Zach Merrett has made his first appearance back at Essendon after failing in his bid to be traded to Hawthorn. The incumbent captain was a no-show on day one earlier this week, when only first-to-fourth-year players were required and he remained interstate following a wedding. But his absence did break the norm for a standard-setting player who would usually be there for the opening day of pre-season.
Vice-captain and heir apparent Andrew McGrath was there, along with fellow senior players Mason Redman, Kyle Langford, Jordan Ridley, Ben McKay and Peter Wright. Merrett, 30, did not train on Wednesday but underwent pre-season medical screening and saw the club physios. He is likely to return to the track this week, with teammates adamant he will be welcomed back with open arms despite the likelihood that the captaincy will be taken off him.
“The group’s galvanised. We’re all good,” defender Zach Reid said. “But yeah, we’ll welcome him back with open arms. He’s our best player, and there’s no denying that. So he’s going to make us a better team.” Reid added, “He’s still got two weeks until he’s officially back, so I don’t know when he will come back.”
Reid wouldn’t be drawn on whether he would like Merrett to remain skipper, saying he would cast his vote when the time came. Merrett has yet to officially address his teammates about the trade saga, though Reid said some players “have been in touch with him”. Reid was confident the super-professional Merrett’s return would go smoothly. “I think the group just wants to move on. You can’t let that sort of stuff like derail a pre-season or an off-season,” he said.
Essendon finished 2025 with 13 consecutive losses amid an injury crisis that meant 15 players debuted. Reid, 23, impressed as a key defender before a hamstring injury derailed his season. But he is fit and relishing a new high performance regime under Mathew Inness. “Mat Inness has been great, and the team he’s put together,” he said. “I feel like our off-season program has been top-notch, and I think a lot of the boys agree. And it’s really individualised, so I think the boys are liking that, and I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been good.”
Nik Cox was among the main training group after the AFL concussion board ticked off the luckless utility to return for pre-season. Cox had travelled to the United States for some advice from the UFC about concussions.
