Watson questions Merrett’s status as Essendon captain

Essendon legend Tim Watson has questioned whether Zach Merrett can continue as club captain.

Speculation continues to swirl around the Bombers skipper who is exploring the possibility of leaving the club.

It has been reported by Tom Morris that Merrett has met with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell and footy boss Rob McCartney.

In the wake of that meeting, former Dons skipper Watson wonders if the captaincy should still sit with Merrett if he does happen to stay at Tullamarine.

“It’s at a very interesting and delicate stage,” Watson said on SEN Breakfast on Thursday morning.

“There’s a lot of negotiation that still needs to take place and relationship-building on all sides of this.

“If you’re going to take that step and actually meet with a club, sit down and talk to the coach and the coach’s wife, and to bring your partner along as well and have a round-table conversation - you’re a fair way down the track to trying to get out of a football club

“Even if he does stay now there are so many different components. You’ve got your skipper who is trying to actively leave and I don’t know that he can remain the captain of Essendon under these circumstances.

“Having said that, all things can be resolved. But I just don’t know if you can have somebody with the leadership tag associated to them who has demonstrated they’re not totally committed to what they’re doing and they don’t necessarily believe in where your football club is going.”

On Tuesday morning, Watson called on Merrett to come out and announce what he wants to do.

Morris also reported on Tuesday that the club’s board has decided unanimously that Merrett will not be traded under any circumstances.

And according to former Dons skipper Watson, it’s time for the player to follow suit.

“I think this whole thing can be put to bed within the next 24 hours,” Watson said on SEN Breakfast.

“But if we do not hear from Zach Merrett within the next 24 hours, I think he needs to come out, alongside the club, and say, ‘This is what I want to do, I want to stay at Essendon’.”

Co-host Garry Lyon interjected: “Which he’s said all year. He’s said over and over and over all year, ‘I am in for the long haul’.”

Watson continued: “Ok, but then there’s been a lot of conversation that’s gone on since then.

“I think now is the time to put up or shut up. We need to hear from him.”

Lyon wondered if the talk surrounding Merrett is real.

He asked: “Do you think the conversation is real though?

“I’m saying to you that Zach, on multiple times through the course of the year, said I’m staying the course, I’m staying the course, I’m staying the course.

“But do you think that’s real? Do you think he is exploring the possibility of him getting out?”

Watson does believe it to be true, otherwise it wouldn’t have gone as far as talks with his manager Tom Petroro.

“I think it has to be. There’s been enough conversation around it that it has come from somewhere,” he said further.

“The fact that they contacted his manager after the board meeting and said, ‘Look, this is what we have decided unanimously - he’s not going anywhere’.

“I think the club has taken it as a real thing, a real threat and a real concern.

“That’s the next play, isn’t it? If he doesn’t come out and say something now and make a statement, then what do you think?”

Lyon added: “I think it’s on and they’re going to continue to explore.”

Watson concluded: “You still think it’s open.

“He has now got the power to close it all down once and for all.”