By Jake Niall, Marc McGowan and Peter Ryan
In today’s AFL Briefing, your wrap of footy news:
- Wantaway skipper Zach Merrett has met with one of the club’s biggest powerbrokers.
- Just days after introducing their new coach, the Demons have asked Steven May to explore his trade options.
- Marcus Windhager has signed a new four-year deal to remain with the Saints.
- Geelong coach Chris Scott says he let his frustrations with the AFL get the better of him when he had a verbal exchange with a league staffer that left her upset.
Essendon’s estranged skipper Zach Merrett has held a private meeting with club vice president Andrew Welsh, in an apparent attempt to improve relations after a week of turbulence.
Merrett met with Welsh on Thursday, a matter of nine days after the captain held a meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell and his main lieutenant Rob McCartney.
Wantaway Essendon skipper Zach Merrett.Credit: AFL Photos
The meeting with Welsh is significant, given the deteriorating relationship between the star player and Essendon, who have stuck steadfastly to their public position that Merrett will not be traded.
Merrett also is likely to see Essendon people at the Brownlow Medal count on Monday night, given that he has replied to the AFL and indicated he will attend.
While the Bombers have stated that Merrett, who is contracted to the club for a further two years, will not be traded, rival clubs and most of the competition believe that the Dons would trade him subject to the right deal.
The Bombers have been keen to lower the temperature after the emotional reactions to Merrett’s exploration of a move to Hawthorn, a club that the Dons’ fans view with disdain.
It follows strong public comments about Merrett and support for Scott from teammates Nic Martin and Mason Redman last week.
Welsh, a 162-game Essendon player from 2002 until 2011 and wealthy property developer, is one of the most influential figures at the club and is viewed as the board’s favoured candidate to become the next president after David Barham.
- Jake Niall
Steven May asked to explore trade options as Windhager stays a Saint
Melbourne have asked veteran premiership defender Steven May to explore his trade options as Demons target Marcus Windhager signed a four-year deal to remain with St Kilda.
The decision to tell May, who turns 34 in January and has a year to run on his contract, to explore his options comes just days after Steven King was introduced as coach.
Steven May has been told to explore his trade options.Credit: Getty Images
A source familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of trade talks, said Melbourne were likely to start prioritising younger defenders, such as Daniel Turner, Jed Adams and Blake Howes.
The Demons also have the option of switching Harry Petty back to defence – where he played in the club’s 2021 grand final victory over Western Bulldogs – alongside intercept specialist Jake Lever.
King said at his introductory media conference on Monday that he wanted to retain champion midfielders Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, who he described as “superstars of the competition”, and expected to play finals in his first season in charge.
However, this decision on May is the first major indication that change is on the horizon.
He is a dual All-Australian and former Gold Coast co-captain, who has played 128 games for Melbourne and 123 for the Suns.
The Demons had the stingiest backline in the competition in May’s early seasons in red and blue, and both he and Lever made the All-Australian team in 2021, but he did not finish in the top 10 of their best-and-fairest award this year while playing 16 games.
May copped a three-match ban for a bump that concussed Carlton forward Francis Evans, while he clashed on-field with captain Max Gawn mid-year after Melbourne’s one-point loss to Collingwood.
Gawn turned the ball over in the final minute, which drew some choice words from May, then a shove in response from the skipper.
Melbourne teammates Steven May and Max Gawn clashed after a one-point loss to Collingwood this year.Credit: Seven Footy
There was also an infamous incident in 2022, when Jake Melksham punched May over his drunken behaviour during a night out with teammates, including an alleged sledge towards then-teammate Joel Smith.
Melksham escaped suspension for his role in the altercation but required surgery on a hand injury that cost him time out, whereas May received a one-match ban for drinking alcohol while in concussion protocols, which was against club rules.
The same source said Melbourne would welcome May back if he could not find a third club, but that a move could be the best outcome for all parties.
The Demons and North Melbourne were chasing Windhager, but both clubs were aware that if St Kilda could lift their offer beyond an initial two-year deal, he wanted to remain with the Saints.
Windhager, who is good friends with teammate Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, had indicated he was likely to remain before he took an end-of-season trip to New Zealand. His decision was confirmed on Thursday.
Melbourne are poised for a busy trade period, with interest in the likes of Collingwood’s Brody Mihocek, Saints ruck-forward Max Heath, and Gold Coast’s Sam Flanders and Malcolm Rosas jnr.
This masthead contacted Melbourne for comment.
- Marc McGowan
Scott says built-up frustrations got the better of him
Geelong coach Chris Scott says he let his built-up frustrations with the AFL get the better of him when he had a verbal exchange with an AFL staffer that left her upset.
The incident happened after the post-match media conference following the Cats’ qualifying final win over the Brisbane Lions, with Scott later apologising to the female staffer over the phone. He told reporters on Thursday that he had no issue with visually impaired reporter Matt Lee’s presence at the media conference, which was reported as sparking the exchange.
Cats coach Chris Scott.Credit: Getty Images
Scott said that wasn’t the case.
“Probably over a period … there’s been a few little issues that have popped up where we thought that maybe we could have communicated with the AFL a little bit better to help them understand the way we’re feeling about certain issues,” Scott said.
“I didn’t handle a certain situation as well as I would have liked to, and let my frustrations get the better of me, and for that I spoke to the person involved, and even from their side they acknowledged there were some frustrations that built up. I should have handled that situation better, but I also acknowledge that it was a private conversation.”
Geelong’s build up to the preliminary final against Hawthorn has been overshadowed by the revelation of Scott’s interaction with the AFL staffer, which came immediately after star midfielder Bailey Smith verbally abused a female photographer who had been invited in to take pictures of the Cats training last Wednesday.
Smith apologised via text to the photographer, Alison Wynd, and club CEO Steven Hocking rang her to offer an apology on behalf of the club.
Scott said he would have preferred Smith rang rather than texted Wynd but he was not going to get hung up on the details of the apology.
“The way I try to think about these things is the intention is the most important thing. Even the way Bailey responded in that moment, it’s been a build-up of things that have led Bailey to believe that he should be less trusting than I think he should be,” Smith said.
“We’ll work through these things, and you’ll see his side of the story a little bit. I don’t think there’s any sympathy in this room in particular, and I respect it to be honest.
“I’m pretty comfortable that while we acknowledge we’re not perfect, that we’ve got a pretty good track record.”
The Cats coach said the drama surrounding the club was not a distraction as they prepared for a huge Friday night preliminary clash against Hawthorn, with ruckman Rhys Stanley named as an emergency adding intrigue to the build-up.
“It’s not a case of taking the good with the bad. It’s maximise the good and do everything we can to make sure that those difficult situations are handled better,” Scott said.
The Cats play their 50th final since 2000 on Friday night.
- Peter Ryan
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