Trade bait: Why Merrett is considering shock Dons extension

The footy world was stunned last week when it was revealed that Essendon star Zach Merrett was open to discussing a contract extension with the Bombers.

Merrett, who is currently contracted until the end of 2027, pushed for a trade move to Hawthorn just four months ago before the Dons stood firm on keeping their then-captain.

The star midfielder changed management groups after that failed move, with his new manager Nick Gieschen already having preliminary talks with the club about now making the 30-year-old a Bomber for life.

After breaking the news, Cal Twomey joined Kane Cornes and David King on SEN Breakfast, detailing where things sit in negotiations suggesting the club needs Merrett to stay if they are to lure other big names.

“Zach Merrett is open to discussions on a contract extension at Essendon. This has been swirling around for a week and a half. Preliminary talks have gone on,” Twomey told SEN Breakfast.

“This is the interesting point. Preliminary talks started in December and then as recently as this month. Across pre- and post-Christmas, he has had two different management groups. He made that management switch back to his original manager in Nick Gieschen in January.

“It’s a reasonable starting point that there is an interest to see what Essendon would be willing to do, and Essendon is now in considerations about what that potential contract extension could look like.

“There are still many steps to go before he signs on and is a Bomber for life, but this is certainly a starting point in terms of being able to assimilate back into the footy club.

“He came back in November, handed in the captaincy in late November, isn’t in the leadership group but has been training really well and is really invested in what they’re doing.

“I understand the surprise because this story has taken many turns over the last 12 months.”

The question on every footy fan’s mind once Twomey broke the report was simply this … what has changed since that failed move?

“I can’t answer that, and I’m not going to try. This is one that has been tentative steps from all parties," Twomey conceded.

“I would say though, footy clubs move on pretty quickly. Teammates move on pretty quickly, and that happens when a player arrives at a footy club, departs from a footy club.

“His teammates have welcomed him back really strongly. Andy McGrath is the captain now, and I think that’s a good fit.

“This deal has to get to the point where Essendon go away and put together an offer that is good enough that Zach Merrett wants to say ‘yes, I’m in, and for the long term’.

“I spoke to him a couple of years ago and he wants to play until he is 36, 37. He is 30 at the end of this season and he’s missed just eight games over his career.

“I’m of the view that things move and things change. If Essendon wants to be attracting top line players to their club, the free agents out there in Zak Butters, Zac Bailey, Ben King’s going to have offers in front of him as well, it’s very hard to do that when you’re best player – which Zach Merrett still is – is weighing up his future.

“How are you going to sell the place when your best player wanted to move?”

Merrett is set to face the team he attempted to join in Hawthorn when the Dons meet the Hawks in Round 1 at the MCG on March 13.