Z Merrett meets Hawks / betrayal

[joe444]

Reported (and not denied) that he has met Sam Mitchell.

Essendon fans seemingly up in arms, but is it really a betrayal?

As a child of the 80s/90s who watched my mates all suddenly pick the bombers as their team, I'm enjoying the schadenfreude, but I also recall Geelong's lowest ebb (of many), when captain Leigh Colbert

Leigh Colbert

Age

50

Ht

192cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.5

4star

K

8.6

3star

HB

5.9

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.7

4star

No current season stats available

D

10.8

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

6.2

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

chased success at the dominant North at the end of 99 and our coach also walked out on us to go to Adelaide.

The upshot: Bomber Thompson becomes coach and Colbert is replaced by Cam Mooney and a draft pick that lands Corey Enright.

 

[Humblebob]

He doesn't owe the club anything, given them the best years of his career and never put's in a bad run.

He's not a martyr, if you're looking for someone to be mad at blame the board. Joints a basket case.

And this bloke

Turn the hanger into a Costco and be done with it!!

 

[Bostonian]

Other teams coaches shouldn't be talking with other teams contracted players.

FA or RFA fair enough.

Merrett is neither of those.

 

[joe444]

Other teams coaches shouldn't be talking with other teams contracted players.

Why?

 

[Bostonian]

Why?

Because it's tapping up another clubs player.

Dog act.

 

[Stumpy Pete]

I wouldn’t normally raise the topic in different threads but how I wish Robbo was still on 360.

Regards

S. Pete

 

[Obeanie1]

Essendons season is over and they have had the exit 8nterviews with players.

So this is the exact time players....even captains....should be talking to other clubs including coaches.

In season no. After your team has been eliminated and exit interviews done.....not a problem.

Captains meeting oppo coaches would be better done outside of the public eye though if possible.

 

[SSSSSS]

Merrett has given more blood, sweat and tears than any other Bombers player in history with nothing to show for it.

He owes the club NOTHING. They've promised him the light at the end of the tunnel which keeps getting longer and longer. The senior players have been informed that the target for when Essendon are to be competing for finals has been delayed. They're back in full blown rebuild territory again.

Why would he stick around to play for a club that has continually failed him? Plagued by instability and unprofessionalism with the coteries shooting the football department in the foot at every opportunity.

The club is run by amateurs. Any professional with a competitive bone in their body will steer clear from Essendon. Merrett has done his all for the club and he can't do much more. Throwing money at him isn't the solution anymore.

He deserves a chance at success.

#freeMerrett

 

[warped79]

What's on the table for Essendon if they release him?
Fans are probably 'seemingly up in arms' because Mitchell is pretty disliked amongst Essendon fans

 

[bzparkes]

Other teams coaches shouldn't be talking with other teams contracted players.

FA or RFA fair enough.

Merrett is neither of those.

Why?

They can do whatever they want out of season.

Half the time they do it in season.

 

[Dazb86]

The hangar would make a good train station.

 

[joe444]

#freeMerrett

#freeLaverde doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

 

[Bostonian]

Merrett has given more blood, sweat and tears than any other Bombers player in history with nothing to show for it.

He owes the club NOTHING. They've promised him the light at the end of the tunnel which keeps getting longer and longer. The senior players have been informed that the target for when Essendon are to be competing for finals has been delayed. They're back in full blown rebuild territory again.

Why would he stick around to play for a club that has continually failed him? Plagued by instability and unprofessionalism with the coteries shooting the football department in the foot at every opportunity.

The club is run by amateurs. Any professional with a competitive bone in their body will steer clear from Essendon. Merrett has done his all for the club and he can't do much more. Throwing money at him isn't the solution anymore.

He deserves a chance at success.

#freeMerrett

Other clubs deserve to not have their players tapped up by your turd of a coach too.

Disrespectful campaigners.

 

[Humblebob]

The hangar would make a good train station.

Level it completely and build a monument, have it serve as a reminder to spend more time focusing on your future then your past! Or make it a car park, the airport is screaming out for more space!

 

[Bostonian]

Why?

They can do whatever they want out of season.

Half the time they do it in season.

Days before a final and this turd is trying to unsettle another clubs Captain.

Piss poor form.

 

[Cyber_punk]

That report a few months ago about how the playing group were disgruntled with the fitness/conditioning program/staff has a lot to do with all of these players jumping ship imo. It's not just dumb luck their injury list was as bad as it was. If you are someone Merret's age you would be shortening your career if those people are still employed there.

 

[Skinnyfwdpocket]

If Merrett (or his management) wanted no one to know about the meeting it would've been private. Its public for a reason

 

[SSSSSS]

Other clubs deserve to not have their players tapped up by your turd of a coach too.

Disrespectful campaigners.

Essendon's season is over. He's had his exit interviews.

I can't think of a better time for Sam and our list management team to discuss with players?

Literally every club in football does it.

Your mob literally put Dylan Shiel (bullet dodged) in a chartered private jet to Noosa lol.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Days before a final and this turd is trying to unsettle another clubs Captain.

Piss poor form.

If Essendon were involved in a final, you’d have a point. But they aren’t, so you don’t

 

[SSSSSS]

If Merrett (or his management) wanted no one to know about the meeting it would've been private. Its public for a reason

It's a big F YOU to the Bombers board.

It's getting ugly.

Hawthorn have zero benefit in leaking and historically have been very tight lipped.

 

[Bostonian]

If Essendon were involved in a final, you’d have a point. But they aren’t, so you don’t

Essendon were not shopping Merrett out to other clubs.

He's a required contracted player.

Stay away from those players at other clubs.

Pricks.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Essendon were not shopping Merrett out to other clubs.

He's a required contracted player.

Stay away from those players at other clubs.

Pricks.

Merrett and his management are doing the shopping. He’ll likely meet with other clubs.

 

[Bostonian]

Essendon's season is over. He's had his exit interviews.

I can't think of a better time for Sam and our list management team to discuss with players?

Literally every club in football does it.

Your mob literally put Dylan Shiel (bullet dodged) in a chartered private jet to Noosa lol.

Where did Essendon say they wanted to get rid of him and it was all fine and dandy for Hawthorn's coach to tap him up?

Was Shiel contracted for multiple years?

Four different clubs made offers to him at the time. Not just the one.

 

[SSSSSS]

Essendon were not shopping Merrett out to other clubs.

He's a required contracted player.

Stay away from those players at other clubs.

Pricks.

Every club in footy does it.

The Buddy move to Sydney was pretty much written up just mere days after our 2012 GF loss. I'm still shocked to this day how they were able to keep that under wraps.

The AFL and the Giants were completely blindsighted.

You think Carlton didn't 'tap-up' the likes of Cerra/McNuggets for 12 months? Geelong had worked on the Bailey Smith deal for almost a year. There would have been multiple meetings throughout the playing season.

These players are making life changing decisions and these moves are planned out well in advance.

 

[Bostonian]

Merrett and his management are doing the shopping. He’ll likely meet with other clubs.

Did Hawthorn show Essendon some respect and get Essendon's ok?