Latest news with #Merrett
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘It's fun': The AFL superstar with an old-school hobby
He's one of the AFL's star midfielders, but off the field, Essendon captain Zach Merrett has an old-school hobby. Since childhood, he has collected AFL player cards, and still does, when he's not racking up possessions during Bombers games. As a guest at the Hobby Hangout XL Trading Card Show on Sunday, Merrett signed player cards for rapt fans. One of Merrett's treasured pieces is a 1954 card depicting his great-uncle, Collingwood premiership player Thorold Merrett. Merrett said there was 'no way' he would sell it, but otherwise it was 'fun' to find cards he'd sought, and 'always exciting' to find a random gem. First in line to have Merrett sign the card that marked his 2016 Essendon best-and-fairest award was James Vincent, 34, of Sydenham, an AFL card collector since childhood. 'It's awesome to meet the person who's on the card and get their autograph,' Vincent said. Proving analogue pastimes are not dead, more than 5000 people attended the Hobby Hangout XL event at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton. It had 185 stalls – double the number at last year's event at Melbourne Pavilion. Co-organiser Tiffany Spurway said popular pieces on Sunday included Pokémon and NBA basketball cards and items featuring the Labubu monster character.
The Age
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘It's fun': The AFL superstar with an old-school hobby
He's one of the AFL's star midfielders, but off the field, Essendon captain Zach Merrett has an old-school hobby. Since childhood, he has collected AFL player cards, and still does, when he's not racking up possessions during Bombers games. As a guest at the Hobby Hangout XL Trading Card Show on Sunday, Merrett signed player cards for rapt fans. One of Merrett's treasured pieces is a 1954 card depicting his great-uncle, Collingwood premiership player Thorold Merrett. Merrett said there was 'no way' he would sell it, but otherwise it was 'fun' to find cards he'd sought, and 'always exciting' to find a random gem. First in line to have Merrett sign the card that marked his 2016 Essendon best-and-fairest award was James Vincent, 34, of Sydenham, an AFL card collector since childhood. 'It's awesome to meet the person who's on the card and get their autograph,' Vincent said. Proving analogue pastimes are not dead, more than 5000 people attended the Hobby Hangout XL event at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton. It had 185 stalls – double the number at last year's event at Melbourne Pavilion. Co-organiser Tiffany Spurway said popular pieces on Sunday included Pokémon and NBA basketball cards and items featuring the Labubu monster character.
The Age
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Five Essendon captains went to lunch together. This is what they spoke about
'It was about us getting back to the intent to the tackling and with our ball movement being a bit more exciting and generating a bit more excitment for the fans even. Not a lot changed.' Against Richmond, Essendon's better players were around the ball. Nic Martin, voted best afield, combined with Merrett for 72 disposals. Jye Caldwell had 29, the enterprising Archie Roberts 34 and while hard nut Sam Durham had a modest 26, his impact was equal to that of Martin. Angus Clarke thrived in his debut, booting three goals from the wing and showing sharp footy IQ. Merrett's Bombers aren't striving for glory and fame in 2025 so much as desperately seeking improvement. It was this desire to soak up the wisdom of elders that prompted Merrett to converse with 'a dozen or two dozen' coaches and champions across the competition. This week, he ventured closer to home by organising a meeting with four past Essendon captains. In chronological order: James Hird, Matthew Lloyd, Jobe Watson and Dyson Heppell. It is an initiative that he wants to cement with the current players. 'I got a free lunch. So I'll say thanks Hirdy for that. He's the big dog, he can pay for lunches. It was incredible. I mean, we're trying to bridge that connection and the fabric of generations of Essendon players and captains and trying to bring our fans along for the journey as well. Obviously, moving away from Windy Hill 12, 13 years ago. 'Those guys are very good with their time as well. So I'm fortunate to have such good people mentoring me ... to me, it's more about just discussing what they've learned. 'I've been very lucky to meet a dozen or two dozen coaches, Brownlow medallists – you name it – across the journey. But it's hard to go past champions of your own footy club and the fabric they have; to bring Hirdy and Lloyd back into the fold in some way I think should excite fans as well.' Loading Lloyd, speaking on 3AW on Friday night, said of the meeting: 'It was more that I listened to him around the areas of the club that need to get better. 'Which I don't want to go into, but I gave him some responses that have worked for me or us in the past that have helped us get to the highest level and how to challenge some of his teammates to drive standards harder. 'He was really honest, which is why I want to be careful of what I say here because we were all there to support him and help him. Merrett wants the current Bombers to form bonds with the past greats he's cultivated. Loading 'I think internally we've moved on from all those scars. But externally, I think there's a number of people still hurting a little bit. If we can try and bridge that gap as quickly as we can with a bit of urgency, I think those sort of meetings with Hirdy and Lloydy and Jobe of that era hopefully fast track that with that generation. 'There was so much success with the '90s and 2000s and '80s for me and our players and our current generation of young talent want to immerse themselves with those guys and if I can try and facilitate that as much as possible. 'I know Brad's very open to those guys coming in and being part of our fabric as well.' While disappointed to see Reid injured in the Dreamtime game on Friday night, Merrett said the key defender now knew what he can achieve.
Sydney Morning Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Losing, learning, lunching, winning: Six days in the life of Zach Merrett
'It was about us getting back to the intent to the tackling and with our ball movement being a bit more exciting and generating a bit more excitment for the fans even. Not a lot changed.' Essendon's better players were around the ball. Nic Martin, voted best afield, combined with Merrett for 72 disposals. Jye Caldwell had 29, the enterprising Archie Roberts 34 and while hard nut Sam Durham had a modest 26, his impact was equal to that of Martin. Merrett's Bombers aren't striving for glory and fame in 2025 so much as desperately seeking improvement. It was this desire to soak up the wisdom of elders that prompted Merrett to converse with 'a dozen or two dozen' coaches and champions across the competition. This week, he ventured closer to home by organising a meeting with four past Essendon captains. In chronological order: James Hird, Matthew Lloyd, Jobe Watson and Dyson Heppell. It is an initiative that he wants to cement with the current players. 'I got a free lunch. So I'll say thanks Hirdy for that. He's the big dog, he can pay for lunches. It was incredible. I mean, we're trying to bridge that connection and the fabric of generations of Essendon players and captains and trying to bring our fans along for the journey as well. Obviously, moving away from Windy Hill 12, 13 years ago. 'Those guys are very good with their time as well. So I'm fortunate to have such good people mentoring me... to me, it's more about just discussing what they've learned. 'I've been very lucky to meet a dozen or two dozen coaches, Brownlow medallists – you name it – across the journey. But it's hard to go past champions of your own footy club and the fabric they have; to bring Hirdy and Lloyd back into the fold in some way I think should excite fans as well.' Merrett wants the current Bombers to form bonds with the past greats he's cultivated. 'I think internally we've moved on from all those scars. But externally, I think there's a number of people still hurting a little bit. If we can try and bridge that gap as quickly as we can with a bit of urgency, I think those sort of meetings with Hirdy and Lloydy and Jobe of that era hopefully fast track that with that generation. Loading 'There was so much success with the '90s and 2000s and '80s for me and our players and our current generation of young talent want to immerse themselves with those guys and if I can try and facilitate that as much as possible. 'I know Brad's very open to those guys coming in and being part of our fabric as well.' While disappointed to see Zach Reid injured in the Dreamtime game on Friday night, Merrett says the key defender now knows what he can achieve.
The Age
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Losing, learning, lunching, winning: Six days in the life of Zach Merrett
'It was about us getting back to the intent to the tackling and with our ball movement being a bit more exciting and generating a bit more excitment for the fans even. Not a lot changed.' Essendon's better players were around the ball. Nic Martin, voted best afield, combined with Merrett for 72 disposals. Jye Caldwell had 29, the enterprising Archie Roberts 34 and while hard nut Sam Durham had a modest 26, his impact was equal to that of Martin. Merrett's Bombers aren't striving for glory and fame in 2025 so much as desperately seeking improvement. It was this desire to soak up the wisdom of elders that prompted Merrett to converse with 'a dozen or two dozen' coaches and champions across the competition. This week, he ventured closer to home by organising a meeting with four past Essendon captains. In chronological order: James Hird, Matthew Lloyd, Jobe Watson and Dyson Heppell. It is an initiative that he wants to cement with the current players. 'I got a free lunch. So I'll say thanks Hirdy for that. He's the big dog, he can pay for lunches. It was incredible. I mean, we're trying to bridge that connection and the fabric of generations of Essendon players and captains and trying to bring our fans along for the journey as well. Obviously, moving away from Windy Hill 12, 13 years ago. 'Those guys are very good with their time as well. So I'm fortunate to have such good people mentoring me... to me, it's more about just discussing what they've learned. 'I've been very lucky to meet a dozen or two dozen coaches, Brownlow medallists – you name it – across the journey. But it's hard to go past champions of your own footy club and the fabric they have; to bring Hirdy and Lloyd back into the fold in some way I think should excite fans as well.' Merrett wants the current Bombers to form bonds with the past greats he's cultivated. 'I think internally we've moved on from all those scars. But externally, I think there's a number of people still hurting a little bit. If we can try and bridge that gap as quickly as we can with a bit of urgency, I think those sort of meetings with Hirdy and Lloydy and Jobe of that era hopefully fast track that with that generation. Loading 'There was so much success with the '90s and 2000s and '80s for me and our players and our current generation of young talent want to immerse themselves with those guys and if I can try and facilitate that as much as possible. 'I know Brad's very open to those guys coming in and being part of our fabric as well.' While disappointed to see Zach Reid injured in the Dreamtime game on Friday night, Merrett says the key defender now knows what he can achieve.
