AFL Player # 7: Indefatigable Zach Merrett (c) - Your ANZAC Day Medallist - 25/4

[Beerfish]

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent 2027
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 10, I Remember Bluey

 

[I Remember Bluey]

I Wuv you tooooooooo

 

[blitzer]

Just want to give old mate Zach some love. All the talk of Shiel, McGrath, Langford, Parish etc is exciting and awesome but this guy is a bona fide A grader that we should never take for granted (I am not suggesting anyone does). Could quite possibly go bananas this year with the support of Shiel and a bit more out of Langford and McGrath in the middle.

Agree with this so much. We finally have the support around him to let the coaches use him in his best role. He's no mug on the inside but as a team we need to be taking advantage of his kicking as much as possible because that's where his true hurt factor lies. Won't be tagged nearly as heavily this year either as the load will be much more spread.

 

[yodellinhank]

I Wuv you tooooooooo

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Begley should be doing pottery

 

[Fridge16]

I Wuv you tooooooooo

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Haha this is the best!

 

[DERO]

Begley should be doing pottery

I was going to post something really crass while I hummed unchained melody but figured you were on the same wavelength.

 

[baz_machine]

I Wuv you tooooooooo

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Well begley in close tackling will do well with three arms

 

[Lore]

They're optimistic that he'll be available for the first JLT, making good progress but not training with the main group.

The 23-year-old didn't participate in training with the main group, but showed encouraging signs with his individual running program.

The prolific midfielder, who finished third in last year's best and fairest following his All Australian season in 2017, completed laps and lifted his intensity as the session went on.

The Bombers are being cautious with Merrett, but are optimistic he will be able to feature in their pre-season campaign, which begins on Thursday, February 28 against Carlton.

http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2019-02-11/merrett-making-progress

 

[Haychh]

They're optimistic that he'll be available for the first JLT, making good progress but not training with the main group.


http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2019-02-11/merrett-making-progress

He’ll be “available”, highly doubt he plays.

 

[Lore]

More specifics about his progression from the injury report article;

Fellow leader Zach Merrett continues to improve following an ankle sprain in mid-January, progressing out of his moonboot as he pushes for a return to full training.

“He’ll be looking to get on the AlterG (treadmill) over the next week once he can hop pain-free,” Crow said.

“The progression from there, hopefully quite quickly over the next couple of weeks, is to run over ground, work on his change of direction and start to integrate (him) back into training.”

http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2019-02-05/skins-injury-update-preseason

 

[eDPS]

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Easily next captain after Hep.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

I don't generally get down with footy fluff pieces but that was a very interesting read and, frankly, reinforces how impressive this guy is and why people underestimate him at their massive peril

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Just going. Haven't been super happy with him for a while now.

Needs to get some mongrel back.

 

[yaco55]

Kelvin is on the mark - merrett has more to give.

 

[calyam]

Clearly tracking a few weeks behind the rest of the group due to his injury. Over the next two weeks he can hopefully close the gap because, if recent history is any guide, Essendon doesn't play particularly well unless Merrett is fit and firing.

 

[JayJ20]

I've had enough of his ball watching and half-arsed attempted tackles/contests.
What made him good was his fierceness. Has become too lazy.

 

[7zark7]

There is something wrong with him. Was easily our best mid 2years ago. He put in zero effort today. In fact his effort was negative if that is possible. He is my favourite player and it is killing me.

 

[EnolaGay]

There is something wrong with him. Was easily our best mid 2years ago. He put in zero effort today. In fact his effort was negative if that is possible. He is my favourite player and it is killing me.

He can't be fit, surely? He was awful in the JLT and no better today, not like him at all. At least you could rely on effort from him, but not showing that so far this year.

 

[ghostdog]

OPtimistic that it's a form issue. We've learned from the Joe experience, right?

 

[citizen-erased]

OPtimistic that it's a form issue. We've learned from the Joe experience, right?

form does not dictate running and fatigue.
He looked cooked midway through the 3rd. And could not track his man. This is the Merrett that took Selwood and Danger down last year.

Gotta be fitness issues.
Surely has not recovered from the preseason issue.

 

[quotemokc]

form does not dictate running and fatigue.
He looked cooked midway through the 3rd. And could not track his man. This is the Merrett that took Selwood and Danger down last year.

Gotta be fitness issues.
Surely has not recovered from the preseason issue.

Its not like us to play an underdone player

 

[citizen-erased]

Its not like us to play an underdone player

Lost a GF in 2001 doing so and haven't learnt a thing since.

If Merrett is underdone, Parish is a perfectly good replacement.
This kid is elite. And he hasn't looked it this year. Even if he's over the injury, a week in a VFL practice match wouldn't have hurt.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

 

[BrunoV]

I like a lot of your work Kelvin. I genuinely do but an even more apt title would be "Pointless".

 

[IggypopsTshirt]

He’s not fit. Out for Parish this week surely.