Three-time Richmond premiership player Jack Riewoldt has suggested he would struggle to trust Zach Merrett if he was currently a teammate of his at Essendon.

The star midfielder desperately attempted to get to Hawthorn in the trade period, a move that fell over at the deadline as the Bombers refused to trade him.

It has since emerged that Merrett and the Dons are in talks about a potential contract extension beyond 2027 in the aftermath. He also stood down as club captain, handing the reins to Andrew McGrath.

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Zach Merrett of the Bombers breaks a tackle during the AAMI Community Series. AFL Photos via Getty Images

However, Riewoldt isn’t buying it. He thinks Merrett is going to push for a trade request again at the end of the season, after another year of the Bombers failing to contend for a premiership.

“Fascinating the way it all finished. Mason Redman, who’s part of the club’s leadership group, saying he didn’t trust in Zach Merrett,” Riewoldt told Fox Footy on Monday night.

“The aftermath of everything that’s happened with Merrett, it leaves me in this position. We get reports that Zach is open to extending his contract past 2027.

“If I’m an Essendon supporter and I hear those sorts of comments from my ex-captain, a man who has wanted away from my football club, I think in eight months’ time we’re going to be in the exactly the same position.

“Mason Redman summed it up. I’d have a complete lack of trust in him as a player.

“None of us here would say Essendon would make the final 10, so they’re going to be in exactly the same situation.

“Zach Merrett’s going to be a year older, potentially his trade value’s going to come down, and I feel like we’re going to be having the same conversation in eight months’ time and he’s going to be asking for a trade.”

Riewoldt is referencing an interview during the trade period with Essendon defender Redman, who admitted he was “disappointed”, saying Merrett was “supposed to be leading us through this”.

Zach Merrett of Victoria kicks the ball during the 2026 AFL Origin match. AFL Photos via Getty Images

Former Essendon captain Tim Watson however says the bond between club and player has largely been repaired at this stage.

“I think there’s validity to what (Riewoldt) has said and I think you have to rebuild that trust. I hear it has (been rebuilt), but let’s wait and see how it plays out,” Watson told SEN on Tuesday morning.

“I know (president) Andrew Welsh has thrown his arms around Zach and they’ve told him how important he is to the organisation and they’ve tried to give him the vision of where the club is headed.”

Watson doesn’t think many players at the Bombers would revolt against a potential contract extension for Merrett, if it does come to pass.

“I think some (players) might (be perturbed). I can only go on my own experiences. It wouldn’t have been something I would have baulked at if a great player, who I had seen demonstrate over and over his commitment to self improvement and how he played, I would be thinking, we need that bloke in our team,” the premiership Bomber said.

Essendon and Hawthorn will face-off in round one of this season, bringing things quickly to a boiling point.