Essendon Bombers skipper Zach Merrett not sighted as preseason campaign for 2026 gets underway
“But yes, we will welcome him with open arms. He is our best player and we cannot deny that. He will make us a better team because of it.”
Loading
Reid wasn’t sure when Merrett would return to practice.
“He still has two weeks until he officially returns, so I don’t know when he’ll be back,” he added.
“But we will support him when he does.”
Reid did not question whether he wanted Merrett to remain captain and said he would cast his vote when the time came.
Merrett has yet to formally address his teammates about the trade saga, but Reid said some players have “contacted him.”
Zach Merrett’s position as Essendon captain will certainly be a talking point this summer.Credit: Getty Images
Reid was confident Merrett’s return would go smoothly.
“I think the group just wants to move on. You can’t let the preseason or offseason get derailed,” he said.
Essendon finished 2025 with 13 consecutive defeats amid an injury crisis that meant 15 players made their AFL debuts for the club.
Reid, 23, impressed as a key defender before a hamstring injury derailed his season.
The former Victorian cricketer joins Essendon as head of high performance following stints at the Western Bulldogs and West Coast.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
But he is now fit and enjoying the new high-performance regime under Mathew Inness.
“Mat Inness and his team were fantastic,” he said.
“I think our offseason program is top notch and I think most kids agree.
Loading
“And it’s a really personalized thing, so I think the boys enjoy it and I enjoyed it, too. It’s been good.”
Nik Cox has been named among the main training group after the AFL concussion panel allowed the hapless reliever to return to pre-season.
Cox had traveled to the United States to seek advice from the UFC on concussions.
