Essendon Bombers star Zach Merrett opens up on emotional year, coaching search
Merrett suggested this comes at a cost.
“I was naive about the amount of chatter and focus and noise that was probably going to come out this year. I think a lot of it was justified, some of it was probably over the line, over the line, with the obsessive nature of some of the personalities in the media,” he said at the AFL’s launch of children’s football month.
“But like I said before, I’m rocking every day, doing my dream job. Obviously, there’s a lot of greatness, a lot of fun, enjoyment and passion that comes with football. That’s five percent [negativity] It probably costs 95 percent. So I understand that it is. This is what I love to do.
“But yes, there were undoubtedly some dark moments.”
Merrett, a six-time Crichton medalist, said he had addressed the criticism with two prominent media figures.
“They evaluate how I play, I’m not going to criticize their opinion, it’s their opinion. Maybe if they could back it up with some data that would be good… They don’t know what my intentions are, what I do from nine to five, Monday to Friday. They are paid to have opinions,” he said.
“I’ve had a few conversations with a few people behind closed doors in the media and that’s where it’s going to stay. There were a few things that went wrong, an imbalance in the reporting, which was a bit frustrating.”
Television and radio commentator Kane Cornes has been a critic, accusing Merrett of “giving up” in his uncharitable assessment of his performance against North Melbourne earlier this season.
Typically a high-ball midfielder, Merrett averages 28.4 disposals per game and has spent more time as a halfback under Solomon.
Merrett said he wants to become a “more well-rounded player” and that some areas of his game are “trying to get better on a weekly basis.”
“Last month I feel like I’ve been walking on water a little bit, like I’ve been running through quicksand,” he said.
“Like I said with Brad, it was a pretty emotional time. We said goodbye last week, which was nice, just to get away from here and spend a week with my son and my wife and mentally and emotionally reflect and process the last few weeks.”
Potentially facing his eighth new coach [including interims] Merrett said the Bombers did not need an “Essendon person” to take on the role on a permanent basis, as he was a second-round draft pick in 2013.
James Hird, the club’s big name and former coach, and Solomon are two of the prominent names associated with this job. While Solomon has yet to announce his interest, Hird has made clear his intention to step down for the third time.
Bombers chairman Andrew Welsh is working to approve the coaching sub-committee and criteria.
Merrett said Hird and Solomon would each make excellent senior coaches and stressed that “connection” with players was the key element a coach needs when dealing with today’s players.
He said Solomon had not only demonstrated the ability to connect with players and build trust, but also tactically tightened up the Bombers’ leaky defence.
Solomon has lost all three games since replacing Scott, while the Bombers have also been affected by a long injury list.
Merrett said it was not an issue that Hird had spent a considerable amount of time outside the AFL system over the last decade, stating that he would have a team of assistants and “it’s pretty easy to get up to speed on any technical elements”.
“He’s got an incredible football mind, he’s great with people… I don’t see any problems with James coming back,” Merrett said.
Hird served as manager twice, the first from 2011 to 2013, the second year marred by the supplement scandal which led to his suspension by the AFL. He returned in 2015 but parted ways before the end of the season.
He spent time as an assistant coach with the Giants in 2022, when former teammate Mark McVeigh became the interim coach. He impressed as director of coaching at the VFL club at Port Melbourne.
Last week Hird spoke at a fundraiser for men’s mental health and said he had “the fire in me to do something special” if he won the top role.
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Jon Pierik is a sports reporter for The Age. He covers the AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect with: X or email.
