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

[yodellinhank]

We can just blame him for everything if it goes wrong... sowing discord among the playing group, bringing down morale

Even when it was Dodo, I knew it was Merrett

 

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

Never really been interested in a subscription to Code, but am kinda interested in reading this full article.

 

[jmoo wan]

View attachment 2484299

Never really been interested in a subscription to Code, but am kinda interested in reading this full article.

View attachment zach and mitchell.mp4

 

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

This should work (It’s the link to the article without a paywall, not just a website to remove it).

RemovePaywall | Free online paywall remover

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I usually use the same site but Code is the one site it never works for. However, I forgot that they put the article on The Age too. Cheers!

Was a good read. I appreciate the honesty by Zach but at the same time, his story makes it seem like the club wasn't blindsided (which is very different from their reactions in the media).

Nobody blames him for wanting to leave, but I still don't know whether he's aware that the backlash was more due to how he went about it.

Also, if he knew it was that unlikely, all the Chinese Whispers via the media and his managers many tantrums strongly contradict that statement.

 

[Call Me Cake]

 

[Yoda_]

Speaking to Jay Clark, eww

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Really no insights. Just a PR piece.

Nothing at all we don’t already know.

 

[Andronicus]

The article is a comforting read.

How true it is, rather than well scripted PR is another matter.

 

[Maxabillions]

“Multiple times during this interview, Merrett mentions his excitement to work hard and do everything to improve the club next year. It feels notable he does not say for the rest of my contract or career.”

 

[yodellinhank]

**** him

 

[Blind Turn]

**** him

I want to trust him… I really do… I mean… he’s still ours isn’t he? Isn’t he? I won’t boo him, but I’ll want to. I won’t cheer him, but I’ll want to. It feels like he’s a rent-a-star for the season rather than our visceral heartbeat.

 

[Corleone]

“It also emerged during those talks that Merrett’s contract had been front-ended, with the bulk of his money coming in the first two years, meaning he was likely to be playing for well below his market value in the final two years.”

And there it is… not just about success was it Zach?

I’m still glad he wasn’t traded (especially to Hawthorn) and he can sulk as much as he likes over the next two years. Chooch.

 

[Lore]

Really no insights. Just a PR piece.

Nothing at all we don’t already know.

There was one new thing. The interstate wedding that delayed his start to preseason was Marty Party in Queensland; also the reason he missed McGrath’s wedding.

The rest was old news and a bit revisionist in places. Some parts read like his Crichton speech but tidied up a little by a human editor instead of AI.

Oh that and clapping himself on the back wrt our draft priorities.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I didn’t want to just get out of Essendon, I wanted to go to a club that I thought would have success soon.

So according to Zach the only club in the league with any prospect of immediate success is Hawthorn.

 

[yodellinhank]

**** him

 

[ghostdog]

He has a ghost writer 100%

Some kind of Ghost Poet Type.

 

[ghostdog]

I notice all his team mates are blacked out. What a jerk.

Well spotted.
That says it all.

 

[ghostdog]

Not at the draft to greet our new players (left to McGrath and Redman). Not even a word for them online.

Not at SEH’s place to watch the draft with 25 other players.

Real leader, Zach. He definitely doesn’t want to be captain.

Who would be the first not to kick it to him. I'm gonna say Archie Roberts, though the coach might frown on him.

 

[Call Me Cake]

Who would be the first not to kick it to him. I'm gonna say Archie Roberts, though the coach might frown on him.

This is overblown. The players have moved on and are focused on footy now.

 

[Blind Turn]

Some kind of Ghost Poet Type.

Well, considering that his efforts to leave were a dog act, I’m thinking it was some kind of Ghostdog.

 

[yodellinhank]

This is overblown. The players have moved on and are focused on footy now.

Can you ask them why the change?

 

[ghostdog]

This is overblown. The players have moved on and are focused on footy now.

Spoilsport.

 

[ant555]

**** him

And the horse he rode in on

 

[Don Won]

Really no insights. Just a PR piece.

Nothing at all we don’t already know.

I take some comfort out of the article.

It reaffirms that he is going to be professional about his efforts this year. That he and his team mates are getting along and there is no strained relations, and that the club dealt with him in a professional but firm manner.

I also feel that there is a chance that the episode could be a bit of a kick up the butt for the whole list. The best player wanting out reflects on the poor performance of the team, they will not experience success themselves if the good talent leaves. Hopefully, they don’t take Zach and his efforts for granted.

It does not reduce my feeling that he is a mercenary, and that he has dropped many pegs as far as Essendon legends go… but doubt he gives a shit.

 

[Howard Moon]

Just watched his presser, not impressed at all, lost me at wearing dryp instead of club colours to begin...

Funny he did mention it was his own fault..."the walls were caving in there for a while, I was bunkered in at home, but i knew there would be backlash when I did what I did"

I just think he expected if you make enough mess they have to let you go eventually - but one thing he didn't factor in was the mess he made has to be greater than the mess we were already in. Sorry, but that's a high bar.