Zach Merrett has revealed he felt compelled to take St Kilda’s “potentially life changing” offer seriously, while the Bomber skipper was “pissed off” as suggestions he’d put relationships with teammates ahead of the club.
In a candid interview with the Age, Merrett confirmed a report from Channel 9’s Tom Morris that the Saints attempted to lure him to the club with a “godfather offer.”
The report stated the informal approach to Merrett, contracted at Essendon until 2027 on a six-year deal signed in 2021, exceeded north of $1 million.
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The 28-year old said his manager informed him of St Kilda’s huge offer — an offer so significant he felt obliged to discuss it with his partner.
“I was driving home one day and got a call from my manager and I had not had one single thought about leaving or wanting to leave, so got a call from him to say there is a potential offer from St Kilda that is quite large … I felt I had to take it to my partner (Alexandra) even though I did not have the appetite to leave, I felt it was the right thing to do,” Merrett told The Age.
“It was not that I wanted to leave. It was more: ‘This is potentially life changing.’ After a few discussions with my partner, who obviously knows me very well … money is one thing, but it never got to the stage where I want to entertain this, or I want to have a discussion with St Kilda.”
Both Essendon and St Kilda have since publicly rejected the possibility of a Merrett trade.
Merrett isn’t the only Bomber whose future has been a hot topic, with Jake Stringer and Jayden Laverde reportedly being told by the club they’re free to explore their options.
A report claimed Merrett met with coach Brad Scott to express disappointment with the club for not tabling extensions to the aforementioned duo — a claim the Essendon skipper was frustrated by.
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“I would never, ever put personal relationships or personal biases ahead of what is right for the team or decisions people are making at the club,” Merrett said.
“(Scott and I) chatted about everyone. He updated me on their exit interviews and the discussions that they had at the club with Jake and Jayden and their managers, but also with the guys who got delisted and also other players that may not have seemed as prominent or that I may not be as close with personally.
“It was more of a discussion, and he was keen to hear my thoughts on where I see individuals and the guys I thought could help us moving forward as well. It was a healthy discussion.
“I can cop feedback on my footy and give me as much feedback as you want and how bad I am at footy but when it was tossed up that I would try to push to get two of my mates on the list that just didn’t add up to me. That pissed me off.”
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