Essendon should cop shot: Merrett
NEW Essendon captain Zach Merrett has revealed he sought out Ross Lyon as a mentor as he attempts to strike the balance between his compassionate side and aggression.
And Merrett said former captain and close friend Matthew Lloyd was within his rights to “pot” the club after demanding a “tougher, nastier brand” in 2023.
Merrett’s mentors in his football journey include Chris Judd, Joel Selwood and former Bomber Brendon Goddard, but Lyon’s return to senior coaching has meant he is now the enemy.
But Merrett caught up with Lyon during his hiatus from coaching to probe tactical trends and ask about how he could improve his game.
“(Ross) is a good man,” he said. “I have reached out to him a few times and he’s been amazing with his time.
“He was very open. He has the ability to call a spade a spade, but also he has the ability to understand the detail behind it and explain it.”
Club legend Lloyd this week made clear it was time for the senior Essendon players to take control of the club after a dispiriting pre-season clash against St Kilda and admit they had not been strong enough on or off the field.
Merrett did not quibble with Lloyd’s right to call out the club or the contents of that spray.
“I’m actually quite close with Matt. He’s a passionate Essendon person, which we love and as players we respect his opinion. He’s been a champion of not only our club but the whole AFL. He knows what he’s talking about, for the most part. So yeah, he has his views. I have got full respect for Matthew so I have got no issues with him having a pot or having a shot at us.”