Essendon captain Zach Merrett opens up on his biggest role yet, as dad to baby Jude

Essendon captain Zach Merrett has opened up on juggling fatherhood with holding one of the most important roles at an AFL club and how he’s learning to embrace the challenges.

Essendon captain Zach Merrett’s new title hasn’t quite yet sunk in.

There’s player, there’s skipper. There’s husband.

Now, there’s “Dad”.

Little Jude Merrett was born in January, and while Merrett, 29, and the Bombers endured the team’s biggest training block as next week’s season-opener loomed, the newest addition had an immediate impact.

“It’s been amazing,” Merrett told this masthead, opening up for the first time on his new role as a father.

“Challenging, obviously, and an adjustment going from being a very selfish footballer to having a baby but it’s going well.”

Have a newborn baby and there’s one question asked everywhere from the coffee shop to captain’s day. Sleep?

“It’s not too bad,” Merrett laughed.

“On and off, obviously, but we’ve had amazing support from my partner’s family and my family as well. The support has been amazing.”

Merrett is full of love for wife Alexandra, who has been documenting her early post-partum journey on social media, with Jude now in tow for the Melbourne institution of Sunday morning coffee runs in the sun.

The three-time all-Australian, in his 12th season at the Bombers, had initially thought baby Jude’s January arrival was perfect timing in the pre-season, “but it was the longest days of training”.

Zach Merrett's wife Alexandra holding baby Jude, who was born in January 2025. Picture: Instagram

“Although it wasn’t games, I actually found it probably almost harder just because it was more weights, more running, and obviously hot weather,” he said.

“No sleep into that was challenging. But I can’t complain because other boys have done it so you just have to get on with it.”

Then there’s the perspective Jude – still at just a few weeks old – has brought to footy.

“It still probably doesn’t feel real that I’m a dad,” Merrett said.

“I definitely get the perspective piece (that comes with having a baby).

“Even playing last week (in a practice match) against the Dogs I almost felt free in a way, because you go from giving him a cuddle and kissing him goodbye and then you’re running around playing footy and doing your dream job.

“Life’s pretty good. No doubt that will happen more over time but I’m really enjoying it so far.”

Merrett has played four finals in his 229-game career. The club’s recent finals history is well-documented. He’s had no victories in those four as the club enters this season not having won a final since 2004.

He says he has never felt the pressure, or weight of being part of a powerhouse club – even after such a drought for September success.

Merrett and Alexandra at last year’s Brownlow Medal. Picture: Michael Klein

“Probably the only thing I feel is expectation of performance personally. And whenever we lose, you feel the expectation of not winning or not performing the way you wanted to,” he said.

“I’ve sort of embraced it and enjoyed that aspect of it. Whether that will be different with Jude now, I’m not sure. I still think I want to win the same amount, so I don’t think I’ll be able to adjust that.

“But no doubt, it is nice post-training when you get home pre-dinner and he’s smiling and happy, so it’s been fun. I’ll just see how that goes throughout the season.”

Pre-season is a time for talk, with next week’s Opening Round the opportunity to walk.

Coach Brad Scott has now been at the helm for more than two years, with young guns Nate Caddy and Isaac Kako lighting up GMHBA Stadium in Tuesday night’s community series game against the Cats.

To say there is hope among Essendon fans is as obvious as the expectation that has come with the Bombers in recent years.

Merrett says there is an air of optimism at Essendon. Picture: Michael Klein

So is this finally it? And what has changed to make Merrett think it might finally be?

“The growth the last two years … now Brad’s been there two and a half years, and I’ve visibly seen a huge difference in a number of individuals that are now starting to turn the wheels over after being in the program for 12 to 24 months,” he said.

“A lot of the younger players, but also a lot of growth from guys who have been there for five or six-plus years.

“Which I think is a credit to Brad and the team that he’s built and the system and organisation that he’s building. I think that’s going to hold us in good stead because guys are going to be playing and performing better individually, but the way he thinks about the game educates us.”

Things are finally “crystal clear”.

“We’re really clear on what we need to do now. We’re crystal clear. It’s just now whether we can do it consistently across games, across months and across a season is going to be the difficult challenge,” Merrett said.

“When the competition is so even, you look at the draw and people talk about hard draws or easy draws – it’s all a hard draw.

“I feel really optimistic. Anything is genuinely possible for us this year.”