Essendon great Tim Watson fears Zach Merrett has already played his last game in red and black. The Bombers captain, who has met with Hawthorn as speculation swirls, is understood to be set on leaving despite senior figures insisting he would not be traded.
Watson told SEN Breakfast he no longer sees a way back: “I think everything has moved in the wrong direction. Zach is a tenacious, focused and driven competitor. I have said before, I don't want him to leave.”
“I wanted Essendon to be able to find a way to communicate with him and repair the damage that's been done… But at the moment, at the most optimistic moment right now, I cannot see that happening. I think it's now turned into a situation where it's going to be, I think, nigh on impossible for him to come back and play at Essendon,” he further added.
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Senior voices shift the tone
Coach Brad Scott, CEO Craig Vozzo and president David Barham have all been firm in ruling out a trade, yet the mood altered when Mason Redman and Nic Martin admitted disappointment over Merrett’s talks with the Hawks. Watson suggested their remarks may even have been orchestrated, warning it risked driving a wedge inside the club.
The saga has since grown darker, with suggestions of “backgrounding” in the media and whispers about Merrett’s character. Caroline Wilson said: “The reason I reckon he'll go is because the club in the last few weeks have just been selectively letting people know about little acts of selfishness, disrespecting AFLW players, just little things along the way.”
For Watson, the crisis is emblematic of wider unrest. With Sam Draper bound for Brisbane and Jordan Ridley looking around, he argued Essendon must confront uncomfortable truths: “When you’ve got three of your best group of players not wanting to play at your club, you’ve got a problem.”