New details have emerged about the role Sam Mitchell’s wife played in a meeting with Essendon captain Zach Merrett on Tuesday night. And Bombers coach Brad Scott and CEO Craig Vizzo have both responded to calls for Merrett to lose the club captaincy.
Merrett met with Mitchell and Hawthorn officials on Tuesday night, and has been agitating for a trade away from Essendon. The skipper is reportedly keen to go somewhere that he thinks can win a flag, and doesn’t see it happening at the Bombers.
On Wednesday, leading reporter Tom Morris revealed Mitchell’s wife Lyndall and Merrett’s wife Alexandra were also involved in the meeting. Lyndall has played a key role in the recruitment of a number of Hawthorn players over the last year, including Josh Battle and Tom Barrass.
Sam Mitchell’s wife Lyndall (L) was involved in the meeting with Zach Merrett (R). Image: Getty
Mitchell uses wife Lyndall to spruik the family-orientated club to recruitment targets, and the coach’s wife often speaks to prospective players’ families about why they should join Hawthorn. Morris wrote on Wednesday: “Not for the first time, Sam Mitchell’s wife Lyndall was involved in last night’s recruiting pitch to a rival player. She played a pivotal role convincing Josh and Casey Battle to cross from St Kilda last year. The four-hour meeting was orchestrated by Hawthorn footy boss Rob McCartney, with Mitchell swooping in to sell the dream to Merrett and his wife.”
Morris added that Lyndall was “equally involved on Tuesday night with Merrett’s partner Alexandra” as she was when she helped the Hawks get Battle last year. “This is Hawthorn’s modus operandi,” Morris wrote. “They chase hard, all in the unashamed pursuit of improvement. For them, it’s not just about convincing the player, it’s about welcoming the family onboard.”
Sam Mitchell and wife Lyndall (L) attempted to spruik the Hawthorn dream to Zach Merrett and wife Alexandria (R). Image: Getty
Sam Mitchell’s wife playing key role in recruitment
Speaking last year, Craig Hutchison of Channel 9 and SEN commended the way Mitchell and wife Lyndall have changed the dynamics of player recruitment. Hutchison said Lyndall was effectively volunteering her time for free.
“The resource and time and volunteer time when it comes to the Mitchell couple they have put into recruiting…I think it has been an unbelievably considered move,” Hutchison said. “They have put an enormity amount of work in.
“She has supported Sam in explaining what the future looks like at Hawthorn. I think that is incredibly gracious and selfless to be in involved in the recruiting. And they have painted a fantastic picture of what Hawthorn can be as a family club. I think it is amazing what they have done.”
Sam Mitchell and wife Lyndall. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
RELATED:
Essendon respond to Zach Merrett captaincy calls
Meanwhile, Bombers coach Scott has stated that Merrett won’t be traded under any circumstances, but rejected calls to strip the captaincy off him. Fans are fuming that their captain has met with a rival club while under contract, and some are demanding the skipper be stripped of the honour.
But Scott said on Fox Footy on Wednesday night: “Of course he can be captain. No one’s perfect. Will it be a challenge based on this situation? Absolutely it will be. But I’ve seen him overcome bigger challenges than this.
“He’s a contracted captain. Our club’s position is we will not be trading him under any circumstances. I understand Zach. I love Zach. He’s so desperate for success, he wears his heart on his sleeve and he goes through these moments.”
Vozzo told SEN radio on Thursday there won’t be a decision around Merrett’s position as skipper while emotions are running high, and most likely not until early in 2026. “If I was to make an emotional decision I’d just say, ‘No way Zach can be the captain of the club.’ But it doesn’t work like that,” Vozzo said.
“You take the emotion out of it, understanding the honour and the privilege. The other critical piece, process-wise, is the position of his teammates. In every leadership process I’ve ever been involved in, the position of the senior players and the position of the playing group is critical to that assessment.”
‘Gloves are off’ for Brad Scott and Essendon
Scott was asked what he thought of Mitchell meeting with a second rival club’s captain after doing the same with Oscar Allen of West Coast earlier this year. “I think the world’s changing,” he responded.
“You know, there’d be a time and a place in which I’d be pretty disappointed. But the reality is now the gloves are off, and all is fair in love and war, and if that’s the path they want to go down then you know we’ll play at that game too.”
with AAP