AFL Player # 7: Indefatigable Zach Merrett (c) - 3x AA 🏅🏅🏅 4x Crichton Medallist 🥇🥇🥇🥇

[Beerfish]

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

 

[Old Campaigner]

41

 

[Lore]

50

41

I'd be sad if he polled the most votes and then was ineligible I don't think he will anyway, probably be more like top 10.

 

[Lore]

15 votes in the end.

15.
Few more guys stealing votes off him tbis year. Still a good effort though.

Good job!

 

[Dons4days]

15 votes doesn't do his season Justice. Great year either way. Good work Zerrett!

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Would have polled more but had plenty of mates taking votes off him.

Good signs on where the team is heading.

 

[yaco55]

The votes were about right - Had a better and more influential year in 2016.

 

[Drummer_19]

I'm with Yaco on this one, I think it's less a fault of Zach tho and more on what the coaching staff had him doing.

 

[JDavey]

We talking about the same Tom Mitchell that leads Zach in every "best player" poll by SEN, Age, Herald Sun, 3AW etc and will beat him on brownlow votes too?

The same Tom Mitchell that had more clearances, contested possessions, score involvements, goals, marks, tackles? Only 2 games below 30 touches... only a total of 8 below 35.

Dont fall for the same "not damaging enough" meme bigfooty tried to put on Merrett. Tom Mitchell was a gun this year. Only behind Danger and Dusty in 2017

 

[daffo]

Well... he was 8 behind Danger and 11 behind Dusty.

 

[yaco55]

I'm with Yaco on this one, I think it's less a fault of Zach tho and more on what the coaching staff had him doing.

100% correct with your post - I was bemoaning from around round 3 that Merrett was obtaining too many possessions in the back half and he didn't spend enough time in centre bounces for the first half of the year - Coaches got the balance better in the last third of the year.

 

[carloss]

3 Votes Zed Merrett

 

[I Remember Bluey]

Better late than never.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Zach.

 

[Kakkle]

Crime stoppers number - 1800 333 000

 

[pepsi]

Crime stoppers number - 1800 333 000

Really think he was robbed? Only missed out by 17 votes and missed a game.

 

[Kakkle]

Really think he was robbed? Only missed out by 17 votes and missed a game.

In all seriousness, it's kind of nice to see him finish outside the top 3, if only just, considering the level he played at (for the most part).

 

[jmoo wan]

In all seriousness, it's kind of nice to see him finish outside the top 3, if only just, considering the level he played at (for the most part).

that’s the best video!

 

[calyam]

In all seriousness, it's kind of nice to see him finish outside the top 3, if only just, considering the level he played at (for the most part).

I like the idea of him entering pre-season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Keep the motivation high and see whether he can take his game up a notch.

 

[Mercuri Rising]

this low B&F result is going to hurt when he gets traded to port

 

[Lore]

this low B&F result is going to hurt when he gets traded to port

Port? I thought he was going to St Kilda?

 

[BrunoV]

I think the finish is about right.

He started in a blaze of glory but was not consistently impacting games later in the season.

Hopefully next year he is getting most of his footy between the arcs and kicking the ball into forward 50.

 

[yaco55]

I think the finish is about right.

He started in a blaze of glory but was not consistently impacting games later in the season.

Hopefully next year he is getting most of his footy between the arcs and kicking the ball into forward 50.

Some are dazzled by stats, rather than impact - I thought Merrett and Hurley would poll lower than expected - 2018 should see Merrett gain more possesions in the forward half, while Hurley needs less possessions and better one-on-one defending.

 

[Lore]

Has been selected in the International Rules side.

 

[Vindicater]

Only going to get better as the team improves around him.

Merrett to Smith to Fantasia is going to be a thing of beauty.

 

[MightyDons4]

Let's just never use him in that 'quarterback' role ever again and he should be fine.

 

[MattyB3150]

Had a really good game in the International Rules today. I think he was the youngest in the team too.