By Sam McClure
Essendon captain Zach Merrett had a meeting with coach Brad Scott on Friday at which he expressed disappointment at the club’s decision not to offer contract extensions to teammates Jake Stringer and Jayden Laverde beyond 2025.
The discussion involving Merrett came a day after Stringer, Laverde and their manager, Robbie D’Orazio, met Scott, list manager Matt Rosa and chief executive Craig Vozzo.
D’Orazio was seeking extensions for his players, who are both contracted for 2025.
However, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation who would not publicly discuss contract issues, the club held a firm line, with both players advised to seek opportunities elsewhere if they desired longer-term deals.
Two sources with knowledge of the meeting between Merrett and Scott, who asked to remain anonymous because the discussion was confidential, said their catch-up was prearranged but that Merrett voiced his disappointment at the prospect of the players being traded.
Jake Stringer and Zach Merrett are close friends.Credit: AFL Photos
Stringer and Laverde are two of Merrett’s closest friends at the club.
It comes just days after one of Merrett’s other closest allies at the Bombers, dashing defender Nick Hind, was delisted.
Merrett and Scott met at a cafe, not at the club’s headquarters in Tullamarine.
Scott was contacted by this masthead about the meeting and chose not to comment. Merrett had not returned calls at the time of publication.
Merrett (left) with defender Jayden Laverde.Credit: Eamon Gallagher
Essendon, who rose to second on the ladder but lost nine of their last 12 games to miss the finals, are willing to be more ruthless and aggressive in their list management heading into next year.
Stringer, who is at his second club after winning a premiership with the Western Bulldogs in 2016, has been chasing a three-year contract.
The big-bodied forward booted 42 goals this season, matching his tally for the Bulldogs in their premiership year, the equal second-highest haul of his career.
He played all 23 games, just the second time he’s done that across his 12-year career.
He is certain to attract interest from rival clubs.
Merrett, a three-time All-Australian and four-time best and fairest at Windy Hill, is contracted until the end of 2027 after signing an extension midway through the 2021 season.
First-round draft pick Zach Reid, who has managed just nine games in three seasons because of a series of injury setbacks, is seen as a long-term key defender for Essendon, which suggests Laverde could find himself on the fringe of the Bombers’ best 22 when Reid returns to full fitness.
Two club sources who wished to remain anonymous because Laverde is still contracted, confirmed to this masthead that Carlton and St Kilda had shown interest in the 28-year-old.
Josh Battle is leaving St Kilda.Credit: AFL Photos
The Bombers on Friday announced that they had re-signed Matt Guelfi until the end of 2026.
The Blues have already made contact with out-of-contract GWS veteran defender Nick Haynes, who is likely to leave the Giants in the trade period.
Carlton want to bolster their key defensive stocks to support star full-back Jacob Weitering, who earned his first All-Australian blazer on Thursday night.
St Kilda are also on the lookout for another key defender, with unrestricted free agent Josh Battle soon to sign a monster deal at Hawthorn worth about $900,000 a season.
D’Orazio also manages Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca, who has remained publicly silent after telling Melbourne this week that he wants to play for a powerhouse Victorian rival in 2025, despite having five years left to run on a multimillion-dollar contract.
Out-of-contract Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith is set to join Geelong.
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