Essendon midfielder Dylan Shiel is increasingly likely to be moved on next year but coach Brad Scott stopped short of labelling it “locked in”.

Shiel, 32, has been in and out of the Bombers’ senior side this year through form and recently suspension.

He collected 30 disposals and attended 14 centre bounces in Essendon’s 34-point loss to Carlton on Thursday night at the MCG.

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Scott denies the decision on Shiel’s future having already been made but says the midfielder understands he’s playing with “no guarantees”.

“Dylan and I talk about it all the time, it’s not my understanding (that it’s confirmed),” Scott said.

“I’ve given Dylan all the scenarios that he needs in terms of that we can’t guarantee a position for him next year and this has been a discussion we’ve had regularly throughout the season.

“There are a number of other players I’ve had the discussion with, I don’t want to go into them individually, he’s been fantastic, Dylan, in terms of his attitude.

“He understands the position the club is in and he understands the position he’s in and that there are no guarantees.

“It certainly hasn’t been locked in, the conversation has just been we can’t guarantee him a position on the list next year.”

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The Bombers have needed Shiel as injuries have plagued their season.

Sam Durham and Jayden Laverde pulled out late ahead of Thursday’s match to mark 18 players unavailable.

Ben Hobbs was listed as an emergency but Scott said he was also too sore to take the field.

Included in the players who were able to front up for Essendon was milestone man Zach Merrett.

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Merrett broke his hand a fortnight ago and underwent immediate surgery but produced 22 disposals and a game-high nine tackles in game 250.

Scott says Merrett is playing sore but expects his captain to travel to the Bombers’ rescheduled Opening Round game against Gold Coast on Wednesday.

“It’s sore, he’s had six holes drilled into his hand so it’s sore, it was always going to be a challenge for him to play,” he said.

“But we and he were reassured there was no risk, in fact it’s reinforced with the surgery and the plate that was put in his hand.

“Once he was assured of that there was no question he would want to play, but we struggled to have him in the centre bounce because he was hampered in there with that.

“He did what he always does, which is just keep fighting and competing, I thought he had an influence.

“Yeah, yeah, absolutely (he’ll go to Gold Coast), unless there’s a risk or he can’t function but he’ll be better next week than he was this week.”