Essendon captain Zach Merrett has met with club vice president Andrew Welsh in a bid to smooth relations after a fortnight of explosive revelations.
Merrett’s dramatic trade play ramped up last week when it emerged he had met with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell.
While Essendon leaders have remained steadfast they will not trade the contracted midfielder, the situation has become increasingly toxic with Merrett reportedly “shattered” and determined never to return to the club, believing he has been undermined by the club and apparent leaks against him.
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However, 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary revealed Merrett and Walsh met on Thursday morning in Port Melbourne in an important step to mend the broken relationship.
“A breaking of bread between Zach Merrett and Essendon today,” Cleary said on 7NEWS Melbourne.
“The captain seen meeting with vice president and president-in-waiting Andrew Welsh in Port Melbourne.
“It’s understood Merrett is still keen on a move to Hawthorn, but it is important dialogue if Merrett is held to his contract, to show that the relationship isn’t exactly dead after a frosty few weeks between the two parties.”
Welsh, who played 162 games for the club in the early 2000s, is seen as the likely successor to president David Barham.
The development comes after Merrett was pulled out of a scheduled appearance with former club captains Jobe Watson, James Hird and Tim Watson next week.
Tickets have been sold to fans for as much as $129 per person, which includes the option to get photos with the Bombers greats.
But on Thursday, ticket holders for the Doncaster function were issued with an update that Merrett would be replaced by Dyson Heppell.
Merrett is likely to attend the Brownlow Medal next week, but it remains to be seen whether he shows for the best and fairest next month when is tipped to win a sixth Crichton Medal.
Merrett has remained silent throughout the saga, but plenty of his teammates have spoken out. Andy McGrath was the latest, airing his “disappointment, little bit of anger and sadness” hours before meeting his skipper.
He spoke with Merrett for the first time last Sunday, and the pair caught up in person on Monday.
“He wanted to give me a bit of space while I was away and I really respected that,” McGrath said on Sunday night.
“(When we meet) we’ll talk about everything and understand a bit about the situation and what’s going on.”
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