Essendon youngster Zach Merrett has credited the confidence shown in him by the coaching staff and his teammates for an impressive first hit out in the red and black.

The club’s first round selection gathered 17 disposals and laid six tackles in Monday night’s narrow loss to Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.

Merrett said he was pleased with how he fared in his first match for the Bombers.

“I think the boys and Bomber gave me a lot of confidence before the game when they told me just to back myself,” Merrett said.

“The coaching staff and leadership group got around me and that made it a lot easier for myself.”

The 18-year-old said it was exciting to be able to experience traveling interstate with the team for his first match.

“It was pretty exciting and being an away game it was special getting to stay in the hotel and travel with the boys,” he said.

“It probably didn’t hit me until just before the game that I was pulling on the red and black again for the first time.”

“It was good to have a contest, not the result that we wanted but overall I was pretty happy.”

Coach Mark Thompson praised the performance of the younger Merrett.

“Zach played particularly well and has a really good future,” Thompson said.

“I wanted to see these younger players play and they excited us which is what the match was about.”