Zach Merrett is a footy nut. 

Come in on a  player’s day off, and it will be no surprise to see him sitting at the computer going through vision, talking to the coaches, or down in the hangar doing extra craft. 

Supporters may not see all the work that the youngster does, but, where they can see it is out on the field every single week.

His blistering start to just his third season of senior football comes at a time where the Club has needed the youngster to stand up the most.

And he has not disappointed. 

Initially joining the Bombers as a small half-forward,  t didn’t take long for the coaches to see that the boy from Cobden had a lot more to offer. 

He made the most of his opportunity to consistently play in the midfield last year,  finishing the with an average of 22-disposals, 3 clearances and 6 tackles from just 17 games. 

His hard running, attack on the ball and ability to quickly win the clearance saw Merrett become a regular starter in the midfield.

An injury late in the year would prove to be the only hiccup in an otherwise outstanding season.

His return to the team this year highlights how far the youngster has come in such a short time, and is a giant nod to all the extra work that he has put in behind the scenes. 

Line Coach Guy McKenna has been able to see first hand just exactly how hard Merrett works, believing that he has become a crucial cog in Essendon’s midfield group.

“It would be fair to say that Zach has always had the talent and what I’ve been pleasantly surprised with is that he has a great work ethic to go along with it,” said McKenna 

“He’s really set a scene in there as a young inside mid, if you like.

“He certainly has the talent, but his ability to work both ways has been super. 

“He sees the game so well, uses the ball so well, and he’s developing an engine.”  

This weekend’s game against Fremantle saw Merrett turn another page as he collected a career best 37-disposals in what was an otherwise disappointing night for the team. 

It has been a season of extreme consistency for Merrett, averaging 29 disposals, 10 contested possessions, 7 tackles and 4 inside 50s to frequently feature among the team’s best players.

However, what is most impressive, is that at only 20-years of age - Merrett still has plenty of learning ahead of him.

Aside from being able to get advice from some of his more senior teammates and coaches, Merrett has also sought out players from other teams and tapped into their experience in order to improve his own game. 

His desire for perfection and willingness to go above and beyond to find it, will hold the youngster in good stead.

“He’s really still an inexperienced young mid – he still has another two or three years of more development, laying a bigger and better foundation for his game to grow,” said McKenna

“He turns and dissects every training drill, everything he does he just wants to be a perfectionist.

“He seeks other mentors outside the football club.. and he is setting his career up in a very smart fashion.”