Essendon icon Matthew Lloyd believes that the football community would not hold it against Zach Merrett if he chose to leave the Bombers in pursuit of premiership glory elsewhere.
At 29, Merrett is poised to secure his sixth club best and fairest award by season’s end. He has been deployed in numerous positions, sometimes to his own detriment, as the Bombers strive to blend experience with youth amid a significant injury crisis.
Injuries have derailed Essendon’s season, and unless there are drastic changes in the coming years, it seems unlikely that the club will contend for their first final victory in two decades.
Journalist Sam McClure raised the question with Lloyd on Nine’s Footy Classified.
“It seems unlikely that he will find success at Essendon… is there a mutual benefit to be gained from trading him?” McClure queried.
“This will be tough for Essendon supporters to swallow, but it’s a discussion that needs to happen now,” he added.
Zach Merrett of the Bombers looks dejected after a loss. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Lloyd finds it hard to envision Essendon willingly trading Merrett, especially as he is signed through to the end of 2027.
“(Essendon) likely won’t entertain the thought unless Zach expresses a desire to leave,” Lloyd noted.
“While there may be internal disappointment, no one outside the club would hold it against him.”
“This year, Zach will likely secure his sixth best and fairest award at Essendon, completing nearly everything but a winning final for the club.”
“That might be a conversation he needs to consider, but we’re obviously just speculating at this point.”
The Bombers have not tasted victory in a finals match for over 20 years.
Lloyd stated that he would understand if Merrett chose to pursue finals success with another club, but this would come at the cost of his legacy as a one-club champion.
“That’s why we play football. As Jimmy (Bartel) and I often say, when your career concludes, the big finals are what you remember — nothing else. And that’s what he won’t have unless he changes clubs,” he stated.
“I felt the same about (Carlton star) Patrick Cripps a few years ago, and now he’s played in finals and a preliminary final. Matthew Richardson didn’t win a flag at Richmond, but he’s a club legend because he remained loyal.”
“Ideally, that’s the situation, but ultimately, we play to have a shot at a premiership, and it seems that opportunity isn’t presenting itself during his career at Essendon.”
Lloyd has acted as a mentor to Merrett for several years, with both players, alongside former Essendon captains Dyson Heppell, Jobe Watson, and James Hird, meeting up publicly earlier this season.
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Last season, St Kilda made a bid to bring the star midfielder on board, reportedly offering a substantial pay rise to entice him to switch clubs.
Despite the tempting offer, Merrett declined, which led the Bombers to renegotiate the latter stages of his contract and provide him with a well-deserved salary increase.
Essendon skipper Zach Merrett. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Geelong great Jimmy Bartel emphasised that it falls on Essendon to entice Merrett to stay.
“He will retire as an Essendon legend,” Bartel remarked.
“He may finish with eight best and fairest accolades, which reflects how exceptional he is.”
“It’s crucial for Essendon to demonstrate their plan to keep him engaged; he deserves that recognition and value.”
“While guiding them to winning finals would be a crowning achievement, if that’s still several years away, they need to find a way to keep him invested.”
Essendon last reached the finals in 2021, where they suffered a loss in the elimination final to the Western Bulldogs in Tasmania.
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