Tim Watson has put to bed the speculation surrounding Essendon midfielder Zach Merrett, saying he will be at the Bombers in 2021.
The Essendon star is contracted with the club until the end of next season, but has been linked with a move out of Tullamarine in recent weeks.
Watson said he’s been reassured that Merrett will not be leaving Essendon.
“I got a call yesterday in the afternoon that concerned me a little bit, but I’ve been assured that he’s not going anywhere, he’ll be staying at Essendon, he does have a contract of course,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“People read into this, the fact that he got left out of the leadership group and maybe he’s still unhappy there at Essendon, but I was told categorically that he would not be going anywhere.
“There has been some scuttlebutt out there that he might want to go to Melbourne or Melbourne is really interested in him and he’s got a great mate in Michael Hibberd and obviously he was coached by Simon Goodwin as well, but that’s not going to be the case as it was put to me yesterday.”
Merrett’s strong 2020 season saw him finish second in Essendon’s best and fairest to young defender Jordan Ridley.