Former Essendon Coach Brad Scott Says He Wanted Zach Merrett Traded

Former Essendon coach Brad Scott said he wanted the club to trade Zach Merrett to Hawthorn last summer after the Hawks made an offer. Essendon declined the proposal and kept Merrett under contract through the end of 2027. Scott made the comments in his first interview since being dismissed as coach.

Scott also said Essendon considered offering West Coast midfielder Harley Reid a 10-year, $22 million contract. He added that signing one player would have required trading future draft picks, including those used to select Nate Caddy, Isaac Kako, Dyson Sharp, Sullivan Robey and Jacob Farrow. Scott stated the club remained about two years away from consistent finals contention.

Essendon president Andrew Welsh said the decision to retain Merrett was made by the club and that the team would not be influenced by external pressure. Welsh also said decisions would not be based on returning former Essendon figures to leadership roles.

Former Essendon coach James Hird told Nine's Footy Classified that he would be interested in the head-coaching position if selected. Merrett said he learned of Scott's dismissal from another customer at a cafe near the club's Tullamarine headquarters on Tuesday morning.

He added that he maintains a strong relationship with Hird but declined to discuss his own contract situation immediately after the coaching change.