Where Merrett’s huge Pies outing ranks among Essendon’s best Champion Data performances ever

Essendon captain Zach Merrett enjoyed a huge outing from both a statistical and impactful performance in the Round 17 win over Collingwood.

Looking solely at his basic statistics, Merrett found 30 disposals at 80 per cent efficiency to go with one goal, 15 score involvements, six marks and five clearances in the 12-point triumph.

While he’s had similar games from a statistical point of view across his 222-game career, he’s never impacted more according to the Champion Data ranking system with Friday night being his highest rated game ever.

Merrett’s performance came in at 33.7 on the system, the highest of any player across Round 17 and the second highest of any individual across the 2024 season so far.

Looking at a team point of view, Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne revealed that Merrett’s outing was the third highest from any Essendon player since the rating system was introduced 15 years ago.

“I’ve got to give him a bit of love,” Hoyne said on SEN’s Sportsday.

“The Essendon supporters think I hate Zach Merrett, which is just completely untrue.

“That was the third highest rated game by any Bomber since our ratings came into play 15 years ago.

“Darcy Parish and Jake Stringer had better games in 2021.”

Check out the three highest rated individual Essendon games ever on the Champion Data ratings system below.

1 – Darcy Parish – 35.8 rating points (2021, Round 16 v Geelong)   
43 disposals, 28 contested possessions, 15 inside 50s, 13 clearances, one goal.

2 – Jake Stringer – 34.5 rating points (2021, Round 14 v Hawthorn)   
29 disposals, 6 clearances, four goals, 12 score involvements, four goals.

3 – Zach Merrett – 33.7 rating points (2024, Round 17 v Collingwood)  
30 disposals, 15 score involvements, six marks, five clearances, one goal.

Merrett will next lead his fourth-placed Dons into action against Melbourne at the MCG this Saturday night.