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Crucial Bombers Figure Defects to Hawthorn as Merrett Saga Continues
Essendon captain Zach Merrett won his sixth best and fairest award but seeks a trade to Hawthorn despite a contract until 2027, highlighting ongoing club rebuild challenges.
- On Thursday night, Zach Merrett claimed the Crichton Medal at Centrepiece on 217 votes, moving to outright third in Essendon history behind Dick Reynolds and Bill Hutchison.
- Merrett met with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell weeks ago and is widely expected to request a trade when the exchange period opens next Monday.
- In addition to his best-and-fairest, Merrett received the McCracken Medal from Essendon great Simon Madden and said his dialogue with club leaders had been extremely open, attending the count before turning 30 on Friday.
- The Bombers have insisted they won't entertain any trade for Merrett, with Andrew Welsh, incoming Essendon president, declaring he will remain at the club in 2026 under contract through 2027.
- Such a departure would be rare, given Merrett would be the first in-contract club captain to leave since Ryan Griffen in 2014, and Essendon Football Club has not won a premiership since 2000.
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14 Articles
14 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left6Leaning Right2Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Left
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources lean Left
67% Left
L 67%
11%
R 22%
Factuality
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