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

[carnthedons]

I'd hope that if we were -this- close to a flag and wanted to take the best player from another team, we'd make the right offer and get the deal done.

Absolutely, I don’t believe they’re “this” close but they might and if we thought we were I’d want to do it

 

[Lethal]

Petroro

 

[MightyDon]

The deal is perfectly fine and it's a lot more than we'll get this time next year or the year after.

The probability that we win enough games next year to change Merrett's mind is very small. So all we are doing is shooting ourselves in the foot so that we can cosplay as proud and successful club.

I'd much rather we simply set ourselves up for a proper rebuild and this trade, while not perfect, may achieve that.

There are limited players we can have on a list, we already have a bunch of better picks than the hawks were offering, we would be basically giving away an A grade player for speculative picks

 

[Phone]

Here's the footage LMAO

reckon the menswear guy needs to give a verdict on this fit

 

[The Donners]

I didn’t hear anyone saying how old Petracca was (3 months younger than Zerrett) for what Gold Coast were giving up:

Picks 7, 8 and F1.

Some stuff came back the other way but not the kitchen sink.

 

[GandalfTheDon]

It's not capitulation. Why keep the captain who doesn't want to be here and will leave next year for a worse deal?

Why hand them a player that potentially gives them a premiership for veritable peanuts? And for picks that won't do anything for our list going forward

 

[JayJ20]

The amount of Essendon supporters wanting us to capitulate to a rival for a ****ing horrible offer is sickening

I don't think it's capitulating. It's just moving on and making sure we give ourselves the best opportunity to rebuild for the future.

 

[DERO]

The amount of Essendon supporters wanting us to capitulate to a rival for a ****ing horrible offer is sickening

It needed to be a great dal and it wasn’t. Hawthorn deliberately (and arrogantly) left their run late so as to avoid rocking the boat by putting anyone other than Husthwaite up. They only have themselves to blame.

 

[BomberFan355]

I think he adding some Mayo, loving the limelight.

 

[bommer16]

I think if welsh was labelled as childish there was nothing haw or Merrett can say or do.

 

[pepsi]

Hawthorne did not offer a deal worthy of attaining Merrett and I am not upset he is not going to them.

 

[GandalfTheDon]

It needed to be a great dal and it wasn’t. Hawthorn deliberately (and arrogantly) left their run late so as to avoid rocking the boat by putting anyone other than Husthwaite up. They only have themselves to blame.

Simple as this - not sure why others don't see it that way

 

[MightyDon]

Here's the footage LMAO

This is not guy upset with essendon as much as they are trying to play it any other way

 

[Burzum]

Why hand them a player that potentially gives them a premiership for veritable peanuts? And for picks that won't do anything for our list going forward

He only wants to go to Hawthorn and that's seemingly the best deal they could muster up given their position. We haven't been able to convince him to stay and I just don't like the idea of the current captain wanting out and then being forced to stay. The vibes aren't just going to be vibing in the locker room next season.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

10 pick becomes 15ish
22 becomes near 30
Next years first if they have Zach becomes in the 20s

That’s a shit offer! Rubbish.

 

[Phone]

I didn’t hear anyone saying how old Petracca was (3 months younger than Zerrett) for what Gold Coast were giving up:

Picks 7, 8 and F1.

Some stuff came back the other way but not the kitchen sink.

eh, comparing trades with whatever Gold Coast does is a fools errand imo. they have their own currency system

 

[andleanback]

See you in November zach

 

[Old Campaigner]

No deal apparently

 

[JayJ20]

No deal. Hmmm. Outside of the **** Hawthorn, I don't think it's a great idea. Personal opinion.

 

[thepokey]

Petroro looking shattered was fantastic. I'm honestly surprised we held firm. I guess we do it all again next year and hopefully that teaches Hawthorn to come back with something proper if they want to be taken seriously

 

[Jobe Watson]

Big statement from us. Interested to see how it works out.

 

[DERO]

Simple as this - not sure why others don't see it that way

I love Zach and am also cognisant of the fact that he may not want to be at the club but the reality is he has two years to run on his contract and he has serious value, even as a 30 year old. He is a professional and would not be the only one who wakes up sometimes not wanting to go into work.

 

[Its Manbearpig]

A bit of an anticlimactic ending there.

 

[bommer16]

See you day one preseason. You’ll be fine.

 

[DallasCrane316]

Imagine how sick Zachy is feeling right now??