Bombers skipper Zach Merrett faces nervous wait after KO shot

Essendon captain and Brownlow Medal fancy Zach Merrett will be holding his breath after an eyebrow raising incident on Saturday.

Essendon captain Zach Merrett could be facing a nervous wait following a high shot on Sydney’s Nick Blakey on Saturday.

The incident unfolded in the final term with both men running towards a loose ball that had popped up into the air in Essedon’s forward 50.

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With the ball in dispute, Blakey grabbed it out of the air as Merrett swung trying to knock it forward.

Unfortunately for the Brownlow Medal fancy he completely missed the footy and collected the Swans defender in the head.

The contact left Blakey flat on the Marvel Stadium turf before he returned to his feet and took the free kick.

Watch the questionable incident in the video player above

Things got worse for Merrett when Blakey left the ground and underwent a Head Impact Assessment (HIA) test.

The ball in dispute between both players.

Merrett misses the ball and collects Blakey.

Merrett was asked about the moment shortly after the Bombers secured the 11.5 (71) to 8.15 (63) win over the Swans.

“I thought I tapped all ball – I was about to kick the goal. I haven’t seen it, but I don’t think there’s anything to worry about,” Merrett said.

The moment became the biggest talking point in the post-game wash up with replays showing Merrett simply had eyes for the ball.

“I think he’ll be fine, I think it was a genuine attempt on the ball,” Fox Footy reporter Jay Clark said.

“I think it was very different to the Lewis Melican on Toby Bedford that we saw last week. Melican got three matches for that heavy strike (but) Zach Merrett, he’s looking at the ball. It’s a bit of a glancing blow to Nick Blakey.

Blakey was down for a while.

“I think his head hits the pillow tonight really comfortably. The ball is right there, it’s an accidental clip of the head.

“Eyes on the ball, that’s the big cue for the MRO. I think he’ll be okay.”

Three-time premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt added: “That’s a footy play … I think he’s trying to tap the ball, and you can see clearly that his eyes are looking a the football. It’s just an unfortunate accident.

“You can see Blakey in the rooms, he looks like he’s okay after undergoing the HIA assessment.”

Originally published as Bombers skipper Zach Merrett faces nervous wait after KO shot