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

 

[boncer34]

Didn't know that

Had his bucks at the game vs the Saints couple of weeks back.

 

[faible]

Also, asking umps to blow the whistle quicker to save one or two sling tackles will have a whole stack of unintended consequences, not least of which will be another 20 ball ups per game.

Will we though, and if so, is that a bad thing?

Players are given far more time to dispose of the ball these days. It's pretty quickly clear when a player is unlikely to slip a tackle, why give them more time to not slip the tackle which escalates the situation because the tackler feels like they need to bring the player to ground just in case. If they want to limit the opportunities for dangerous tackles, then calling a ball up and quickly throwing it up is likely going to be better than waiting around for them to either get dumped or still have to do a ball up.

 

[Lore]

Had his bucks at the game vs the Saints couple of weeks back.

He's around the club a bit lately for promo stuff too, club often shares his stories to the club account. Was at the Hangar doing kick to kick a bit as well

 

[Eleven 38]

Will we though, and if so, is that a bad thing?

Players are given far more time to dispose of the ball these days. It's pretty quickly clear when a player is unlikely to slip a tackle, why give them more time to not slip the tackle which escalates the situation because the tackler feels like they need to bring the player to ground just in case. If they want to limit the opportunities for dangerous tackles, then calling a ball up and quickly throwing it up is likely going to be better than waiting around for them to either get dumped or still have to do a ball up.

I think with a couple of minor changes to the prior opportunity rule, you could increase holding the ball calls, decrease congestion and tackles, without increasing ball ups. It would definitely decrease the slam tackles.

It would probably decrease ball ups if your paying more free kicks because you wouldn't have the 2-3-4 ball ups in a row in the same area. Also if your paying more holding the ball frees it also makes teams plan around getting the ball out of the congestion, rather than planning around ball ups.

Doesn't really help us tonight at the tribunal though. Think when there's 3 basically same tackles getting done in 1 week they just can't let them all off.

 

[baz_machine]

Also don't players when they get tackled, also drop their knees to go to ground to force the ball up if they cant get rid of it?
At the end of close games you see it all the time when teams want to kill time.
Good luck trying to figure out which player caused them to go to ground in those situations

 

[doug85]

When is the appeal heard?

 

[Don Won]

When is the appeal heard?

Based on previous weeks, proceedings start at 5pm

 

[Lore]

Is Zach first or is that Saints player that decked a bloke first?

 

[Don Won]

Is Zach first or is that Saints player that decked a bloke first?

I don’t know, they normally outline it mid afternoon. I expect Merrett was first on docket, but maybe appeals are ranked lower than charges sent direct.

 

[boncer34]

Is Zach first or is that Saints player that decked a bloke first?

Adams

 

[DallasCrane316]

Is Zach first or is that Saints player that decked a bloke first?

4pm

 

[Beerfish]

 

[fishardansin]

4pm

This is the way.

 

[Lore]

4pm

adds to calendar

 

[DallasCrane316]

I’m now genuinely concerned that Merrett’s ban will be upheld and Adam’s may get off.

The narrative behind Adam’s not being the only one involved in the tackle seems to be spoken about more and more.

 

[Don Won]

I’m now genuinely concerned that Merrett’s ban will be upheld and Adam’s may get off.

The narrative behind Adam’s not being the only one involved in the tackle seems to be spoken about more and more.

You could also say that Adams getting involved in the tackle and throwing him to the ground was also unnecessary given he was already well-held. His actions resulted in the player hitting his head on the ground. He seemed like the crazy dude jumping into the fight when the fight was over.

 

[Lore]

Worth a listen at least at the start about tackling

 

[Lore]

So firstly they're challenging whether it even is a Dangerous Tackle. I assume this is about no arms pinned no second action etc etc.

Then if they decide it definitely is a dangerous tackle, then they will challenge the impact.

live blog: LIVE: ‘Not a deliberate act’ - AFL great’s shock call as mega triple Tribunal Tuesday looms

 

[Lore]

And here I was thinking his first name was Indefatigable

 

[Hamez]

Phew, I was worried for a moment.

This bloke is live tweeting everything

 

[Beerfish]

Zach Merrett confirms his name is Zach Merrett

GUILTY!

 

[Lore]

I like details but this is... odd.

 

[Lore]

Merrett says he attempted a normal tackle, but Tom Sparrow

32

Tom Sparrow

Age

24

Ht

183cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.0

4star

K

6.0

2star

HB

9.0

5star

M

1.0

1star

T

2.0

4star

CL

3.0

4star

D

15.0

4star

K

6.0

2star

HB

9.0

4star

M

1.0

1star

T

2.0

3star

CL

3.0

4star

D

15.0

4star

K

6.0

3star

HB

9.0

5star

M

1.0

1star

T

2.0

4star

CL

3.0

5star

's "sidestep" threw Merrett off-balance and he couldn't set his feet. He says he felt he didn't have Sparrow "in any bit of a vulnerable position".​

Merrett: I felt him come onto me after I hit the ground.​

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Zach Merrett confirms he is a Libra

 

[Lore]

Legal reps: Ben Ihle (Essendon) & Nick Pane (AFL).​

​

Jurors: Jeff Gleeson (Tribunal chair), Stewart Loewe

Stewart Loewe

Age

56

Ht

194cm

Wt

108kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.1

4star

K

10.5

4star

HB

4.7

3star

M

7.8

5star

T

1.0

3star

G

1.9

5star

No current season stats available

D

7.8

2star

K

4.8

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.0

1star

G

1.0

4star

and Stephen Jurica.​