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Merrett wants out: An “ugly war” is brewing at Essendon
Andrew Slevison • September 12th, 2025 11:40 am
SEN’s Tom Morris has provided further information on the Zach Merrett situation, which is fast becoming a saga with multiple elements.
The Essendon captain has met with Hawthorn and it is clear that he wants to leave the Bombers despite being contracted for two more seasons.
Morris has likened this story to last year’s Christian Petracca chronicles which saw the Melbourne star push to get out of the Demons.
But he feels this one is far more serious given Merrett’s desire to depart.
“Make no mistake here, this is the Christian Petracca situation on steroids. Petracca last year was desperate to get out, he was talking to everyone behind the scenes,” the Channel 9 journalist said on SEN’s Fireball.
“I think Merrett is very much willing to go a step further which is eventually speak publicly, maybe, not go to the best and fairest and really make it impossible for Essendon to do anything else but look at a trade if a deal is right.
“This is only going one way I reckon.”
Will he be a Don in 2026?
Is it more likely than not that the five-time Crichton Medallist won’t be at Essendon next year?
“Yeah. Essendon can say whatever they want at the moment, and obviously they can hold him if they want to,” Morris added.
“But the way this is tracking, I think it’s more likely that he’s not there.”
Ugly war brewing
Merrett’s teammates, Mason Redman and Nic Martin, have both expressed disappointment in their skipper’s inclination.
Add to that the strong stance from both senior coach Brad Scott and CEO Craig Vozzo and an “ugly war” is brewing at The Hangar.
“Look at all the players that are coming out now and speaking about the the Merrett situation,” Morris continued.
“Look at Brad Scott and Craig Vozzo speak about the situation.
“This is becoming a really ugly war between the captain and an all-time great of the club who is about to win his sixth best and fairest, and one of the biggest football clubs in the country.
“It’s amazing to watch it unfold.”
Hawks meeting strategically leaked?
It has been rumoured that Merrett’s meeting with Hawks coach Sam Mitchell and footy boss Rob McCartney was leaked strategically, but Morris insists he was unaware of anybody else - bar one person - receiving a heads up on the story.
“I’ve heard this, and given that I did the story I know where it’s come from and I can tell you it wasn’t strategic at all,” he replied.
“It wasn’t planted with me just to go with the story. In fact, the only person that got the heads up on the story in this entire situation was the Hawthorn media manager about five minutes before I did it.
“The manager didn’t get a heads up, no one else got a heads up. I just went and did the story, so it wasn’t strategic.”
Cap in hand for more cash
There is a narrative that last year before Merrett signed a new deal, prior to St Kilda making contact, his manager Tom Petroro went to the club cap in hand and asked for more money.
But Morris says that is not necessarily the case.
“It’s actually not how it played out,” he said.
“Essendon knew that he was being underpaid. They offered an increase of about $200,000 a year for the last three years of his contact which took him to be about $800,000-$850,000.
“Then St Kilda came and offered about $1.6 million and you’d be silly not to consider that, which he did, then rejected it to stay at Essendon.
“So it’s not he went to the club and said, ‘Pay me more or I’m out’, which is the narrative that has been around.”
Possible Hawks offer and potential trade
On the topic of money, and any potential deal that might appease the Dons, Morris speculated on what could eventuate.
The Dons would need serious compensation in the way of draft picks if their best player was to walk out the door.
“It’s not about money, it’s purely about success and about winning. He’s willing to blow it up all to do it. That’s the way it looks anyway.
“I don’t think Hawthorn would pay much more than $1 million for him per year. They’d probably tack a couple of years on to his deal.
“I don’t think it’s hugely different to what Essendon is willing to offer.
“I’d imagine the starting point would be two first-rounders - one this year and one next year. Then they’d probably want more as well.”
Poor reflection
Merrett is not the only one who reportedly wants out at Essendon.
Defender Jordan Ridley has expressed his desire to step away from the Dons after a tough run with injuries.
The whole situation suggests to Morris that things aren’t going all that well at Tullamarine.
“He would know his reputation is being put through the mud. He knows that if he happened to stay he would lose the captaincy,” Morris concluded.
“What does that say about how much he wants to get out, and about the Essendon Football Club.
“If you compare him and Jordan Ridley, two of the most professional players at the club who both want to leave, I think that reflects really poorly on the Bombers.”
