Merrett faces the music at Essendon’s best and fairest

Essendon captain Zach Merrett was keeping his thoughts close to his chest as he arrived on Thursday night for the club’s best and fairest count, in which he is the red-hot favourite to win a sixth Crichton Medal.

Merrett faces arguably the most significant fortnight of his football career after it emerged he met with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell last month. It was news that blindsided Essendon as the Bombers’ contracted captain had dined with Dons coach Brad Scott just days earlier.

Essendon captain Zach Merrett at the Brownlow.Credit: Getty Images

“I covered this at the Brownlow,” Merrett told waiting media at Centrepiece at Melboure Park.

Merrett attended the Brownlow Medal count last week and admitted to his significant unease at how the dramatic trade saga had panned out. The 251-gamer apologised to Essendon fans but stopped short of publicly committing his playing future at Tullamarine.

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“I just want to say sorry to the fans, and I do feel a little bit of shame at the moment,” Merrett, who will be one of the biggest names of the AFL trade period, told Seven on the Brownlow red carpet.

“I’m not there to upset fans. They are the best in the comp and I appreciate them dearly, and we will see what happens in the next few weeks.”

Also speaking to Nine on the Brownlow red carpet, Merrett said he understood the club’s best interests come first.

“I’m never, ever going to lose the love for the club and I understand they are going to fight for the club,” Merrett said of the Bombers on Nine.

Merrett is striving to win the Crichton Medal for a third straight season, and the fifth time in seven years.

More to come

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