Cornes and Edmund go head-to-head over Essendon’s improved Merrett deal

Did Essendon really need to increase Zach Merrett’s deal?

That is what Kane Cornes was asking after the Herald Sun’s Jay Clark reported that the Bombers “sweetened the contract of superstar captain Zach Merrett to help safeguard the gun midfielder from another poaching raid”.

The report said further that: “The Herald Sun can reveal the Bombers have bolstered the jet midfielder’s deal over summer as a reward for his continued on-field excellence and loyalty.

“St Kilda made a bold and lucrative bid for Merrett at season’s end in a bid to try and prise the five-time best-and-fairest winner out of Tullamarine.”

Cornes, who was against the move when it was first floated a few months back, questioned why the Dons upped the contract after their skipper was the subject of a strong Saints offer.

“Why would they do that?”: Cornes adamant Bombers should not renegotiate Merrett contract

He said on SEN Breakfast: “Why is there the need for Essendon to do this?

“This is the whole point that I've got about clubs being so soft. The ruthless edge to footy clubs is now gone.

“You have a salary cap, so if Zach Merrett takes up more of the salary cap it means that Essendon can't use that salary cap on other players. This one advantage that you have - it is why Geelong have been so successful because they don't overpay their players and they pay their players fairly on performance.

“There's no question on Zach Merrett’s performance, no one loves him more than I do. I think he's been consistent, a great leader who plays the game the right way and all of that.

“But Zach, in 2021 you were happy to sit there and put pen to paper on a six-year contract.

“I lose my mind about these long-term contracts and those that defend them will say, ‘Hang on, it gives the club power, it means that they know what they're going to pay this player for that length of time, it means they can then go about manoeuvring their listing and their salary cap of putting pieces in place that they need to because they know they've got Zach Merrett locked in until he's 32 years of age on a six-year deal that he was very, very, very happy to take the security of in 2021’.

“Now the minute another club comes along and offers him this deal, Essendon go, ‘Wow, we better keep Zach happy’.

“We are so soft and clubs have got so soft and this is another great example of one of the reasons why Essendon have not been successful.

“That's my thoughts on it, what are yours?”

Co-host Sam Edmund defended the Dons, saying Merrett is simply now earning what he deserves.

“He’s not getting overpaid though,” he said.

“You say Geelong don’t overpay, neither does Essendon.

“He was getting underpaid. This is simply fair freight. Straight away I’d make that distinction.

“He was on less than $1 million, most people say around $900,000 on that deal he signed in 2021.

“He’s the captain, he’s a five-time best and fairest winner, he’s a three-time All-Australian.

“Contracts are open to renegotiation all the time. Jay Clark described it as moderate so it wouldn’t appear to be a huge offer.”

Listen to Cornes and Edmund go head-to-head over the Merrett pay rise below: