Merrett faces the music at Essendon’s best and fairest as new president calls for unity

Essendon captain Zach Merrett kept his thoughts close to his chest as he arrived on Thursday night for the club’s best and fairest count, in which he is the red-hot favourite to win a sixth Crichton Medal.

But soon after the count began, new president and former player Andrew Welsh used his speech to call for the club to galvanise. “We win together, we lose together, but we stick together,” Welsh said.

Those words seemed particularly pointed, given Merrett is facing arguably the most significant fortnight of his football career after it emerged he met with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell last month. It was news that blindsided Essendon as the Bombers’ contracted captain had dined with coach Brad Scott just days earlier.

“I covered this at the Brownlow,” Merrett told waiting media at Centrepiece at Melbourne Park.

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Merrett attended the Brownlow Medal count last week and admitted to his significant unease at how the dramatic trade saga had panned out. The 251-gamer apologised to Essendon fans but stopped short of publicly committing his playing future at Tullamarine.

“I just want to say sorry to the fans, and I do feel a little bit of shame at the moment,” Merrett, who will be one of the biggest names of the AFL trade period, told Seven on the Brownlow red carpet.

“I’m not there to upset fans. They are the best in the comp and I appreciate them dearly, and we will see what happens in the next few weeks.”

Merrett did not want to elaborate on his thoughts when he made a low-key arrival for the Crichton Medal count.

Barely 24 hours after Merrett spoke at the Brownlow, incoming president Andrew Welsh declared the Bombers’ captain would remain at the club in 2026.

“Zach’s a required player, he’s contracted to the club. So we won’t be entertaining any trade for Zach,” said Welsh in an interview on the Bombers’ website.

Welsh did not touch on the Merrett drama directly when addressing the function at the start of the night at Centrepiece on Thursday.

Instead, the hard-nosed former midfielder and defender who played 162 games in the red and black was intent on turning the club’s focus forward after the Bombers experienced a season devastated by an extraordinary injury count.

Welsh said the 2025 campaign would never be a “wasted season”.

“It was undoubtedly unique year with the challenges we faced, but I reflect on it as a year of growth,” Welsh said.

“I’m genuinely excited about what we’ve been able to unearth this year, and watching the development of everyone who represented our club.

“While the scoreboard didn’t always reflect our efforts, there’s no such thing as a wasted season.

“The character built, the bond strengthened, and the foundations laid in 2025 will define this football club for years to come.

“This was a year of growth, and growth is never easy, but it’s always worth it.”

Welsh, who retired in 2011, saved his boldest words until the end of his speech, when he made a rallying cry for unity.

“My message applies to everyone in this room – from our players, coaches, staff and volunteers to our members and supporters: This is our time to galvanise,” Welsh said.

“Our foundations are set, and it’s time to unite. We win together, we lose together, but we stick together, and when we stick together, we’re a formidable club.

“This is our time. This is our moment, and we’re about to embark on our greatest era. So let’s get running. Go Bombers.”

Merrett is seated on a table with young gun Nate Caddy, delisted big man Jayden Laverde, utility Matt Guelfi, and midfielders Jye Caldwell and Will Setterfield.

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