Recommitted Zach Merrett [Re-Signed til 2027]

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

yep, would pretty much auto pilot the rest of our build and guarantee us becoming a contender at some point in the next 5-6 years. It’s just if we finished outside of the last spot or two and gets us a Rachele/Sonsie makes the choice a little harder.

I don't think we have fully bottomed out yet to finish bottom 2 there is still quite of bit of talent on the list even if Merret goes imo once senior players like

Shiel
Smith
Heppel
Hooker
Hurley
Stringer

etc are gone then I can see us bottom 2 their is enough talent on the list to keep us afloat from bottom 4 imo

 

[La Dispute]

Always a tough balance to get right, staying competitive while playing a higher percentage of untried or recently exposed younger players.

Shiel, Smith etc are essentially sunk costs now tasked to get the squad through the rebuild as quickly as possible - and there is no guarantee they stick around after their contracts are up either.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Always a tough balance to get right, staying competitive while playing a higher percentage of untried or recently exposed younger players.

Shiel, Smith etc are essentially sunk costs now tasked to get the squad through the rebuild as quickly as possible - and there is no guarantee they stick around after their contracts are up either.

Shiel signed a 5-6 year deal iirc he'll be at Essendon till he retires Smith is one I can see not sticking around not sure how long his contract is

Yeah I think Essendon is trying to rebuild whilst also try to stay competitive having a team full of draftees is not good for thier development getting belted every week you need a mix of senior players and youngsters imo

 

[La Dispute]

Shiel signed a 5-6 year deal iirc he'll be at Essendon till he retires Smith is one I can see not sticking around not sure how long his contract is

Yeah I think Essendon is trying to rebuild whilst also try to stay competitive having a team full of draftees is not good for thier development getting belted every week you need a mix of senior players and youngsters imo

IIRC it was 5 years, or 3 seasons time. He'll be 30 by then and could choose to bolt Shaun Higgins style to a club in the window. I don't think Essendon will be in the doldrums at that point, but he'd get as much playing elsewhere I suspect. Depends how his body holds up, and if he's still got his burst at that point.

He's not exactly an icing on the cake player, but I could see a contending club going after Smith once his contract is up.

 

[Bulldogs85]

IIRC it was 5 years, or 3 seasons time. He'll be 30 by then and could choose to bolt Shaun Higgins style to a club in the window. I don't think Essendon will be in the doldrums at that point, but he'd get as much playing elsewhere I suspect. Depends how his body holds up, and if he's still got his burst at that point.

He's not exactly an icing on the cake player, but I could see a contending club going after Smith once his contract is up.

I think Smith contract is up at the end of this year and some with stringer

 

[La Dispute]

I think Smith contract is up at the end of this year and some with stringer

Both probably expendable for the right offer.

Smith would be worth a late first-early second, and in a strong draft it’d worth moving him on. Essendon have enough of his time type running around in their midfield currently.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Both probably expendable for the right offer.

Smith would be worth a late first-early second, and in a strong draft it’d worth moving him on. Essendon have enough of his time type running around in their midfield currently.

Smith I would would but no to Stringer keep.

We trade Stringer and we be left only with Tippa who's capable of kicking goals.

Stringer was our leading goal kicker in 2019 and probably again in 2020 if he didn't miss half the season with an ankle injury.

 

[robbo1981]

Smith I would would but no to Stringer keep.

We trade Stringer and we be left only with Tippa who's capable of kicking goals.

Stringer was our leading goal kicker in 2019 and probably again in 2020 if he didn't miss half the season with an ankle injury.

Smith must of been playing injured this yr?

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Smith must of been playing injured this yr?

I think so

 

[TylerDurden]

I think so

Bone on bone yeah?

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Bone on bone yeah?

Not sure all though he's been training probably needed another pre season to get his knee right

 

[Lore]

Bone on bone yeah?

PCL deficiency, had a knee reconstruction mid-2019. Not sure if he's also bone on bone, but so many of them are these days it's probably not unlikely.

 

[schmuttt]

Would Essendon match if they finish bottom 4 and he nominates a club who plays finals?

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Would Essendon match if they finish bottom 4 and he nominates a club who plays finals?

With Dodoro in charge yep he'll be demanding two firsts or pick and player

In the end Dodoro will cave and reluctantly take the top 4 pick compo. with that top 4 pick there better be a Matt Rowel type mid we can draft

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

Would Essendon match if they finish bottom 4 and he nominates a club who plays finals?

no lol

 

[Great8]

Would Essendon match if they finish bottom 4 and he nominates a club who plays finals?

Absolutely I think

 

[Wild Bill]

Absolutely I think

If Horne, Sonsie and Sinn come on like they think then I can’t see how Dodo pass on them up for two later 1st rounders. Would prefer a top 4 pick over 2 in the teens. But hey - with Dodo who really knows.

 

[WWSD]

I wouldn’t rule Hawthorn out as a potential target, despite likely to finish bottom six this year. Plenty of cap space to spend. Merrett would be perfect and would easily slot into a midfield that desperately needs an elite kick.

OUT:
Stratton
Smith
Henderson
Puopolo
Frawley
McEvoy
Burgoyne
Scully
Patton

$$$$$$$

 

[Jeremias]

If he leaves I don’t think it’ll have anything to do with money.

He’ll be very well looked after wherever he ends up.

Things can change of course, but I’m prepared to rule Hawthorn out.

 

[schmuttt]

I wouldn’t rule Hawthorn out as a potential target, despite likely to finish bottom six this year. Plenty of cap space to spend. Merrett would be perfect and would easily slot into a midfield that desperately needs an elite kick.

OUT:
Stratton
Smith
Henderson
Puopolo
Frawley
McEvoy
Burgoyne
Scully
Patton

$$$$$$$

If a team outside the top 6 is going to get him they're going to overpay drastically in terms of salary cap.

 

[Yoda_]

I’ll hazard a guess that if Zac played for the Pies, this thread would only garner half the replies than what it’s already filled with


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Wild Bill]

I’ll hazard a guess that if Zac played for the Pies, this thread would only garner half the replies than what it’s already filled with


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

True but he is seen as gettable. Who was the last Pie to walk out and not get pushed?

 

[The Prosecutor]

True but he is seen as gettable. Who was the last Pie to walk out and not get pushed?

Dale Thomas maybe?

 

[faible]

Dale Thomas maybe?

Beams the most recent high profile one I can think of, though that was for family reasons, so mitigating circumstances.

Not many clubs playing finals shed their top-liners and Collingwood have been fairly competitive in McGuire's time.

 

[Mofra]

Beams the most recent high profile one I can think of, though that was for family reasons, so mitigating circumstances.

Not many clubs playing finals shed their top-liners and Collingwood have been fairly competitive in McGuire's time.

Buddy would be the last one, although a few Premiership clubs did lose 'important' players that aren't top liners (Lycett/Hamling types)