Essendon's nightmare year could get worse as an exodus of star talent looms ahead of the 2025 trade period.
Club captain Zach Merrett is the latest player to be reportedly weighing up his future at the club as another year of missing September action has left the 30-year-old midfielder disenchanted.
According to Channel 9's Damien Barrett, rival clubs are aware of the "disillusionment" from Merrett and his camp regarding how 2025 has played out at Windy Hill, and will likely pursue the skipper, although no formal trade request has been submitted by Merrett.
Speaking on Footy Classified, Barrett reported the unrest from Merrett that has rival clubs keeping tabs on the star.
"There's a higher degree of disillusionment inside Zach Merrett. The years of not winning and years of problems at the Essendon football club have left him in a situation now where he is continuing to reflect where he's at and where the club is at as part of that," Barrett said on Monday.
"He's contracted until 2027, that will continue to be the public default position, but I now fully expect, on what I'm being told in the past fortnight, that the clubs that have previously come for Zach Merrett will attempt to do so again.
"There will be a lot to play out between now and the close of the trade deadline in mid-October."
Barrett stated that Essendon is aware of Merrett's feelings as they prepare for 2026 without star ruck Sam Draper and key defender Jayden Laverde, who could reportedly leave in free agency, while luckless defender Jordan Ridley has also put in a formal trade request.
"The club is aware of the unrest that he's got," Barrett said.
"Last Monday, they met with [Merrett] and other senior members of the club about the vision they've got for the future. That's all it ever is with Essendon and the players that they've had for such a long time.
"[Merrett] met with Brad Scott on Friday as a part of his exit meeting; there was nothing said there... he hasn't requested it (a trade). I don't feel we'll see anything public about this unless there is something on the hook from another club."
Barrett suggested three teams that would be keeping an eye on Merrett's situation.
"St Kilda made a massive play at him last year, Hawthorn is absolutely interested in him, Collingwood is always interested in quality midfielders," Barrett said.
"In terms of [the transaction], I'll let that play out if it gets to that stage, but the disillusionment is high and has not got better in recent weeks."
Merrett, who has played 251 games at Essendon since being drafted to the club in 2013, carried the Bombers through a disastrous injury-riddled 2025 campaign, averaging 27.8 disposals, 5.3 inside 50s and 3.9 clearances per game.
