On the same day he was sacked as coach of Essendon, Brad Scott has made the stunning revelation that he opposed the club’s decision to hold Zach Merrett in last year’s trade period.
The six-time club best and fairest winner requested a trade to Hawthorn, seeking a fresh start and premiership success, but Bombers president Andrew Welsh firmly denied his move to the club’s arch rival.
Speaking during the trade period, Scott towed the company line, backing Welsh’s decision.
READ MORE: Sports scientist holds ‘real fears’ for Maroons debutant
READ MORE: ‘Love to do that job’: Hird responds to Essendon coaching calls
READ MORE: Aussie underdogs stun top-10 stars at French Open
Zach Merrett (right) looks dejected after a loss. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Ultimately, even after receiving an offer of two first round picks, a pick in the 20s and young midfielder Henry Hustwaite, Essendon rejected Hawthorn and forced Merrett to return to the club for 2026, albeit while relinquishing the captaincy.
The 30-year-old has still been one of the club’s strongest performers this season, but appears likely to head back to the trade table in October. He is contracted until the end of 2027.
When asked on Seven’s Agenda Setters on Monday night whether he agreed with the call to hold Merrett to his contract, the former coach said “no”.
“Zach has given incredible service to Essendon. He’s been through multiple strategies, multiple coaches, made promises on multiple occasions,” Scott said.
“My view is always you invest in the team, you put the team first, and Zach found that really hard to do at the end of last year. I felt for him, and I felt for his family.
“I didn’t think he was being selfish (requesting a trade). I thought he had been promised things over and over again, and he was at his wits’ end, and he couldn’t invest in the team anymore. Now, he certainly does through his actions on the field.
“My view was we should let him go, but the club’s view was we should keep him.”
Scott was then asked if he thought Merrett would attempt to depart the club again at the end of the season and the veteran coach said he felt it was likely.
“I do because I think it’s the right thing for him and it’s the right thing for the club,” he replied.
Brad Scott and Zach Merrett line up together on Anzac Day. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Merrett revealed on Tuesday that he actually found out about Scott’s sacking from “a random guy” while he was out getting a coffee, not from the club itself.
“I was actually at a coffee shop around the corner from the club and a random guy gave me the news,” the star midfielder said.
“Then I headed into the club and was formally told but it’s always really difficult when you spend four years with someone, anyone, but particularly the head coach.
“You spend a lot of time together, especially as captain for three of those years, so it’s a sad moment and I’m more so thinking of him and his family. It’s a pretty stressful role for anyone in that position around the competition, so I hope he’s holding up all right.”
Essendon captain Andrew McGrath revealed the brutal moment he was told of Scott’s departure from the club while in hospital with a broken jaw.
Scott was sacked by the club on Tuesday morning following a dismal run for the AFL club that had one victory in 24 games, with Dean Solomon taking over as interim coach.
Andrew McGrath speaks to reporters about Brad Scott’s sacking. Getty
Speaking to media in the hours that followed, McGrath said it was “really sad” for the Bombers playing group and admitted the AFL was a “brutal industry”.
“I got a phone call this morning in the hospital unfortunately, and then straight here and and met with the boys,” the skipper said.
“It’s obviously a really sad time for the playing group, we’ve all got a really close connection with Brad. We love Brad and we understand that we live in a really brutal industry at times and our support is with him at the moment and his family.
“The initial emotion is disappointment and sadness around the relationship that you have with him and the trust that you build as a captain and a coach, and I can only speak on that, and it feels like we were putting together some really strong foundations.
“Albeit not showing it on the weekend too much, it feels like the work we’ve been putting together Monday to Friday has been really solid.”
When was asked if Scott’s sacking was the right call, McGrath deflected.
“It’s not my decision to answer. I love Brad and I can only talk on my relationship with him,” the 27-year-old said.
Essendon chief executive Andrew Welsh attempted to control the fallout by gathering players in the club auditorium before it hit the media.
“We had us all in the auditorium before and let us know of the decision, and a few of the reasons why, and what the process is from here,” McGrath explained.
“We appreciated the openness at that point in time, but it was disappointing.”
Bombers head coach Brad Scott looks on. via Getty Images
Matthew Lloyd has since weighed in on the dismissal, stating that while Essendon is committed to a rebuild, Scott’s failures left the board with no choice.
“I think the plan that they are set on is just the draft selections, and I think they’ve been really happy with what they’ve done in recent times and some of the youth that they’ve brought in, which has stood up pretty well this year,” he said on 3AW radio.
“So, I think they’d say that was the plan that they’ve stuck to in terms of going to the draft and investing in youth.
“Round one was a dog’s breakfast defensively in the way they played against Hawthorn, and it didn’t improve the week after against Port Adelaide.
“There were moments where you thought it could get a little bit better, but it hasn’t.
“Their senior players…haven’t really performed. I could understand how the board have come to this decision.”
Essendon will face West Coast on Sunday night, with Solomon taking the helm.
Discussion about this post