Kane Cornes Questions Zach Merrett's Essendon Value After 'Strange' Pre-Match Act
Channel 7 commentator Kane Cornes has cast doubt on star midfielder Zach Merrett's value to the Essendon Football Club, pointing to a "strange" pre-match act that has come to light. The scrutiny follows Merrett's tumultuous off-season, where he shocked the AFL world by requesting a trade to Hawthorn at the end of last season.
Merrett's Captaincy and Trade Request Fallout
Merrett, who was captain at the time, ultimately remained with Essendon after the club held firm and kept the six-time club champion to his contract. However, upon his return, he relinquished the captaincy, sparking internal discussions. Disappointed teammates Mason Redman and Nic Martin held clear-the-air talks with Merrett, but the Bombers have insisted the playing group has moved on over the summer.
The 'Strange' Act That Raised Eyebrows
Merrett was back in the spotlight on Friday night as Essendon opened their season against Hawthorn. While he recorded a game-high 32 disposals and kicked a brilliant goal, it was his pre-match behavior that drew attention. The 30-year-old was spotted warming up alone in the rooms, which is not unusual, but he then emerged as the last Essendon player onto the field.
Cornes commented on this act during The Agenda Setters, stating, "I'm not going to be super critical of this, I was a player who liked my own space... but I did think the running out last — making a statement to run out last, way behind all of your teammates on the first night you're not captain, that's strange." He suggested Merrett could have avoided making a statement by simply going to the middle with the team.
Questioning Merrett's On-Field Role and Impact
Cornes further questioned Merrett's worth to Essendon, pondering whether he has become an "outside player." Despite his high disposal count, Merrett managed only two tackles and four clearances against a relatively inexperienced Hawthorn midfield. Cornes argued, "He looked like he wanted to avoid contact. This is not the player Essendon need right now, they don't need any more outside distributors." He emphasized that Essendon requires Merrett to emulate players like Sam Durham and focus on grunt work inside the contest.
In contrast, Hawthorn's young midfielders, including Josh Ward, Cam Mackenzie, and Connor Macdonald, impressed in the match, leading Cornes to suggest that Hawthorn might not need another outside receiver like Merrett. He speculated that Hawthorn could instead target players like Zak Butters in the future.
Broader Implications for Essendon's Strategy
The discussion extended to Essendon's broader list management decisions. Cornes acknowledged that Essendon made the right move in keeping Merrett initially but conceded it might prove wrong over time. Fellow panelist Nick Riewoldt argued that the decision benefited no one, stating, "It was strong, but who did it benefit? I think it just benefited the way we viewed Essendon as a football club. It didn't benefit their list." He pointed to missed opportunities in draft picks like Tsatas, Nik Cox, and Perkins.
Craig Hutchison added that Essendon missed a chance for a quick rebuild, similar to Richmond's approach, by not trading Merrett. He said, "It cost them an enormous quick rebuild that they are just unwilling to accept that they need to do quickly. They had a chance to be like Richmond and they balked at it."
As Essendon navigates this challenging period, Merrett's role and the club's strategic decisions remain under intense scrutiny from commentators and fans alike.
