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

 

[yaco55]

He's been consistent but is lacking the polish of past years.

 

[Dons4days]

Three times tonight he kicked for goal as if there was no one on the line, and each time it got either touched or marked by a GWS player. So careless. Needs to improve in this area. The one that was 15m out on an angle was just egregious. The other two were about 35-40m, I think.

Agree, a player of his calibre needs to capitalise on those opportunities. Should have had a couple of snags last night.
It's the one thing his game lacks is his ability hit the scoreboard consistently. If he start doing that then he'll find himself in the AA more often than not.

 

[TheDinosaur]

60% disposal was noticeable, its a shame its backed by Heps and Shiel running at equal or worse.. Hes got more time than he thinks.

 

[Blind Turn]

His will to move us forward in the last qtr was second only to Hooker. So often he got the ball moving to the advantage of teammates whilst under extreme pressure.

 

[Pweter]

That's about the most frustrating game I can remember watching from Zach. Give the lad credit though, he doesn't know how to drop his head.

 

[Lore]

That's about the most frustrating game I can remember watching from Zach. Give the lad credit though, he doesn't know how to drop his head.

He admitted it too, there was an interview with him in the post-game coverage, he knew his kicking was costing us earlier in the game. Made the most of his chances in the last though, as did a few other players.

 

[Lore]

Suspected concussion 13 minutes into Q2... hasn't re-entered the field since. :\

 

[eth-dog]

Was clearly affected but did his job.

 

[MightyDons4]

Getting worried about the amount of head knocks he's received this year. Hope we can trade/draft some big bodies in and release Zach to the outside a bit more next year.

 

[Bombermania]

He needs to work on how to lay a tackle because he needs to learn to tackle without hitting his head on the guy he is tackling. It was kind of funny how he ran in to lay the tackle, the guy he was tackling just keep running while Zac was left laying on the ground like he had run into a wall.

 

[blitzer]

I'm concerned for his long term health with the regular instances of blurred vision. I hope he's consulted the appropriate medical professionals about his issues. I mean we all love to win games of footy but you wouldn't want to mess around with something like that.

 

[Zach Package]

He needs to work on how to lay a tackle because he needs to learn to tackle without hitting his head on the guy he is tackling. It was kind of funny how he ran in to lay the tackle, the guy he was tackling just keep running while Zac was left laying on the ground like he had run into a wall.

Copped point of the shoulder on the point of his chin and got jolted backwards, it looked more like a whiplash kind of thing than a concussion, obviously not ideal but we wouldn’t have taken any chances

 

[Phat Toni]

Big game for Zach this week, 100 games in the #7

Little ways to go to over take Bill on the locker but could easily play for another decade!

 

[eth-dog]

Stepped up as captain this week. Was fantastic.

 

[DapperJong]

Stepped up as captain this week. Was fantastic.

Only player on field to get over 30 touches. Rushed a few late in that quarter though...

 

[boncer34]

Only player on field to get over 30 touches. Rushed a few late in that quarter though...

Was a weird game stats wise.

Tarrant the only player to go >20 for Norf.

 

[blitzer]

I'm not sure what's going on with Zac, his contested stuff and handballing has never looked better but his kicking has probably been the worst of his entire career this year, regularly missing targets, particularly going inside 50. I'm sure he'll get back to his best at some point, I just hope its this year.

 

[yaco55]

Agree with Blitzer that merrett's kicking has been dead set ordinary this year - you can have a year where one part of your game doesn't effectively work - Interested to see his kicking in 2020.

 

[Phat Toni]

Agree with Blitzer that merrett's kicking has been dead set ordinary this year - you can have a year where one part of your game doesn't effectively work - Interested to see his kicking in 2020.

Do we judge him more harshly than others?

Has his kicking been up to the standard of previous years? Probably not but I don't think it's that far off last year. I know stats cant be talked around and manipulated but just simply looking at his disposal efficiency its 70% & kicking efficiency is 54%, other prime midfielders we have are Parish DE - 70% KE - 61%; Sheil DE - 66% KE - 55%; Heppell DE - 69.6% KE - 59%. Zach is our leading possession winner(8th in the league for total disposals) and his 11th in the league for effective disposals.... He's not really going at a dead set ordinary level.

For an external comparison Josh Kelly(regarded as a jet by most supporters) is DE - 71% and KE 55%.

I can't help but remember that kick to Mitch Brown 25m out direct in front from a turn over from that spud Thompson, that was millimeter perfect!!!

 

[naraku]

Zach wanted this win tonight and really lead the way.

 

[jmoo wan]

great captains game tonight.

 

[Bjchan13]

He is a little machine. So competitive

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

I just knew when he missed that goal he would will the team to victory and he did

He's a bloody gem

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

He is a little machine. So competitive

Bloke doesn't like loosing

 

[JayJ20]

Almost back to his best.