Multiple Essendon players could seek a trade away from the club in the wake of Brad Scott’s axing as coach, according to Channel 7 newsbreakers Mitch Cleary and Tom Morris.
Scott, who was contracted until the end of 2027, was sacked earlier this week after winning just one match from the past 24.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Essendon exodus looms as key players eye exits
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Club great and former coach James Hird has already been linked to a sensational return, but the Bombers may have a fight on their hands to keep their team together.
Former captain Zach Merrett requested a trade to Hawthorn last year and appears likely to try again at the end of this season.
“I believe it’s emphatic still that Zach Merrett wants to leave the Essendon Football Club,” Cleary said on The Agenda Setters.
“He was asked (on Tuesday) night at an event on Chapel Street as to whether the Brad Scott move changes his mind and he said ‘not at all because the strategy that remains is still in place and Essendon will follow through on that’ and that strategy has a premiership along down the path and Zach doesn’t see him playing in that at the Essendon Footy Club.
“The question now is, is it still Hawthorn or are there other options out there?”
Morris added: “I firmly believe Zach Merrett’s eyes and mind and heart are firmly planted on the Hawks still and that hasn’t changed.”
“They’ve been incredible to him over the past six to eight months, reaching out. Rob McCartney as the football boss, Sam Mitchell we know likes to be in contact with players as well.
“So I don’t think anything’s changed from that perspective. It’s just whether they can get the deal done, given his contract.”
Fellow senior Jordan Ridley is also reportedly seeking a fresh start after struggling with injuries throughout the past three seasons.
And then there’s Darcy Parish, who has made an encouraging return to form this year and is contracted until the end of 2029.
“Often what we see with coaches going, we see a mass exodus of players as well. So that remains to be seen, how that will transpire,” Morris said on The Agenda Setters.
“I’m certain that Darcy Parrish would look for a way out if he could. I think the issue with that is he’s on too much money for a club to take that on, and he’s got a long-term contract as well.
“But if a club comes to him and says, we want you, I’m certain that he’d look at it.”
Cleary added: “Unfortunately for Darcy, the game has changed, I think, since he was an All-Australian. The inside mids and the need for those bulls at the contest just aren’t there as what they were five or six years ago.”
Ridley, who is also contracted until the end of 2029, was keen to explore a move away last year.
“I think Jordan Ridley would love to see what’s out there as well,” Cleary said.
“It’s just a matter of where … Gold Coast has been raised. Cal Twomey reported that they’re interested in him. They’ve got a player right now that’s out of their side, Charlie Ballard, who I think is very much similar to Jordan Ridley.
“So I think if they are to go after that sort of player, then Ballard’s future will be looked at pretty closely.”
Young midfielder Elijah Tsatas is another one to watch. The 21-year-old has been starved of opportunities under Scott and is out of contract at the end of this season.
“He would have been a keen onlooker this week when the decision was made on Brad Scott, (who) hasn’t been backing him. We’re keen to see what happens at selection this week,” Cleary said of Tsatas.
“I think if a player like Elijah Tsatas can get played into form, I think this Essendon list with the young players they’ve got and the early draft picks they’ve contributed is a much more appealing list in terms of the young stars under 23 or potential young stars, than the Carlton Footy Club right now.”
