An Essendon great can’t see Zach Merrett walking back through the doors at the club.

Plus a bold play for a dual Brownlow medallist earlier this season has been revealed.

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‘TURNED NASTY’: BOMBERS LEGEND SAYS MERRETT, CLUB SHOULD PART WAYS

Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd believes star skipper Zach Merrett shouldn’t return to the club after things have “turned nasty” in the fallout from the star skipper’s meeting with Hawthorn.

Merrett’s catch up with the Hawks this week raised eyebrows as the gun midfielder seriously considers a trade away from Tullamarine in a saga starting to get ugly, with reports suggesting he mightn’t attend Essendon’s best and fairest next month.

Teammates and fellow leadership group members Mason Redman and Nic Martin expressed their disappointment with Merrett’s Hawthorn meeting. Meanwhile Merrett’s manager, Tom Petroro from TGI Sport, via SEN’s Sam Edmund detailed the five-time best and fairest’s reasons for wanting to leave the Bombers.

Despite the uproar, Essendon president David Barham in statement reaffirmed Merrett, contracted for two more seasons, wouldn’t be traded.

However Lloyd believes it’d be best for both the club and Merrett, who last year considered a move to St Kilda, to go their separate ways at this point.

Panel react to Mitchell-Merrett question | 01:01

“My view is he’s certainly made a call (to leave). For every time he’s contemplated it, this is now he’s gone all-in,” Lloyd said of Merrett on 3AW.

“There’s no easy way to break-up in life, whether it’s a relationship or with your footy club, it always turns ugly.

“He’s captain of the footy club and he has decided: ‘This is not where I want to be anymore’.

“Between him and his manager, I’ve never seen something more open. His manager is giving quotes to journalists and the reasons why Zach doesn’t want to be there.

“It’s turned nasty against him from his club.

“I just think for both parties now, it would be best if he wasn’t playing for the Essendon Football Club next year.”

Betts backs Hill for return | 01:09

While Merrett has been long adored by Bombers fans, Lloyd fears “hurt” supporters hoping the skipper would be a one-club player have suddenly “turned” on him.

“I am already seeing it and hearing it. People who love Zach Merrett and have always loved and admired him, they’ve turned on him,” Lloyd added.

“The venom that’s coming towards him from Essendon people, they’re hurt and shattered.

“That a guy who should win his sixth best and fairest … they wanted him to be their Matthew Richardson at Richmond, Patrick Cripps at Carlton and Shane Crawford at Hawthorn.”

It comes after confirmation Sam Draper will leave the Bombers in free agency, while Jordan Ridley is also reportedly seeking a trade.

And Lloyd could understand Merrett’s reasons for wanting out after 12 seasons at the club and no success.

“On his side, he’s going: ‘I don’t want to go in half baked … I’ve done that for years. Nothing’s changed, I’ve now lost Draper and I’m probably losing Ridley. I want to win some finals, it’s not going to happen (here), so I am out’,” the 2000 premiership Bomber continued.

“So I can see both sides of it.”

EAGLES’ BOLD MID-SEASON PLAY FOR NEALE

West Coast reportedly made a bold play for Lions star co-captain Lachie Neale earlier this year — an approach the dual Brownlow medallist turned down.

Neale in 2021 was a linked with a move back to Western Australian via Fremantle, where he started his career, before starting put at the Lions and helping lead the club to the 2024 premiership.

And according to 9 News Perth, the Eagles had a crack at luring the 32-year old, who’s originally from South Australia, back to Perth around mid-season.

“It can be revealed that the Eagles already inquired about his services,” reporter Paddy Sweeney said.

“In a bid to add experience and leadership, West Coast asked the question mid-season if the Brisbane co-captain would entertain a move back to WA — an advance which the 32-year-old turned down.”

Neale, who’s set to miss the rest of the finals series with a calf issue, is contracted at Brisbane until the end of 2026.