winner and three-time All-Australian had no issue with the club and spoke to Scott five or six times a week about how to improve.

“Brad is amazing with me and very much open with the plan as he sees the club moving forward. We have a strong relationship which is getting closer and closer by the day,” Merrett said.
Merrett was confident, despite the late-season fade-out, that the game style the Bombers were aiming to embed was right.
“There is definitely an urgency to get better even if we go to the draft this year. We are not developing or going back or waiting … Fans should expect they get a team that is consistent and rocks up to win every game,” he said.
“We want to put more expectations on ourselves that we do rock up and perform.”

‘That didn’t add up’: Merrett on Stringer, Saints and that Brad Scott meeting

The champion Bomber lashed out at suggestions he would put his personal relationships with teammates ahead of the club’s interests.

www.theage.com.au

 

[bommer16]

Completely natural reaction to tell those closest. Cant wait for him to lead the team in 2025.

 

[jannissary]

‘That didn’t add up’: Merrett on Stringer, Saints and that Brad Scott meeting

The champion Bomber lashed out at suggestions he would put his personal relationships with teammates ahead of the club’s interests.

www.theage.com.au

god, i love him.

he's such a great leader.

 

[andleanback]

Absolute cap in that article from Zach. ‘Life changing money’ um 6x close to a million from essendon isn’t life changing money. 30 next year, they aren’t going to offer more then 3-4 on good money. So 1.2ish is life changing from the 1m you’re currently on, yeh that doesn’t add up zach

 

[DERO]

Absolute cap in that article from Zach. ‘Life changing money’ um 6x close to a million from essendon isn’t life changing money. 30 next year, they aren’t going to offer more then 3-4 on good money. So 1.2ish is life changing from the 1m you’re currently on, yeh that doesn’t add up zach

200 k extra a year is a fair bit of coin amigo.

 

[ant555]

Absolute cap in that article from Zach. ‘Life changing money’ um 6x close to a million from essendon isn’t life changing money. 30 next year, they aren’t going to offer more then 3-4 on good money. So 1.2ish is life changing from the 1m you’re currently on, yeh that doesn’t add up zach

Difference could still be north of 500k and if you believe some or the rumour mill 1.2 may be unders and it was not just 3 or 4 . Anyway it is just an expression. It is still a potential offer in the later part of his career that really would consolidate things.

 

[Kong]

Zach already has a lambo so I’m not sure a pile of money is that novel anymore

Legitimately?

 

[dank420_]

Legitimately?

'How much money is he on?': AFL fans baffled by player's car choice

Essendon captain Zach Merrett drives an unexpected car – but it's his parking situation that has fans talking.

www.drive.com.au

 

[yodellinhank]

'How much money is he on?': AFL fans baffled by player's car choice

Essendon captain Zach Merrett drives an unexpected car – but it's his parking situation that has fans talking.

www.drive.com.au

Yeah, but legitimately? May have obtained it through one of Stringer's seedy mates, i hear they're close...

 

[dank420_]

Yeah, but legitimately? May have obtained it through one of Stringer's seedy mates, i hear they're close...

I mentioned in another thread that it’s obviously hot.

 

[naraku]

I'd happily renegotiate Zach's deal with us now he doesn't seem interested in moving.

 

[ant555]

'How much money is he on?': AFL fans baffled by player's car choice

Essendon captain Zach Merrett drives an unexpected car – but it's his parking situation that has fans talking.

www.drive.com.au

Pretty sure it is a sponsors deal and not paid for out of his own pocket.

 

[andleanback]

I'd happily renegotiate Zach's deal with us now he doesn't seem interested in moving.

Why do we have to renegotiate anything. We signed him on bloody good money.

 

[dank420_]

Pretty sure it is a sponsors deal and not paid for out of his own pocket.

You’re in on it.

 

[ant555]

You’re in on it.

Not sure Zack would be happy with me on it.