By Jake Niall
Essendon coach Brad Scott has revealed that the Bombers do not want new skipper Zach Merrett to become too demanding of teammates, acknowledging that there was a risk of the highly motivated Merrett acting as “an enforcer”.
In a candid assessment of Merrett’s considerable strengths and weaknesses, Scott said Merrett’s will to win was without peer and the Bombers wanted him to be a role model for behaviours at the club. But he said Merrett would be disappointed if his expectations were that others could perform to his high standards.
Lead by example: New Essendon captain Zach Merrett.Credit: AFL Photos
“I’ve come across some competitors in my time with a will to win. I haven’t come across anyone with more of a will to win than Zach,” Scott told The Age, prior to the Dons’ huge round one victory over Hawthorn.
“Now that is clearly an admirable trait – that desperation to win and trying to be demanding of your teammates, which to some extent is important.
“You walk a fine line ... because Zach can do things that not many players can do. If his expectations are that everyone should be able to perform to a level he can, then he’s going to be disappointed.”
Scott explained what the Bombers expected of Merrett as the new captain in a club seeking to change its culture.
“So it’s straddling that space between being a really supportive leader and challenging behaviour – that’s what we’re going to work on and we don’t expect Zach to be perfect in that space.
“What we’ve asked him to do is to role-model behaviour, to be an exceptional role model. And our coaches, me included, need to take a bigger responsibility in making sure that we’re enforcing the behaviours that we value.
“I think the risk for Zach is that he tries to be an enforcer, when really we just want him to lead by example, be the best player he can be and we’ll bring the others with him.”
Merrett’s attention to detail, desire to excel and self-discipline are well known, in the same way that Hawthorn and Collingwood champions Sam Mitchell and Nathan Buckley were renowned for their commitment and, as captains, had to learn to strike a balance between setting standards and tolerating teammates’ behaviours or lesser standards.
Scott confirmed that Dyson Heppell would have retained the captaincy had he wished.
“Yeah, I’ve been clear on that ... we didn’t want a situation where he had to make hard and fast calls on limited information. So my view was if we’re not sure, we should stick with what we’ve got.
“So if Dyson said ‘I desperately want to lead this club’, that’s what he’d be doing. But he felt Zach was ready, he felt Zach was the right person and importantly he wants to be playing while Zach takes the reins so he can support him. Because he doesn’t want to leave him high and dry, our first-time captain, without much support.”
Scott said Heppell had endured so much in his career at Essendon and the club had a responsibility to their former skipper – who had to lead the club through the period after the drugs saga and the tumult that followed.
“He’s as good a motivation leader as I’ve come across. He’s an absolute beauty, Dyson, heart and soul of the footy club. And he’s had to – look at that guy’s career, look at the period that he’s had to endure.
“So I don’t think many AFL players are owed anything but I certainly think we owe a responsibility to acknowledge and thank Dyson Heppell for all he’s done.”
Scott also paid tribute to the leadership of Heppell’s predecessor Jobe Watson.
“But the challenge at Essendon for a long-time has been – I’ve got massive amounts of time and respect for Jobe Watson ... he had to lead through a really tumultuous time.”
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