MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 03: Joe Daniher of the Bombers looks on following the round 20 AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and the Port Adelaide Power at Marvel Stadium on August 03, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

Gun midfielder Zach Merrett says he's hopeful Joe Daniher stays at Essendon, amidst on-going speculation about a move to Sydney.

“I think he’s made it pretty clear that he’s going to have a bit of time away and decide what he wants to do with his footy going forward," Merrett told the media.

“So the club’s fully supportive of Joe and whatever he does and I hope that he’s hopefully at Essendon next year.”

Daniher was linked to the Swans when he flew up to Sydney late in the home and away season. He visited Swans CEO, Tom Harley (a former mentor of Daniher) in his house and then went to see his groin surgeon the following morning - the same surgeon who operated on Daniel Menzel and Lance Franklin.

However, despite having one year left on his contract at Essendon, Daniher remains coy about ruling out a trade.

“The club’s touched on it before that I am really comfortable right now,” Daniher said at Kayo's AFL finals launch last week.

“(I’m) contracted to the footy club and I’m just going to do my best to have an impact for the club. I can’t do that playing right now, but I can do that in other ways," he said.

Merrett touched on the footy "bubble" of Melbourne and how it may play a role in his decision.

“I’m not too sure, I mean, he’s got a lot of friends and family in Melbourne,” Merrett said.

“So although it is a bit of a footy bubble, I’m sure he loves being supported by his close family and friends and he’s got some great relationships at the Essendon footy club."

Daniher has had a tumultuous run of late as he's only played 11 games in two seasons due to persistent osteitis pubis in his groins.