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Sport Nation
"Craving success": Why Merrett wants out of the Bombers
SEN • September 10th, 2025 8:26 pm
SEN's Sam Edmund has revealed the details of why Zach Merrett is reportedly looking for a move away from Essendon as speculation continues to rise on the captain's future at the club.
Merrett reportedly met with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell on Tuesday night to discuss the prospect of joining the Hawks in 2026.
The Essendon captain is contracted with the Bombers until 2027.
Edmund spoke with Zach Merrett's manager Tom Petroro of TGI Sport about Merrett's motivation to explore a move to Hawthorn.
“He has told me that Zach is in this position because of his hunger for success," Edmund told SEN's Sportsday.
“Tom Petroro told me moments ago that Zach’s craving success, he’s driven for it, he knows he’s closer to the end of his career than the start.
“He can see the young talent on the Bombers list and he thinks the last two drafts have been brilliant, so that’s the likes of (Isaac) Kako, (Nate) Caddy, Archie Roberts, Angus Clarke and such.
“The question is for Zach, as Tom explained to me, is this talent mature enough or will it mature quick enough in the time that he can have some success – finals success, premiership success.
“He’s 12 seasons into his career, the current captain, has never played in a winning final, and he turns 30 next month.
“The player-coach relationship I’m told is healthy, is resolute.
“He has asked questions considering the list management direction, but the culture at Essendon he’s not upset with or disenchanted with.
“He did recontract last year, but Essendon were fourth three quarters of the way through last year. They’ve had a horrific run with injury in the time since then and the wheels have fallen off.
“This is as simple as him just wanting some success before father time calls.”
Craig Vozzo the CEO of Essendon is joining Garry Lyon and Tim Watson at 7:30am tomorrow morning to answer all the questions on Zach Merrett’s future at the Bombers.
