Richmond great Jack Riewoldt has criticised Zach Merrett, saying he would have no trust in him as a teammate, following the Essendon star’s off-season trade request.
Merrett failed to get to Hawthorn as he desired, with the Bombers rejecting the Hawks’ best trade offer of three mid-to-late first-round picks and fringe midfielder Henry Hustwaite.
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Instead he had to return to the Bombers, losing the captaincy and facing up to teammates who publicly criticised his desire to leave the club.
Leadership group members Nic Martin and Mason Redman both conducted interviews during the trade period as part of an apparent media strategy from the Bombers.
Martin said he was “bitterly hurt” and “a little bit angry” when he heard the news, while Redman said he was “disappointed” given as captain Merrett was “supposed to be leading us through this”.
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Merrett’s first game since the trade request will be against Hawthorn in Round 1, but speaking on Fox Footy’s On the Couch, Riewoldt questioned how fans could have any faith in the midfielder sticking around after 2026.
“Fascinating the way it all finished. Mason Redman, who’s part of the club’s leadership group, saying he didn’t trust in Zach Merrett,” Riewoldt said.
“The aftermath of everything that’s happened with Merrett – it leaves me in this position. We get reports that Zach is open to extending his contract past 2027.
“If I’m an Essendon supporter and I hear those sorts of comments from my ex-captain, a man who has wanted away from my football club, I think in eight months’ time we’re gonna be in the exactly the same position.
“Mason Redman summed it up – I’d have a complete lack of trust in him as a player.”
Riewoldt expects the Bombers to miss the finals again and Merrett to therefore seek another trade to a contender.
“None of us here would say Essendon would make the final 10, so they’re gonna be in exactly the same situation,” Riewoldt said.
“Zach Merrett’s gonna be a year older, potentially his trade value’s gonna come down, and I feel like we’re gonna be having the same conversation in eight months’ time and he’s gonna be asking for a trade.”
Merrett enters the 2026 season with 251 career games, all of them at Essendon, having lost all four finals he has played in.
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