‘No one is bigger than the club’: Essendon president’s message to Merrett, Ridley

Essendon president David Barham has warned no one is bigger than the club, declaring contracted stars Zach Merrett and Jordan Ridley will not be traded.

Merrett this week blindsided the club he captains by meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell and Hawks football department boss Rob McCartney. While he is contracted until the end of the 2027 season, Merrett has questioned whether he can enjoy premiership success at Essendon.

Ridley, the injury-riddled defender, is also weighing up his future, and has met with the Brisbane Lions. Ridley is frustrated by the number of repeat soft-tissue injuries he has endured.

However, Barham, in a letter to club members on Friday, said neither player would be traded.

“Let me be clear. Zach Merrett is contracted to our football club and our position is clear, he is not for trade. Zach has been an outstanding player for Essendon over a long period and will go down in history as one of our best-ever players,” Barham said.

“We are committed to him, and we expect his commitment to our club to continue. This club, with its proud 153-year history, is bigger than any single player, coach, or administrator.

“While champions have come and gone, the club has always endured and that will continue for the next 153 years. No one is bigger than the club.

“Jordan Ridley is [also] contracted and is not for trade. We acknowledge his frustration in recent years with his body – we share these frustrations. We’ve now made fundamental changes to our high-performance and medical team as we strive to provide our players with a world-class high-performance program and team, led by Mathew Inness.”

Barham’s assertion came after Hawks president Andy Gowers said his club had nothing to apologise for after meeting with Merrett on Tuesday – the chat blindsiding the Bombers, including coach Brad Scott, who’d dined with Merrett days earlier.

It’s the second time this season Mitchell has met with a rival club’s captain, having also attempted to lure Eagle Oscar Allen. The latest move came just days out from the Hawks’ semi-final against the Crows.

“We make no apologies for wanting to get better and improve,” Gowers told SEN.

“I know this has become a big story over the last day or two, but we are realists. We know other clubs are talking to our players and this story has become big – I understand it, I get it.”

The Hawks have been fierce in their recruiting under Mitchell, luring former Eagle Tom Barrass and former Saint Josh Battle in last year’s trade period, prompting Gowers to declare his club will continue to strive to improve its list.

“What I would say to all members and fans is we make no apologies for wanting to improve. Multiple conversations happen within the club let alone outside. We are always looking to improve our list,” Gowers said.

Scott said on Fox Footy this week he did not like the way the Hawks had operated in this case.

The Bombers are adamant Merrett will not be traded, but he may have to cede the captaincy should he remain. His bond with teammates is also strained – injured forward Nic Martin telling this masthead he was disappointed and a “little bit angry”.

Martin said, “we are going to have to build the bridge again”.

Merrett has twice had his salary raised over the past three seasons.

The Bombers are in the awkward situation of having to determine whether Merrett attends their best-and-fairest count on October 2 if the impasse has not been resolved by then. Merrett is a five-time winner, and is likely to claim his sixth Crichton Medal.

In his 12 seasons with the club, the Bombers have made the finals four times – 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2021 – but lost in the opening week each time.

Despite another year of missing the finals, Barham said the Bombers were well-placed heading into the trade and draft periods.

“We are delighted with the ongoing hard work of our list and recruiting team led by Matt Rosa,” Barham said.

“Their strategy, insight, and decisiveness in the 2024 player movement period has set us up for an exciting exchange and draft period, where we can bring in a substantial amount of young talent.

“We currently have at least four picks under 25, to take maximum advantage of the draftable talent available this year.”

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