Zach Merrett has been tabled a fresh multi-year offer to remain at Essendon, with club great James Hird urging him to put the never-ending contract saga to bed.
The former captain was pushing for a trade months ago after meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell, but eventually stayed put with the Bombers.
Merrett stepped down from the captaincy after the back-and-forth over his future, but has started the season in his usual midfield role.
READ MORE: Rankine ‘firing’ for return as coach applauds ‘leader’
READ MORE: Brazilian megastar mocks furious Man City fans
READ MORE: Haddin lands coaching gig after ‘brutal’ mid-game axings
AFL.com.au reporter Cal Twomey revealed on Tuesday night that a contract extension was now in front of Merrett to remain in the red and black kit beyond 2027.
Zach Merrett. Getty
“He’s now considering this offer,” Twomey said on Nine’s Footy Classified.
“He’s contracted until the end of 2027, but we can say that this new deal has been put to him in recent weeks and expected to be worth around $1.2 million per season.
“It would also incorporate a lift in his pay for the remaining year of his deal.
“Essendon hasn’t done this on a whim or out of the blue, there’s been talks going back and forth for a number of weeks now.
“He’s been through two different management groups over the last few months and he’s changed manager, there’s been more discussion around this.Â
“There have been discussions both ways – if Zach didn’t want to talk about his contract and his future at Essendon, this wouldn’t have progressed as it has.”
Merrett is undoubtedly Essendon’s most important player, having won the club’s best and fairest award on six occasions, including the last three in a row.
Zach Merrett with the Anzac Day Medal. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Speaking during a debate on the panel, Hird, who captained the club’s last flag win in 2000 before also coaching the Bombers, urged all parties to come to the table and put the bad blood of last year behind them and move forward together.
“Everyone’s had enough of whether he’s staying or going,” Hird said.
“If he signs now it ends it, he is loyal and gonna stay at Essendon for the rest of his career. I think that’s important for both Zach and Essendon that if he’s gonna stay, they make that decision. If the contract is in front of him and they want the story dead and buried and want to move on, he needs to sign it quickly.
“If I was Zach Merrett, there’s no way I’d want to go through what he went through at the end of last year. It was no good for him, the club or anyone.
“He’s the best Essendon player by a long way and they can’t afford to lose a player of his quality. If he stays – I think he will – and leads them not necessarily to the premiership, but the start of that incline in two or three years time, this will all be forgotten.
“If he’s seen as the guy that hung around and helps build them back up to win a final, he will be remembered as a fantastic Essendon person.”
Eddie McGuire conceded while it was unlikely the 30-year-old would taste premiership success with a young Essendon list before he retires, but agreed he would be looked upon fondly by the club’s fans if he sticks around and helps the rebuild.
“Really, he’s saying ‘I’m prepared not to win a premiership in my career’ chances are, maybe at the very last bit,” the former Collingwood president said.
“You never know, he might go until he’s 40 – he is very fit and durable and does everything right. In the end, if he does this, he’s going to be a great Essendon person.”Â
Merrett has played 251 games for the Dons since his debut in 2014, kicking 87 goals.