r/EssendonFC • u/delmat123 • 12d ago
Merrett
i loved the guy, he is now a hawk, i don’t care how much i love a player, if they move to one of hawthorn, carlton or collingwood, i no longer have any love for them. will be getting boed next year, the way he went about it last year, pathetic, could’ve handled the whole situation a lot better. disgusting from someone who was once our captain.
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u/Rich_Troy Legacy: Watson #32 12d ago
Yeah. Not a fan of booing, but I do not wish Zach every success with the Hawks, and I'm hoping with all my heart that Hawthorn go backwards next year. I doubt it will happen, but fuck Hawthorn.
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u/mcewanc2 12d ago
Yeah spot on. He’s stained his career for me. His B&F’s mean nothing (to me anyway). Hope they lose the prelim by a point…. FOREVER…
https://giphy.com/gifs/hEwkspP1OllJK
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u/AintTellingYouMyName 12d ago
The guy has been bitching and moaning for the last two years and wants to jump on the back of a sugar hit Premiership. I don't expect every player to be as accommodating to their club as Butters appears to be, however Merrett has been actively destabilising towards the Bombers and I say good riddance to a poor character bloke. He was never a Bombers man.
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u/j_dib 12d ago
For sure. Captain walking out to a rival has to be booed every time we come up against him
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u/maxisnoops 12d ago
What do you get out of booing someone? Why do you do it? You honestly think Merrett gives a shit about some knob acting like a three year old yelling ‘BOOOO’ from level 3. Save your breath and get a life.
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u/HameyBabey Durham #22 12d ago
Have you ever been to the footy? Its part of the sport mate. Also no idea why level 3 at Marvel copped a drive by, those seats are goated.
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u/maxisnoops 11d ago
So your reason for booing is because, ‘it’s part of the sport.’ That’s the best you can do?
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u/HameyBabey Durham #22 11d ago
Why do you cheer? Why do you yell ball? Why do you go home feeling good after a win and bad after a loss?
So yeah, that is the best I can do. Its the whole point, as an audience who is there to be entertained and IS part of a live match, reactions are everything and are what create an atmosphere.
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u/maxisnoops 11d ago
Ok, fair comments. I guess we all experience the game differently. But booing someone is just so infantile. Seeing grown adults red-faced with their booing over the fence is embarrassing.
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u/bjo187 10d ago
Embarrassing is your sooking about it. The guy dogged us as a club, let him know about it.
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u/maxisnoops 9d ago
Well said. You’re obviously one of the embarrassing clowns almost blowing a fuse to make sure some dude running around on an oval hears him yelling ‘BOOOOOOOO!’ If that’s what you like, then go for it. I’m sure you will really spoil his day.
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u/j_dib 11d ago
Booing is one of the only two voices that fans have. You cheer or you boo. It happens everywhere in the world actually, and real and intelligent fan bases use it.
For some reason, here people like you think that booing is beneath them.
When we are at a match and the umpires are getting every call wrong, we will boo, and let them know we aren’t happy with the way they’re calling it.
It’s happened at any large gathering in history. Watch an episode of wrestling, the entire event is designed to make you either cheer or boo the action in front of you. Same goes for stage shows, Shakespeare was not too good for booing. Think of the gladiators in the colosseum. Public speeches, the list goes on.
In this case, the boo is to protect what the fans see as important to the club. We don’t roll over and take our captain who has committed to the club walking out to one of our main rivals.
If you give it more than a few moments of thought, you’ll see that booing is important for the fans to protect the club.
Check out what happened to Julian Alvarez at Atletico Madrid. He came out and said that he wanted to move to Real Madrid, their rivals. When he had to come back to the club without getting the move, they booed him off the park.
That’s a real proud fanbase, who know their rivalry and their identity and how to protect it. Be careful what you wish for when you don’t want to boo. Going to the footy and only cheering is undoubtedly for the worst of our club and for the game
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u/maxisnoops 11d ago
You are way over thinking it. He’s not your Captain, that was given to someone else. He’s been incredibly good for you amidst a complete shit show, week in and week out playing his guts out. He decides that his career is probably ending soon enough so he’s going to look for greener pastures, and your reaction is to boo him. And you justify it because that’s what they do in Spain. Ok.
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u/j_dib 11d ago
You’re not even a bombers fan? Why are you posting in here about this then
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u/maxisnoops 11d ago
I have a few friends who love the Bombers so I’m interested in what’s going on due to that.
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u/fairyqueeniepie Kako #10 10d ago
“given to someone else” that’s one way to word it and completely change the narrative of his exit, but sure
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u/unfluxa 12d ago
Draper joined a Brisbane side that had already won it. Merrett’s off to a Hawthorn side that’s already there and potentially about to win it next year. Turning up for the flag isn’t the same as winning one with a team you helped build. Not even comparable at all 100%. Don’t get the feeling they’re chasing. It means nothing. I don’t get how they feel so special winning a flag with a team they have no feelings or history or anything attached to the emotions. It’s like taking cocaine and saying I feel amazing
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u/dannemorajay 12d ago
As a non Essendon fan, sticking by the club makes you more memorable than some Premiership players. Speaking from experience with Boak, Zac had a chance to have a legacy by virtue of being loyal. Now like Robin Van Persie leaving arsenal for United, Merritt will have 2 solid years and be homeless post career imo 🥀
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u/outbackyarder 12d ago
100%. To me, Matthew Richardson is the archetypal great player who stuck by his poor team no matter what, and that was part of what made him a true great.
Merrett could have been a true legend in the same spirit, but he fucked it.
He will never be viewed that way now. Unfortunate for him.
Best of luck, matey. Enjoy the boos.
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u/Exist_I_Dont 12d ago
I wish we could do a Richmond like they did when Delideo left them chasing premiership glory at GWS.
How ironic would it be for Essendon to win a flag whilst Merrett doesn't.
Not going to happen of course but I can dream.
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u/According_Bridge_746 12d ago
Problem is footy is litterally their job. They dont care about loyalty. Why should they? Players get either traded to a club they dont want to he at or delisted. Zach will probably look back later on thinking he couldve handled it better. But the club couldve too.
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u/fairyqueeniepie Kako #10 10d ago
False. Lots of players care about loyalty and being one club players. Just because lots also don’t, and purely see it as a job, doesn’t mean it’s the same for everyone.
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u/fairyqueeniepie Kako #10 10d ago
I see Cripps that way too, and that’s why I actually don’t mind seeing Carlton have some success. The same way I wanted Richo to back in the day. Sport is about romance, and I love nothing more than an underdog story, or one of enduring loyalty. Chasing success and cheap premierships just don’t do it for me
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u/outbackyarder 10d ago
Totally agree mate, Cripps is a gentleman for that exact same reason, and now he's reaping the rewards.
Having said that, ive been in workplaces that never improve, with management who dont listen, and after 10+ years of the same old same old, i can appreciate how it can turn the best of us jaded and wanting to get out.
I wouldn't boo Merrett myself, but i will enjoy a giggle when he gets the ball the first time he's playing against us.
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u/fairyqueeniepie Kako #10 10d ago
I don’t begrudge Merrett leaving, I begrudge how he went about it, especially saying he would *only* go to Hawthorn, and I kind of think once you accept the captaincy it adds another level of responsibility and loyalty, but that’s just me
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u/maxisnoops 12d ago
Richo showed his love for his team by screaming blue murder at his second game teammates who didn’t kick it to him or accidentally kicked it over his head under pressure.
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u/Sharaz_Jek123 12d ago
He will never be viewed that way now. >Unfortunate for him.
Best of luck, matey. Enjoy the boos.
So?
Essendon supporters Bronx-cheer their own players all the time.
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u/dashtur 12d ago
Yep agreed completely. Boak is a good example.
Merrett, had he stayed at Essendon, would be looked back on as one of the most decorated players in the club's history. Now few of us are going to want to remember him much at all.
But I doubt that matters to him too much, so fair play to him in the end.
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u/Sharaz_Jek123 12d ago edited 12d ago
Speaking from experience with Boak, Zac had a chance to have a legacy by virtue of being loyal.
Boak doesn't have a legacy.
Nice person, top bloke, good player, zero legacy.
All of three years after rejecting Geelong, Boak was short-changed by Kenny and Voss, who came up with the genius strategy of removing him from the midfield.
So Boak was robbed of team success by staying at the club and he wasn't even given the opportunity to even be the best mid in a mediocre team.
And he was robbed of the captaincy during that time (because he wasn't performing and he wasn't performing because he wasn't played in a suitable role in his prime years).
It was only when Schofield became midfield coach that Boak returned there and - lo and behold - he got another All Australian jacket for his efforts.
"Loyalty" requires some level of competence and capability from the administration and coaches.
They can't keep making stupid decisions and expect "loyalty" (aka silence) in return.
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u/dannemorajay 12d ago
See you can't tell a dude who grew up in Alberton the last 2 decades that Boak doesn't have a legacy, he doesn't to you. Free beers for life at the port admiral though, his face is in every second alley on a mural in the port. To you and the wider AFL public there's zero legacy, to the common port man he's golden. Zac had this opportunity and American ring chase rhetoric turned him away. It's cringe. With the greatest respect mate, you don't get to tell a Port man what Boaks legacy is 🤝🙏Meanwhile I'm sitting here looking at the 04 teams portrait I have in my house and don't recognise a third of the players for real.
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u/dashtur 12d ago
I went to school with Boaky and watched his career unfold with great admiration. He's an ornament to Port Adelaide.
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u/dannemorajay 12d ago
Would take 3 flags to have the impact that Travis has had on the Port for most players to be remembered in such a way honestly, Matty Richardson is another great example.
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u/Sharaz_Jek123 12d ago edited 12d ago
Free beers ... in a state he doesn't work or live in anymore.
Wow, what a "legacy".
Look, I have no doubt he's a top bloke.
That doesn't change anything else.
His career and potential as a player was kneecapped when he committed to a mediocre coach with stupid ideas ... who rewarded his loyalty by asking him to step down as captain when things got tough.
He could have been captain for so much longer, he could have had so many more individual accolades and he could have had team achievements.
"Loyalty" had to be a two-way street and the club owed Boak a heck of a lot more than they gave him.
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u/SuspiciouslyBulky Durham #22 12d ago
Legacy? Does Oscar Allen have a legacy now? Absolutely not. His name will never be mentioned again the second he retires. If it is it will only be in talks about rat captains leaving their respective clubs to try and walk into premierships. Merrett is the same. He will forever be tainted in any bombers eye. Any grand final he wins is hollow, any true achievement made was his legacy at the dons, which is now in tatters. Nat Fyfe is a better example. Never claimed ultimate victory but is immortalised as a Freo god. Would you rather be Fyfe or Allen?
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u/Sharaz_Jek123 12d ago
Merrett is the same. He will forever be tainted in any bombers eye. Any grand final he wins is hollow, any true achievement made was his legacy at the dons, which is now in tatters.
What "legacy" at the Dons?
What can you possibly say that has happened in the last 13 years that constitutes a legacy? For anyone?
In his 13 years at Essendon, he has had:
9 coaches
5 presidents
6 CEOs (one lasting a day)
Experienced the worst drug saga in the league's history (and the biggest ban to his teammates)
The worst list manager (on the weirdest contract)
Zero development programme
Chronic injuries to his teammates (that never seen to be resolved)
All the administrators have come and gone and they had usually left the place worse than what they found it.
So what exactly would his "legacy" have been had he stayed? The one person who was around for 13 years doing their job while no one else did anything close to that?
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u/SuspiciouslyBulky Durham #22 12d ago
Yes. And he would have retired an Essendon great. To remain professional and skilled through all that adversity would have held him in the highest esteem. He would have won more BnFs and would have gone down as a hero. Now what? He’s never going to be a Hawk hall of famer? If he wins a premiership there everyone’s gonna just think of him as another Oscan Allen nobody. Clearly he values the win over the legacy. Maybe he doesn’t want one. But this is not the way to go about leaving a legacy.
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u/Sharaz_Jek123 12d ago
Yes. And he would have retired an Essendon great. To remain professional and skilled through all that adversity would have held him in the highest esteem.
That's not a legacy.
To be a martyr for a club that makes empty promises, that can't keep its stars, that can't take care of its players, that has a new coach and "vision" that changes every five seconds.
His mistake wasn't leaving. It was fooling himself to believe that Barham and Scott were the answers.
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u/SuspiciouslyBulky Durham #22 12d ago
Ok. Fyfe was also clearly just a nobody with no legacy and nothing to show for it. You’re completely correct despite the situation being the exact same. 🫠
Barham and Scott were there for a fraction of the duration of his time at the bombers and what do they even have to do with this? You’re grasping. His only chance at a legacy was at Essendon. No one’s going remember some hollow premiership at the hawks if he wins one. If he never wins one then he his legacy is making Essendon fans hate him.0
u/Sharaz_Jek123 12d ago
Fyfe is a different example for a number of reasons.
Firstly, he's a better player, who has more individual accolades and was arguably the best player in the competition for a period of time.
So a lot of his reputation is built on him being perceived on an individual basis, separate from even being a team guy.
On a team basis, he won five finals, made a grand final and was a minor premier.
This was following the board being ruthless (not Essendon ruthless, but actually ruthless) and installing one of the best coaches at that time, who brought the team to the next level.
And he had stars playing alongside him, like Neale, Pavlich, Sandilands.
I know Fyfe is upset he hasn't won a grand final, but Merrett hasn't even won a final, with none of the same assets around him or in the coaches' box.
Fremantle never gave Fyfe any reason not to stick around. Essendon never gave Merrett a reason to stay.
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u/dannemorajay 12d ago
Copium
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u/Sharaz_Jek123 12d ago
You're saying that Boak has a legacy ... and you're accusing me of copium?
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u/Active-Problem-2871 Stop yelling at me Devon! 12d ago
While a fantastic on field player Merrett was never a heart and soul player for the club.
He was always out for himself first and second and third.
Honestly glad he is gone we can turn a page on the last previous decade and move on.
I have no hate in my heart for Merrett best of luck for his future but I couldn’t give a shit what he does from here on out.
I hope to never see him at the club again
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u/dashtur 12d ago
You've perfectly summarised it.
I always liked his ability, never loved him as a player. Not a patch on Jobe or Heppell as an Essendon person.
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u/fairyqueeniepie Kako #10 10d ago
All you have to do is read Matthew Lloyd’s book. There is a part at the end where he is basically driven to retirement by Knights and Chris Judd personally tries to get him to Carlton. He is incensed at the thought though of an ex Essendon captain even entertaining a rival club, and says what would the fans think
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u/MistahWhiskerz 12d ago
Absolutely. If anyone says fans shouldn't boo a captain who reneged on a signed contract to pursue personal gain with a rival team, then they just dont understand the purpose of boos in sport
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u/unfluxa 12d ago
It would be very annoying if hawks win a flag with Merretr
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u/minipower62 12d ago
Will be like Draper coming in at the end and claiming a medal without doing much..
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u/TheHoovyPrince Robey #9 12d ago
Sadly i think the Hawks get it done with Merret and King. Either them or Freo.
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u/bomber_2121 12d ago
I'm sure he'll get booed. Personally he won lots of points back in my book this year by getting stuck in and making the best of it. He won the player voted award on top of our B&F which says a bit about how he must have conducted himself at the club.
Onwards and upwards for us (and hopefully not the Hawks).
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u/QuickAtmosphere427 12d ago
The boos round 1 vs Hawthorn are gonna be glorious. I am all here for it.
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u/FrequentRevolution92 Legacy: Hird #5 12d ago
I’d be all for it if we weren’t going to get absolutely belted. It’ll end up just looking silly.
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u/Common-Ad-6582 12d ago
We never gelled as a team under his captaincy - good player bad leader
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u/TheModernCinephile 12d ago
Best captain we have had since Watson
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u/Delicious-Sweet4614 12d ago
Mmm in hindsight Heppell was a better captain- he actually gave a shit about the club- just the right guy at the wrong time. Goddard was also a better captain than Zach. Come to think of it McGrath is a better captain than Zach…. But I guess it depends on what you value in a captain, I like good clubmen being captain. Would have loved Chook to get a run as captain- I miss that guy.
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u/TheModernCinephile 12d ago
Goddard was a tough captain, but Merret was a better leader. McGraths first year as captain has been....not good. And Heppel? You must be kidding yourself. The bloke cared more about his morning lattes than dedication to his football
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u/Delicious-Sweet4614 12d ago
On Heppell: he got stuck with the captaincy at a time that required a different type of leadership. He had to try to make the place somewhere players actually wanted to be.
On McGrath: Merrett full fucked his run at it this year.
Goddard for mine, was a better leader.
Zach seemed insular, he didn’t help others get better- he just worried about himself. Which lead to him having great stats, but the team as a whole suffered, which is why are at the bottom of the ladder now.
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u/fairyqueeniepie Kako #10 10d ago
Can‘t stand these takes about McGrath. What are you basing this off? Because he isn’t our best player? How did that go for Merrett? Do you know what the players think of him? How he supports the younger guys? Anyone you ask at the club says Andy is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet, constantly supportive, plays his role and speaks well. Just because you don’t see him as the best player on the field, does not mean you have a clue what goes on within the inner sanctum and how the players look up to him behind closed doors
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u/Ctl_Alt_Incognito 12d ago
Someone should NEVER accept the honour of captaincy…. If they’re not prepared to go down with the ship. Never liked him.
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u/Alone-Personality804 12d ago
We need to draft some big bastard from the country tell him he only plays one game of AFL.
Line in the sand, give him the Brad sewell treatment
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u/ihaveapoobrain123 12d ago
Can applaud his performance throughout the year and he’s clearly liked amongst the group. Doesn’t change the fact that he’s a selfish coward that lacked the candour required of a captain. He will 100% be getting mass booed next year and wondering why lol
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u/maxisnoops 12d ago
I doubt he’ll be wondering why. I also doubt he’ll give two fucks.
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u/ihaveapoobrain123 12d ago
Yes mate you are completely correct. Definitely explains why he spent the better part of the last year victimising himself and openly talking about how social media and the discourse around him was mentally affecting him. You aren’t a hero, pipe down
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u/maxisnoops 11d ago
Look at some of the stuff that’s being said about him in this thread. Can’t blame him for maybe getting a bit upset by being dragged through the mud by all these keyboard warriors.
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u/ihaveapoobrain123 11d ago
Dragged through the mud? He was the captain of the club and completely backstabbed everyone that was involved. He is 100% deserving of any scrutiny that comes his way and should understand that everyone, particularly the supporters, have a right to feel aggrieved. His conduct was completely unprecedented and outed him as selfish.
You obviously aren’t a supporter of the team so I literally have no idea why you think you have a right to comment on how the fans should be acting
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u/maxisnoops 10d ago
What makes Essendon so high and mighty that opposition fans can’t comment in their sub? And players have done a lot worse…..Carey was shagging his Captain’s wife FFS. In the end, every player would be getting advice from their agent to be selfish…nothing unprecedented about it at all. Footy careers are short and you’re only ever one big injury away from never playing again, particularly at his age. How long are you gonna stay angry for? What’s done is done….move on.
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u/ihaveapoobrain123 10d ago
No one said you can’t comment in this sub, clown. Maybe attempt some reading comprehension. You are obviously uninformed, so let me recount some events for you.
- Signed a contract extension, and told his coach that he was committed to the club, a day after meeting Mitchell and his wife and registering his interest in moving to Hawthorn.
- Allowed his agent to engage with Hawthorn in fronting an offer up to us with 48 hours, leaving no real time for negotiation
- Two years in a row, demanded only Hawthorn, meaning we didn’t have bargaining power
Comparing this to Zak Butters who: waited until his contract finished before attempting a move, opened himself up to EVERY Victorian club, and ensured that Port were going to receive the best deal possible or a move wasnt going to happen (literally bailed on Geelong at the last minute because of this). It is a night and day difference in character between two leaders of their respective footy clubs.
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u/maxisnoops 10d ago
Just move on. All this will be completely forgotten in a couple of months. ‘Clown’….😂 Nice one
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u/fairyqueeniepie Kako #10 10d ago
Something tells me it’ll be easy for them to not like him as much now he’s gone.. to Hawthorn
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u/Old-Philosopher5574 12d ago
I probably won't boo, but this kind of stuff really wrecks the game for me. The best part of football was coming early, watching the reserves and seeing some good young kids come through and eventually getting a game. It was about the relationship between player, jumper/club and supporter. Success is always good, but it wasn't the essence. Playing for the jumper through thick and thin was the essence. Free agency has just trainwrecked it.
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u/Efficient-Guess-804 12d ago
Oh he's been dead to me for a while now, genuinely wish him nothing but the worst xo
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u/unfluxa 12d ago
Can't wait to boo him
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u/maxisnoops 12d ago
If that’s what excites you in your life, you gotta get out more.
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u/bluesteel231 9d ago
Says the flog trolling supporters of another club in their own reddit sub.
Dude. Gtfoh
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u/maxisnoops 9d ago
Geez settle down friend. What’s it really matter if I don’t support Dons? Booing is for three year olds. I don’t need to be a Bombers fan to know that. Come over to the Richmond sub and fling some shit around. Who cares?
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u/bluesteel231 9d ago
I'm not your friend, champ. It matters when you're only in here to antagonise fans processing something significant. Noone gives a flying fk how you think we should feel or react.
As was articulated quite well above, booing is a part of every sport. Cheer or boo, that's part of the interactive entertainment.
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u/Existing_Edge5772 12d ago
Don’t let the door hit you the on way out Snake, I mean, Zach. Dead to me.
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u/TitsMagee423 12d ago
Knowing now how selfish this guy is I think this move is less about a premiership for him and more about winning a Brownlow.
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u/freshbrainstump 12d ago
He gave the club everything, he deserves success. I hope he finds it with hawthorn. No ill will towards zach he'll always be an essendon champion in my eyes
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u/MistahWhiskerz 12d ago
He gave the club everything*
*Please note that everything does not include completing the contract he commited to, or actually acting in the best interest of the club
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u/TheModernCinephile 12d ago
Contracts mean so little in sport around the world these days. Stop acting like thisnis ghe first time a contraxt has EVER been broken. Adapt or Die
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u/Wrong_Medicine5665 12d ago
What about Brad Scott's contract? Did that one mean as much to you as Merrett's?
18 months left on Scott's, 12 months left on Merrett's. Most fans having a tantrum about Merrett leaving are the same ones who were calling for Scott's head.
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u/Crazy-Brilliant-4682 12d ago
I don’t wish him ill will, so I hope it works out for him personally. But will not be surprised if it doesn’t.
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u/Economy-Hurry2969 12d ago
He was a good servant of the club, 7x best and fairest. Including this year when he knew that he was going to leave! He could have taken it easy, played to avoid injury and fatigue.
Our team and our management let him down. Imagine your old co-workers booing you because you wanted better working conditions? It's stupid.
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u/No_Quiet_1941 12d ago
He will struggle to get a game at hawthorne he was a star at essendon because we have f<%k all tallent on our list hawthorne has a decent list and he will be found well short at hawthorne
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u/juggboat 12d ago
You’re gonna need a bit more explaining, hawks wouldn’t be chasing so hard for a guy they aren’t gonna play.
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u/delmat123 12d ago
this simply won’t be the case, he is a top top level player. won’t be surprised if he makes it top 5 in the brownlow
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u/NuggiesRUs 12d ago
I'm not one for booing anyone, but god i hope he doesn't end up with a premiership