"Not in prison": Cornes baffled by Merrett's latest claim

Zach Merrett’s recent declaration that Essendon are “in charge” of his career as he looks to secure a contract extension with the club he wanted to walk out on just a few months ago has left experts baffled.

The former Bombers captain became the headline act of the 2025 trade period for his seemingly relentless yet failed bid to leave Essendon for Hawthorn.

Fast forward a few months, throw in a change of management, and Merrett now claims he wants to remain in the red and black.

“Yeah, I mean, I’m still contracted for two years so I still very much feel like they’re in charge of my career moving forward,” Merrett said ahead of playing in this weekend’s State of Origin clash in Perth.

“You’re always open with what that could look like but nothing has progressed outside of a very preliminary chat.

“Excluding that, I think things have shifted — the fitness departments were really beefed up and the club’s invested heavily resourcing that to make sure players get the best opportunity to be fit, healthy and on the park for longer periods of time so that we can hopefully have more talent come the weekend to string together some more wins.”

It’s quite the turnaround from a player that was so eager to depart and the narrative he appears to be spinning hasn’t sat well with some.

“You’re not in prison mate,” Kane Cornes said on SEN Fireball after hearing audio of Merrett’s latest comments. “You signed this deal.

“You’re playing AFL footy, you’re a gun, enjoy it. They are not holding you captive in a 2x4 cell.

“Zach, has anyone set fire to their reputation more?”

Cornes’ sentiments were echoed by SEN’s Sam Edmund who was gobsmacked by the change of heart. “I can’t get my head around that at all,” he said. “He parted ways with his manager Tom Petroro in January which is his prerogative.

“It was put to me the next day, that his new management are in talks for an extension which is just amazing.

“You will remember Merrett’s teammates at the time, Mason Redman and Nic Martin spoke out against his action and they did so publicly.

“Merrett went on to say that while addressing a calming of the waters with his teammates, people need to better understand the trade period.

“All of this hits us amid talk that the colonel might be changing his secret recipe and this is the AFL compo getting a shakeup.”