Zach Merrett steps down as Essendon captain after trade bungle
Essendon superstar Zach Merrett has made a huge call ahead of the 2026 AFL season after his attempt to leave the club failed.
Essendon star Zach Merrett has stepped down as club captain following his bungled trade to Hawthorn.
After a controversial off-season where the superstar midfielder tried to push his way out of the club during October’s trade period, Merrett opted to step down from his leadership role.
The 30-year-old had led the Bombers for three years, taking over from club great Dyson Heppell, ahead of the 2023 season.
But in a statement on Wednesday, Merrett said he believes he was no longer “the right person” to lead the club forward.
“It has been an absolute honour to be the 41st captain of the Essendon Football club. Growing up, it was a childhood dream of mine running around the backyard in Cobden, and it has been an opportunity that my family and I are very proud of,” Merrett said.
“If you told younger me I would get to captain this club for three years, I would have pinched myself. It’s been something I’ve really enjoyed and loved doing. I’ve really enjoyed being captain to lead so many great current and past players.
“It’s been weighing on my mind around who is the best person to lead this club and group moving forward, and I feel like I’ve come to the decision that I’m not the right person. There’s so much optimism, excitement and energy at the club, internally and externally, with the fans, changes with the High Performance Team, our new draftees, and top-end talent.
“It feels like so much excitement and optimism and newness, and being such a young group, it is a great chance for a young leader to come in and grow with all the group moving forward.
“Thank you to the club, and to Scotty, for giving me the opportunity to captain the club.
“We’ll continue to leave no stone unturned to make sure we play in that last Saturday in September.”
Merrett has played 251 games in 12 seasons for the red and black, earning three All-Australian selections in his time at the club.
But with his clear desire to leave the club, Merrett relinquishing the captaincy ahead of the 2026 season was almost inevitable.
In a statement on Wednesday, Essendon president Andrew Welsh thanked Merrett for his service.
“On behalf of the Board and all Essendon members and supporters, I want to sincerely thank Zach for his immense contribution as our captain over the last three seasons,” Welsh said.
“His tenure has coincided with a vital period of cultural growth for our club. His passion, elite standards, and dedication to his teammates and drive to win showcases him as one of the best on-field leaders in the AFL. This decision is an example of a selfless leader prioritising the best interests of the club moving forward.
“Zach and I have had many long discussions recently and he is absolutely all-in on our vision and can clearly see the direction we’re heading. He knows what we are building, and this decision supports that long-term goal with a focus on allowing the next wave of leaders to take control of this club.
“While he steps away from the captaincy, his influence on this playing group will not diminish. He remains a critical leader for us, and we know he will be integral to leading the next phase of our journey on-field.”
Merrett has returned to pre-season training with Essendon and will again be in the black and red next season.
In 2025, he averaged an impressive 27.8 disposals, 5.3 inside-50s and 3.9 clearances in 22 games.
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Originally published as Zach Merrett steps down as Essendon captain after trade bungle
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