Zach Merrett has resigned as captain of Essendon after returning to the membership’s headquarters following his failed pursuit to land at Hawthorn.
Merrett addressed the gamers and soccer program on Wednesday morning, admitting he was “not the best individual” to steer the membership transferring ahead.
The 30-year-old started his pre-season early, returning in mid-November with the first- to fourth-year gamers relatively than on Monday with the remainder of the squad.
READ MORE: Captain ‘outplayed by a mile’ as new England issue arises
READ MORE: Seibold admits star could leave Manly amid three-club hunt
READ MORE: 1.4m followers and counting: Aussie golfer’s wild success story
“It has been an absolute honour to be the forty first captain of the Essendon Soccer Membership,” Merrett mentioned on Wednesday.
“Rising up, it was a childhood dream of mine operating across the yard in Cobden [in country Victoria], and it has been a possibility that my household and I are very happy with.
“Should you informed youthful me I might get to captain this membership for 3 years, I might have pinched myself. It has been one thing I’ve actually loved and cherished doing. I’ve actually loved being captain to steer so many nice present and previous gamers.”
Zach Merrett has resigned as Essendon captain. Getty
Merrett, who in 2025 received his third consecutive membership greatest and fairest gong and sixth total, admitted his unsuccessful try to depart the Bombers had been burdening him and mentioned it was essential he stepped down as Essendon captain.
“It has been weighing on my thoughts round who’s the very best individual to steer this membership and group transferring ahead, and I really feel like I’ve come to the choice that I am not the best individual,” Merrett mentioned.
He additionally spoke positively of the route through which the membership was headed, regardless of having made it patently clear solely a month in the past that he not needed to be in purple and black.
“There’s a lot optimism, pleasure and vitality on the membership, internally and externally, with the followers, adjustments with the high-performance workforce, our new draftees, top-end expertise,” Merrett mentioned.
“It seems like a lot pleasure and optimism and newness, and being such a younger group, it’s a nice likelihood for a younger chief to return in and develop with all of the group transferring ahead.
“Thanks to the membership, and to Scotty [coach Brad Scott] for giving me the chance to captain the membership.
“We’ll proceed to depart no stone unturned to ensure we play in that final Saturday in September.”
Zach Merrett main Essendon out throughout his time as Bombers captain. Getty
Among the many most topical tales of final month’s commerce interval have been Charlie Curnow’s move from Carlton to Sydney, Christian Petracca crossing from the Demons to the Suns and Merrett’s failed commerce try.
“Zach actually needs to be a Hawthorn footballer,” Merrett’s supervisor, Tom Petroro, informed AFL.com.au because the minutes ticked down within the commerce interval.
“He is all in on this. It has been a troublesome five- or six-week interval and his instruction to me is to attempt to get him to Hawthorn this afternoon.”
Merrett started as Essendon captain forward of the 2023 season, taking on from Dyson Heppell.
The Bombers completed eleventh in each his first and second seasons as captain, then fifteenth this yr as a monumental damage toll ravaged the enjoying listing.
Unsurprisingly, the AFL scheduled Essendon and Hawthorn to square off in spherical one of many 2026 season.
Talking on behalf of the Essendon board, members and supporters, Bombers president Andrew Welsh thanked Merrett for his “immense contribution” as captain.
“His tenure has coincided with a significant interval of cultural development for our membership,” Welsh mentioned.
“His ardour, elite requirements, and dedication to his teammates and drive to win showcases him as top-of-the-line on-field leaders within the AFL.
“This resolution is an instance of a selfless chief prioritising the very best pursuits of the membership transferring ahead.
“Zach and I’ve had many lengthy discussions just lately and he’s completely all in on our imaginative and prescient and might clearly see the route we’re heading. He is aware of what we’re constructing, and this resolution helps that long-term aim with a give attention to permitting the following wave of leaders to take management of this membership.
“Whereas he steps away from the captaincy, his affect on this enjoying group is not going to diminish. He stays a crucial chief for us, and we all know he will likely be integral to main the following part of our journey on discipline.”
