Shane Crawford says Zach Merrett should move to Hawthorn to avoid finishing career ‘bitter and twisted’

An AFL legend says he would have been ‘bitter and twisted’ if he had finished his career without a flag – and is urging Bombers captain Zach Merrett to seek riches and glory at Hawthorn.

Premiership hero Shane Crawford has urged Zach Merrett to consider his options elsewhere – including Hawthorn – saying he would have left the game “bitter and angry” if he had never won an AFL premiership.

Crawford is the poster boy for sticking it out at AFL level, famously knocking back Collingwood and Sydney’s overtures as Hawthorn captain when the club was at rock bottom.

The Hawks had just sacked coach Peter Schwab and seemed destined for a long rebuild that would see 30-year-old Crawford missing his chance to win a flag.

Remarkably he won a premiership with his last game of football in 2008 in a perfect farewell to the game after deciding to remain a one-club player.

But 17 years on Crawford has told Merrett that he should explore his options despite getting a fat new contract upgrade last summer after St Kilda came calling.

Merrett has played in four losing elimination finals across his 244 games but looks further than a premiership than ever.

Zach Merrett walks off after Essendon’s loss to Geelong. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Brownlow Medallist Crawford told this masthead football had changed in recent years and it was no longer taboo to chase a premiership to round out an AFL career.

“In my mind it was about having come this far and even though we were rebuilding you can take satisfaction from leaving the place knowing hopefully they will one day go on and have success,” Crawford said.

“But deep down I would still be filthy to this day if I hadn’t won a flag at Hawthorn.

“I was lucky in a way but I would be bitter and angry that I had made the wrong call if I did stay and never had that premiership glory.

“The whole thing has changed a great deal in the last 6-7 years. It’s just a part of footy where players go in a different direction to rejuvenate their career or chase success. It’s not seen as deserting the club like it used to be.

“Merrett has every right to think about the future from a financial point of view but also think where he could go and have success. You have to maximise your time in the game with all the money being thrown around. You used to hang in there and stay through thick and thin. But my mind has changed. You go where you will be at your best and where you feel you are not only highly valued but will be looked after.”

Crawford believes clubs like St Kilda and Hawthorn would pay the world for Merrett’s on field package given his defensive pressure and laser-like skills.

“I think Zach Merrett should go to Hawthorn. They might not be able to pay him top dollar but he’s the exact perfect fit for what Hawthorn needs. He could play finals, maybe win a Grand Final in the next few years.

“He is the icing on the cake for a team who is in the eight who is desperate for a classy midfielder who is a leader and whose defensive pressure went through the roof last year.”

Crawford says the closest he came to leaving was when Sydney gave him a monster deal in 2005 but ended up winning the flag only weeks later.

“The biggest thing for me when I had an opportunity to go to Sydney was they won the Grand Final a month later and I thought maybe the hunger and drive wasn’t going to be there in the next few years. But they made the Grand Final the next year and only lost by a goal. You think maybe you could have made the difference.

Shane Crawford after the 2008 grand final.

“The guaranteed money thrown around now is so big. The earning capacity as soon as you retire, if you are going to country footy it won’t pay many bills. So you need to make the most of it while you can.”

Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd, who has been a close mentor to Merrett, said recently he could see why the Dons captain might move on.

“Once your days are over, all you remember are those big finals you played in. And that’s what he’ll never have that memory of unless he moves clubs.”

“(Essendon) won’t be entertaining it, they would only consider it if Zach decided he didn’t want to be there anymore,” Lloyd said.

Originally published as Shane Crawford says Zach Merrett should move to Hawthorn to avoid finishing career ‘bitter and twisted’