AFL Player 7: Indefatigable Zach Merrett - Stepping down as captain for 2026

[Howard Moon]

Petroro leaked the meeting. Zach has made his position untenable. You need only listen to Gerard Healy and Kane just now on SEN saying how good the Essendon response has been...everything Melbourne didn't do last year with Petracca.

Everyone dispises Kane for his shit takes , but when he's agreeing with you it's like hey listen to him!!

Or maybe it's just another of his shit takes?

 

[Old Campaigner]

We are so dumb... All Hawthorn did was meet with him, then stood back and watched - we've done the rest by ourselves including making his position untenable and worth diminished

Nah I can’t really fault our response. Something had to be said after the meeting was announced in the media, and so far it’s been disciplined and measured.

The media has sensationalised it as much as they can but the core of what the club has said is simply that they’re disappointed he’s wanting out, his actions are not befitting a captain of the club and he remains a contracted player.

 

[Keystone agony]

There’s enough time until trade week ends for other players to step forward.

The other point to consider. The hawks are never going to put their best offer forward upfront. They’re playing the game. We need to play the game and make sure there’s other suitors.

No doubt not denying any of that

Just i dont think Zac cares as much to what we get for him now compared to a week or so ago. He will come out seeking a trade

I think we dont really want him to return now dont we? Hawks know that

We shouldnr be patting ourselves on the back as to how weve reacted to this, weve got it all wrong

 

[Keystone agony]

Jye Simpkin has joined the chat.

If he doesnt cost much in trade, then yeh why not

 

[gillon]

I’ve been a member for over 20 years. If the club deals him for less than two firsts I will be cancelling.

Caro saying that he was ‘disrespectful’ to AFLW players then providing zero context is also basically character assassination in today’s world. Really sad if the club put that out there.

 

[doug85]

No doubt not denying any of that

Just i dont think Zac cares as much to what we get for him now compared to a week or so ago. He will come out seeking a trade

I think we dont really want him to return now dont we? Hawks know that

We shouldnr be patting ourselves on the back as to how weve reacted to this, weve got it all wrong

Our compo only matters to Zach in as much as it will make his exit smoother.

 

[Howard Moon]

Nah I can’t really fault our response. Something had to be said after the meeting was announced in the media, and so far it’s been disciplined and measured.

The media has sensationalised it as much as they can but the core of what the club has said is simply that they’re disappointed he’s wanting out, his actions are not befitting a captain of the club and he remains a contracted player.

More than happy for the coach to speak how he did, having the coordinated player messages was a wrong move imo. Should have left it in Zachs court, instead we went on the attack but left ourselves vulnerable

 

[doug85]

More than happy for the coach to speak how he did, having the coordinated player messages was a wrong move imo. Should have left it in Zachs court, instead we went on the attack but left ourselves vulnerable

I see no value in leaking against Zach. It can only serve to lower his trade price.

It’s just petty.

 

[DERO]

Make him stay and make him an AFLW ambassador.

 

[doug85]

‘Door shut on return’: Bombshell details as Merrett ‘shattered’ over AFLW disrespect claim and leaks

‘Door shut on return’: Bombshell details as Merrett ‘shattered’ over AFLW disrespect claim and leaks

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

What’s really sad and pissweak here is a captain who two months ago said publicly he’s all in, full faith in club and the coach. Then 6 weeks later does complete opposite. Even worse has dinner at his coach’s house and assume by Scott’s subsequent reaction did not mention anything at the dinner. Yet a short time later had dinner with oppo coach and is happy for his manager to leak it. I mean there’s no way that is anything but a shit and gutless act.

 

[Petrify]

Caro saying that he was ‘disrespectful’ to AFLW players then providing zero context is also basically character assassination in today’s world. Really sad if the club put that out there.

Tbf Essendon AFLW players are liking anti-Merrett stuff on Instagram

 

[DERO]

Tbf Essendon AFLW players are liking anti-Merrett stuff on Instagram

Sounded like such a nothing story.

 

[Old Campaigner]

I’ve been a member for over 20 years. If the club deals him for less than two firsts I will be cancelling.

Caro saying that he was ‘disrespectful’ to AFLW players then providing zero context is also basically character assassination in today’s world. Really sad if the club put that out there.

Everything else from the club has been disciplined and on point so I’d be surprised if they threw that out there too. Could be someone from within the club but not part of the official messaging.

 

[Howard Moon]

Merrett livid the club is leaking against him but he's been leaking the whole time?

Pls m8

 

[ghostdog]

None of the current mudslinging will change what happens. Merrett was never coming back, we already knew this. Hawthorn will offer pick 8, we'll ask for pick 8 + future pick + a best 22 player, a deal will get worked out for pick 8 + a future pick and/or fringe player, and Merrett will become a Hawthorn player and an Essendon pariah.

I just hope we boo the shit out of him. He truly deserves.

 

[cAsEy_18]

So if we are talking picks and players, where do we stand? (Realistic players)

Dont mind McKenzie but he runs like Sam Mitchell , can't have on that alone

Reckon Ramsden is about ready to pop, wouldn't mind him, he'd be in my mix

Hustwaite will probably be free soon anyway, no need to add to the mix

CJ might add a bit of spark off hb

Had a nibble at Finn last year but he's hardley kicked on since

Dont mind Butler too

D'Ambrosio looks like a decent kick, wonder if he's available

Agree with your overall takes here - Butler and Ramsden are the two fringe/young guys I want.

People being interested in Hustwaite by quoting his VFL stats must’ve missed the thousands of comments regarding Tsatas and the stats vs impact/game translating. You can always find those guys. Ramsden and Butler offer something different, something we need.

 

[ghostdog]

It was more Wilson told the world that Essendon were trying to background some stories about Merrett and referenced the AFLW without going further. Kane then flushed it out (and then Wilson said that the story isn't unique to just Merrett or Essendon). The point Wilson was making was more that Essendon are perfectly happy trying to get dirty here too rather than an actual story about Merrett/AFLW imo.

The gloves are off.

 

[cAsEy_18]

Life oh lifeI just hope we boo the shit out of him. He truly deserves.

We will.
But he’ll still dominate.
And hawthorn will kill us.
And we’ll be condemned in the media for “disrespecting what he gave us for so many years”.

 

[Keystone agony]

Who leaked it is important

There are different stories, some say it seemed to be leaked from merrett camp then other journos arent so sure on that

I dont really have an issue with what he said 2 months ago, he didnt really have much else to say, anything not strong would be targeted and he may have had his head turned at the meeting

And as i said before, it's not that he doesnt have faith in club and coach, but more so that he feels its too far away for his the time he has left

 

[BrunoV]

So if we are talking picks and players, where do we stand? (Realistic players)

Dont mind McKenzie but he runs like Sam Mitchell , can't have on that alone

Reckon Ramsden is about ready to pop, wouldn't mind him, he'd be in my mix

Hustwaite will probably be free soon anyway, no need to add to the mix

CJ might add a bit of spark off hb

Had a nibble at Finn last year but he's hardley kicked on since

Dont mind Butler too

D'Ambrosio looks like a decent kick, wonder if he's available

8 plus Hustwaite is enough for me.

 

[DallasCrane316]

Caro just said that her story was proven true. And that Merrett’s camp has been leaking info since “before the season ended”.

Said that Merrett and his partner walked into his managers office and said “we want out” before the season finished.

 

[gillon]

Everything else from the club has been disciplined and on point so I’d be surprised if they threw that out there too. Could be someone from within the club but not part of the official messaging.

Yeah that seems plausible and I’d hope that’s the case. Guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Caro would implicate the whole club with that messaging.

 

[ghostdog]

What’s really sad and pissweak here is a captain who two months ago said publicly he’s all in, full faith in club and the coach. Then 6 weeks later does complete opposite. Even worse has dinner at his coach’s house and assume by Scott’s subsequent reaction did not mention anything at the dinner. Yet a short time later had dinner with oppo coach and is happy for his manager to leak it. I mean there’s no way that is anything but a shit and gutless act.

Yep. Then to bitch that he feels the club undermined him? GTFOOH.

 

[Jobe Watson]

What’s really sad and pissweak here is a captain who two months ago said publicly he’s all in, full faith in club and the coach. Then 6 weeks later does complete opposite. Even worse has dinner at his coach’s house and assume by Scott’s subsequent reaction did not mention anything at the dinner. Yet a short time later had dinner with oppo coach and is happy for his manager to leak it. I mean there’s no way that is anything but a shit and gutless act.

Could've left on good terms. Could've handled it professionally. I'm sure Essendon begrudgingly would've traded him if he had made it known he truly wanted out. I even think most supporters would've understood it. But this public spectacle is completely his doing. Even most of the media seem to agree on this one.

We have no reason to take the high ground. It won't change his trade value anyway. Hawthorn know Merrett's inclusion makes them a premiership contender for the next 3-4 years. They'll pay up for him.