Bombers’ ‘Groundhog Day’ as worrying history repeats — with one potential ‘disaster’

It’s “Groundhog Day” at Essendon as several stars are being linked to exits including talk skipper Zach Merrett is again considering his future.

And Melbourne great Garry Lyon says it would be a “disaster” if Merrett departed the club this off-season after Bombers officials held a key meeting with the gun midfielder last month to pitch the club’s vision.

It comes 12 months after Merrett was linked to a move to St Kilda in one of several rival plays for the star midfielder over the years, with clubs again keenly watching the situation.

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Merrett, who turns 30 in October, two months ago reaffirmed his commitment to the Bombers. But his patience is clearly being tested after Essendon missed finals for the third-straight year under Brad Scott in another disappointing, injury-ruined season.

Meanwhile Sam Draper is expected to depart for either Brisbane or Adelaide in free agency, and Jordan Ridley reportedly raised the prospect of a trade at his exit meeting.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle, Herald Sun reporter Scott Gullan expanded on his story surrounding “how Essendon keeps repeating the same circle over and over” amid talk of frustration from players over the club’s direction.

Merrett is reportedly again weighing up his future (Photo by James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

“Unfortunately it’s a bit of Groundhog Day with this club, it’s happening again,” Gullan said on Tuesday night’s program.

“They’ve had to sell the vision to Zach Merrett, who’s been mentioned again (in trade rumours). Twelve months earlier they had to sit down with him and say: ‘Zach, you’re our captain. Please stay, we’re going to come good’. They’ve had to do it again.

“This is the thing the players are not happy about. (Brad Scott) came in and said: ‘We’ve got to teach you to become professionals’.

“They’re not providing a professional environment at the moment of these players. Jordan Ridley, Kyle Langford, Darcy Parish and all these players. What’s happened with their injuries and their training facilities and their program.

“All these players are going: ‘Hang on, is this the best environment for me?’ And they’ve got every right.

“As does Zach, although we don’t think he’s going to leave. But clearly other players are looking at what’s happened, where their careers are at and this environment.”

Gullan noted the Bombers have turned to “outsiders” to try and break their cycle of no finals success, but the recent reset under Scott is a hard sell given it’s being executed with more of a long-term view.

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“The wider narrative is this club continues to have historic problems. They bring in outsiders,” Gullan added.

“CEO Craig Vozzo, Brad Scott (both came in) outside the Essendon bubble to try and change it. They’re three years in (under Scott) and finished 11th, 11th and 15th.

“It’s hard for them to break this mould that’s in Essendon, it’s a real cultural issue.

“At the moment they’re facing the same thing they faced 12 months ago.”

Fellow Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph suggested the disconnect between the club’s direction and players in their prime wanting success is the core of the issue.

“(Essendon is) thinking long term, when the players maybe considering their futures are saying: ‘Why are we so risk averse, why are we going back to the draft?’,” Ralph said on Midweek Tackle.

“Essendon would say they’ve nailed the two drafts list boss Matt Rosa has had at his disposal. But the players would say: ‘Look at the people the clubs above us on the ladder (are targeting). Sydney wants Charlie Curnow. Port Adelaide had a great crack at Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. The Dogs want Jack Silvagni. Everyone is having a crack and we’re going back to the draft again’.

“There are a couple of players that have won a final on the Essendon list, but none of them actually drafted by Essendon.

“I think what the players would say is: ‘You keep talking about the long-term, but a lot of players would say they’re never going to win a final at the Essendon Football Club. Of course I’m looking at my future and looking at other clubs’.

Speaking earlier on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Lyon didn’t doubt Merrett’s pledge to the Bombers in an interview with him and co-host Gerard Whateley in July.

But the Demons legend noted it’s a precarious situation.

“The answer he gave I believe, but the answer can change. And what else was he going to say?,” Lyon said on Tuesday night.

“Tim Watson, one of the all-time Essendon greats, couldn’t even contemplate losing Zach Merrett.

“There’s not a crisis, but there are challenges. If that was to unfold (Merrett walked out), that would be a disaster for the Bombers.

“He could say: ‘Hey, I put my flag in the ground here and let’s get on with it’.”

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