The status quo

Despite robust interest from Hawthorn Football Club during the 2025 trade period, Merrett will stay at Essendon.

The club’s board publicly declared he was “not for trade under any circumstances.” (Sport Nation)

The final offer from Hawthorn reportedly included Picks 10 & 22, a 2026 first-rounder and a fringe player, but Essendon rejected it. Merrett himself acknowledged a “difficult” period and said there were ongoing conversations with the club.

Immediate challenges ahead

  1. Leadership transition. With speculation that Merrett’s captaincy tenure will end in 2025, Essendon will likely appoint a new skipper for 2026. Merrett must adjust to a changed role—possibly remain as a senior leader but not the arm-around-the-shoulder face of the club.
  2. Getting back on track. After another seasons without deep finals progress, Merrett’s motivation for change was clear (“craving success”). The club and captain must align on realistic timelines and expectations.
  3. Culture & cohesion. The trade saga exposed tensions internally and externally. To move forward, Merrett and the club need to rebuild trust—among teammates, staff and supporters.

Strategic focus for 2026

  • Role optimisation: Merrett is still elite—six-time Crichton Medallist at the Bombers—but the club may manage his minutes or tweak his on-ball vs resting forward split to extend his peak years.
  • Team rebuild speed: Retaining a player of Merrett’s calibre gives Essendon a launching pad. They must convert his retention into tangible list upgrades (via draft/trades) so that the next step is finals success, not stagnation.
  • New leadership group: With Merrett potentially stepping aside from the captaincy, a new core must emerge (such as Andrew McGrath and others) to carry the club forward alongside him.
Embed from Getty Images

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 21: Zach Merrett of the Bombers leads his team out onto the field in his 250th game during the round 24 AFL match between Essendon Bombers and Carlton Blues at Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 21, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Upside and risk

Upside:

  • Keeping Merrett avoids losing one of the club’s few truly elite players. His experience, output and leadership still matter for a finals push.
  • Signals stability—rather than entering a full rebuild, Essendon keeps a genuine contender’s core.

Risk:

  • If Merrett feels unsettled or disengaged post-trade episode, performance or culture may suffer.
  • Expectation levels will be high: remaining with the skipper means must-improve now, not just promise for the future.

What to watch early in 2026

  • Whether Merrett remains captain or becomes part of a shared leadership set-up.
  • How the club supports him physically and mentally after a taxing trade period.
  • The first 5–10 rounds of 2026 will be telling: does he lead strongly, and does Essendon gauge a step up (top 8, finals)?
  • Off-season list moves—if Essendon retains Merrett but doesn’t invest the draft/trade returns wisely, frustration could mount again.

Bottom line

Zach Merrett’s retention is a gamble on continuity: Essendon are saying they believe now is not the time to rebuild, but to push forward. If both player and club commit fully, this could be the springboard to something bigger. If not, the trade-period drama may linger as a distraction.