Essendon Captain Reveals St Kilda’s Major Trade Interest: AFL News Update
Essendon captain Zach Merrett has shed light on St Kilda’s significant interest in acquiring his services this season, revealing that the Bombers star received a “large” offer from the Victorian rivals. Despite the enticing proposal, Merrett ultimately chose to remain loyal to Essendon, where he is contracted for the next three years.
The news comes as a surprise in the AFL landscape, particularly as Merrett’s name emerged in trade discussions earlier this week. St Kilda is reportedly making a bold play to lure the 28-year-old to Moorabbin, though both clubs quickly downplayed the speculation, indicating that a move was unlikely.
In an interview with The Ag Merrett detailed how he learned of St Kilda’s interest through a call from his manager. “I was driving home one day and got a call from my manager to say there is a potential offer from St Kilda that is quite large,” he explained. Despite considering the financial implications, he emphasized that leaving Essendon had never crossed his mind. “I had not had one single thought about leaving or wanting to leave,” Merrett said.
He felt it was necessary to discuss the situation with his partner, Alexandra, even though he had no intention of pursuing the offer. “It was more: ‘This is potentially life-changing.’ After a few discussions with my partner, who obviously knows me very well … money is one thing, but it never got to the stage where I wanted to entertain this,” he clarified.
Merrett’s commitment to Essendon underscores his loyalty to the club, especially as they navigate other uncertainties regarding contracted players. Alongside Merrett, teammates Jake Stringer and Jake Laverde have also been caught up in trade talk. Stringer is reportedly considering a move to secure a multi-year deal, with Sydney showing interest. Merrett expressed confidence in Stringer’s maturity during recent discussions with coach Brad Scott, stating, “Jake is not naive… He is respectful that Brad has been honest.”
As the AFL trade period approaches, set to begin on October 7 and run until October 16, Essendon has yet to announce decisions regarding off-contract players Jayden Davey, Will Setterfield, and Sam Weideman. However, ruckman Todd Goldstein has secured a new one-year deal. The situation remains dynamic as fans eagerly anticipate how these developments will unfold in the coming weeks.