Essendon recruit Zach Merrett has already begun thinking about his life after football just some six weeks into his AFL career.

The 18-year-old joined his first year teammates as well as draftees from across the competition at the AFL Players Association induction camp earlier this week.

The two-day camp addressed issues surrounding financial planning, social media, education, driver safety and rules and regulations of being an AFL player.

Merrett said there were a number of aspects to the camp that he found valuable in terms of planning his future.

“Having already been through a draft camp I knew a fair bit from the AFL side of things but on the Monday it was a big surprise to realize how much help you can receive,” Merrett said.

“The big surprise for me was the amount of services offered by the association and that they are there to utilize for us players.

“Setting yourself up for life outside of footy in terms of study and finance were two big things out of the day.

“I now understand that I do need to set myself up from both an education and financial point of view.”

Merrett rejoined his teammates at training on Tuesday afternoon at the True Value Solar Centre in just his sixth week in the red and black.

“The body at the start was pretty tired at night but I am starting to get used to the routine and I am sleeping better,” he said.

“I am used to the routine now and Jackson has been a really good help along with all of the boys so I am really enjoying it at the moment.

“It is good for us training when it is a bit hotter then usual so I can’t complain much.”

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