IS THIS year finally the year that Zach Merrett leaves Essendon? Well, according to Sam Edmund, it just might.<\/p>\n
Merrett, whose contract with the Bombers ends in 2027, reportedly had a meeting with high-ranking club officials about the direction of the club.<\/p>\n
Following that meeting, Edmund is of the understanding that the captain was less than impressed with the responses provided, considering that they look set to lose the experienced duo of Sam Draper and Jordan Ridley.<\/p>\n
But from a club point of view, some officials have expressed the view to Edmund that Merrett needs to make a definitive decision rather than going through the same scenario every off-season.<\/p>\n
“The big concern is the captain Zach Merrett,” Edmund explained on SEN’s Crunch Time.<\/p>\n
“Once again, he is restless, and there are some sections of the Essendon Football Club who, to be honest, are tiring of the annual dance that they do with their skipper.<\/p>\n
“And if they were to speak honestly, they would probably say it’s time to either put up or shut up.<\/p>\n
“But then there is the Merrett camp, who would suggest, ‘Hang on, Zach is thirty next month. He hasn’t played in a winning final in 250 games. He’s the most loyal bloke in the game, and is he going to get any success before Father Time knocks on his door?’<\/p>\n
“So, it’s all a bit tense at the moment at Essendon. None more so than in this club (officials and) Merrett two-hour meeting that took place about a fortnight ago about the direction of Essendon and the status of its playing list.<\/p>\n
“This involved Matt Rosa, the still relatively new list boss. The chief executive, Craig Vosso and Merrett’s manager, Tom Petroro. Now, in this meeting, Merrett asked a series of questions of the club hierarchy, particularly around its playing list.<\/p>\n
“And my understanding is that the answers that came back to him didn’t exactly fill the captain with a great deal of optimism, particularly when the conversation turned to the pending departures of Sam Draper and the lack of replacement options.<\/p>\n
“So, the concern is clearly, as they embark on this draft first list strategy and the experienced players depart, this is exposing an underbelly that doesn’t appeal to a player who is 30 years of age and just pines for success.”<\/p>\n
It was reported last year that St Kilda was interested in Merrett’s services. According to the 30-year-old, the offer from the Saints was big enough for him to provide serious consideration about it before deciding to stay.<\/p>\n
Although, it appears unlikely that the Saints would be able to get him into their side considering their situation at the moment.<\/p>\n
The Trade Period will not officially start until October 6.<\/p>\n