Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd doesn’t believe the footy public would begrudge Zach Merrett if he made the decision to depart the Bombers and seek premiership success elsewhere.
The 29-year-old is on track to win his sixth club best and fairest at the end of the season and has been utilised in a variety of roles, potentially to his own detriment, as the Bombers attempt to push experience into young players amid a crippling injury toll.
Essendon’s season has been derailed by injuries, but unless something changes drastically in the next few years, it’s hard to imagine the club pushing into September and attempting to win their first final in 20 years.
READ MORE: Demon dismantled after stunning Djokovic in first set
READ MORE: Maroons selection ‘error’ laid bare by teammate’s romp
READ MORE: Lara’s 21-year record survives after skipper’s shock declaration
Journalist Sam McClure posed the question to Lloyd on Nine’s Footy Classified.
“It doesn’t feel like this guy is going to have success at Essendon … is there an opportunity for both parties to get something out of (trading him),” McClure asked.
“It’s going to be hard for Essendon fans to hear, but I think it’s a conversation that has to be had now.”
Zach Merrett of the Bombers looks dejected after a loss. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Lloyd struggles to see a world where the Dons would willingly part with Merrett, given he is contracted until the end of 2027.
“(Essendon) won’t be entertaining it, they would only consider it if Zach decided he didn’t want to be there anymore,” Lloyd said.
“No one would begrudge him, they would internally, but the neutrals wouldn’t.
“Zach will win his sixth best and fairest this year at Essendon and he will have achieved absolutely everything you can at Essendon bar playing in a winning final.
“So, that would be the conversation he may want to have or think about having, but we’re obviously speculating.”
The Bombers have not won a finals game in more than two decades.
Lloyd said he would understand if Merrett opted to chase the allure of finals elsewhere, but it would come at the cost of his legacy as a one-club champion.
“That’s what you play footy for. Jimmy (Bartel) and I, once your career is over, all you remember is those big finals you played in, nothing else, and that’s what he won’t ever have unless he moves clubs,” he said.
“(Carlton star) Patrick Cripps, I felt the same about him three or four years ago and he got to play in finals and a prelim … we think about Matthew Richardson, he didn’t win (a flag at Richmond), but he is a Richmond legend because he stayed at one club.
“So that’s the ideal, but you play football for one reason and that’s for a chance at a premiership, and it doesn’t look like it is coming for him in his time at the club.”
Lloyd has served as a mentor for Merrett for a number of years, with the two, alongside former Essendon captains Dyson Heppell, Jobe Watson and James Hird, publicly catching up earlier this season.
Footy Classified is now available as a podcast! Subscribe/follow via Apple, Spotify or Google Podcasts
St Kilda attempted to lure the star midfielder last season, reportedly offering him an enormous pay rise to switch clubs.
He turned them down and this resulted in the Dons renegotiating the final years of Merrett’s existing contract, giving him a much-deserved pay bump.
Essendon skipper Zach Merrett. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Geelong great Jimmy Bartel believes the onus is on Essendon to give Merrett a reason to stay.
“He is going to retire an Essendon legend,” Bartel said.
“He might win eight best and fairests by the time he finishes and it’s a reflection of how great he is.
“And somehow Essendon has got to sell him the plan and keep him engaged. You’ve to go value him and respect him with that.
“It would be a crowning glory if he took them to winning finals, but if that’s still four years down the track, you’ve got to keep him (engaged) somehow.”
The Bombers last made the eight in 2021, losing an elimination final to the Western Bulldogs in Tasmania.
