Dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna has backed Zach Merrett and Essendon to maturely \u201cget on with it\u201d next year, should the star midfielder remain at the Bombers.<\/p>\n
And Herald Sun chief football reporter Jay Clark believes a St Kilda on-baller could help alleviate the leadership burden on Merrett.<\/p>\n
Essendon on Monday opened the AFL\u2019s trade period by shutting down talk of a potential Merrett trade with Hawthorn \u2013 the player\u2019s preferred destination \u2013 and refused to budge on its plans to keep him at the club.<\/p>\n
Watch every match of the 2025 NAB AFL Women\u2019s Season LIVE ad-break free during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n Merrett, who won his sixth club best and fairest last week<\/a>, conceded there are \u201ccomplexities and uncertainties\u201d about his future, having met with Hawks coach Sam Mitchell<\/a>.<\/p>\n But following a statement from new president Andrew Welsh that Merrett would be kept to the final two years of his contract, list boss Matt Rosa was adamant on Monday<\/a> the captain was a \u201crequired player\u201d and he\u2019d made no official request for a trade.<\/p>\n \u201cThe conversations are ongoing though, there\u2019s been really good dialogue between Zach and the club,\u201d Rosa said.<\/p>\n The AFL silly season is here! | 03:16<\/p>\n \u201cZach will be an Essendon player next year. If he does (request a trade), nothing will change from our end. Zach is fully aware of that.\u201d<\/p>\n Hawthorn list manager Mark McKenzie said the Hawks would consider bundling picks for Merrett but remain satisfied with going to the draft if they miss the star midfielder.<\/p>\n Yet the Hawks are \u201cfocused almost entirely on Merrett in this trade period\u201d, according to <\/a>The Age<\/a>, which also suggested the Bomber \u201cfaces the highest degree of difficulty\u201d of all big-name players (Charlie Curnow and Christian Petracca) in a smooth path to his preferred club.<\/p>\n All parties, though, have another week to sort out a potential deal ahead of the trade period deadline (Wednesday October 8, 7.30pm AEST).<\/p>\n Speaking on Fox Footy\u2019s Trading Day, Clark said Merrett faced a nervous seven-day wait.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels like this is the deal that is going to go down to the last 10 minutes on deadline day,\u201d Clark told Trading Day.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m interested in the role of his manager Tom Petroro \u2013 one of the most senior figures in the AFL \u2026 He will play a significant hand in this deal.\u201d<\/p>\n Clark then asked his fellow Trading Day panellists whether Merrett would leave or remain at Essendon.<\/p>\n Zach Merrett of the Bombers. Picture: Quinn Rooney\/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n David Zita said: \u201cI reckon they\u2019re going to hold firm. I reckon the Bombers keep him. Andrew Welsh, since he\u2019s come in they\u2019ve cast a very different tune publicly. I know things can change behind the scenes, but I just feel like at this stage Essendon holds him.\u201d<\/p>\n Josh Barnes said: \u201cWhat are we up to \u2013 ex-president, current president, CEO and list manager saying he\u2019s staying? I think that means he has to stay, doesn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n Montagna said: \u201cCall me gullible next week, but I think he\u2019s staying. But I could have egg on the face.\u201d<\/p>\n Should Merrett remain a Bomber, Montagna said both player and club would show professionalism to quickly work through any lingering tension.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be awkward for about the first day or two,\u201d Montagna told Trading Day. \u201cA few teammates might thrown some barbs at him and have a bit of fun with it. After a week of pre-season, they\u2019ll all be back into it.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s still mates with them all, he\u2019s their best player and they\u2019ll get on with it.\u201d<\/p>\n