Essendon is the subject of renewed calls to change direction following a difficult 2025 season. Multiple outlets argue the club should consider allowing midfielder Zach Merrett to leave, pointing to the overall performance and leadership decisions during the year.
All three reports cite a sequence of outcomes in 2025 that include Essendon finishing last, after the club keeps Merrett under contract. They also reference the decision to sack a coach midway through the season. The commentary across outlets frames the situation as an inflection point, suggesting Merrett’s future should be reconsidered as part of broader list and leadership changes.
While the articles share the same general argument and key facts, they differ mainly in their phrasing and emphasis rather than in substance. Each piece uses the same context—underperformance on the field combined with internal turnover—to support the view that the club should make a decisive personnel move rather than continue with the status quo into the next season.
