Zach Merrett has resigned as captain of Essendon after returning to the club's headquarters following his failed pursuit to land at Hawthorn.
Merrett addressed the players and football program on Wednesday morning, admitting he was "not the right person" to lead the club moving forward.
The 30-year-old began his pre-season early, returning in mid-November with the first- to fourth-year players rather than on Monday with the rest of the squad.
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"It has been an absolute honour to be the 41st captain of the Essendon Football Club," Merrett said on Wednesday.
"Growing up, it was a childhood dream of mine running around the backyard in Cobden [in country Victoria], and it has been an opportunity that my family and I are very proud of.
"If you told younger me I would get to captain this club for three years, I would have pinched myself. It's been something I've really enjoyed and loved doing. I've really enjoyed being captain to lead so many great current and past players."
Merrett, who in 2025 won his third consecutive club best and fairest gong and sixth overall, admitted his unsuccessful attempt to leave the Bombers had been burdening him and said it was important he stepped down as Essendon captain.
"It's been weighing on my mind around who is the best person to lead this club and group moving forward, and I feel like I've come to the decision that I'm not the right person," Merrett said.
He also spoke positively of the direction in which the club was headed, despite having made it patently clear only a month ago that he no longer wanted to be in red and black.
"There's so much optimism, excitement and energy at the club, internally and externally, with the fans, changes with the high-performance team, our new draftees, top-end talent," Merrett said.
"It feels like so much excitement and optimism and newness, and being such a young group, it is a great chance for a young leader to come in and grow with all the group moving forward.
"Thank you to the club, and to Scotty [coach Brad Scott] for giving me the opportunity to captain the club.
"We'll continue to leave no stone unturned to make sure we play in that last Saturday in September."
Among the most topical stories of last month's trade period were Charlie Curnow's move from Carlton to Sydney, Christian Petracca crossing from the Demons to the Suns and Merrett's failed trade attempt.
"Zach really wants to be a Hawthorn footballer," Merrett's manager, Tom Petroro, told AFL.com.au as the minutes ticked down in the trade period.
"He's all in on this. It's been a difficult five- or six-week period and his instruction to me is to try and get him to Hawthorn this afternoon."
Merrett began as Essendon captain ahead of the 2023 season, taking over from Dyson Heppell.
The Bombers finished 11th in both his first and second seasons as captain, then 15th this year as a monumental injury toll ravaged the playing list.
Unsurprisingly, the AFL scheduled Essendon and Hawthorn to square off in round one of the 2026 season.
Speaking on behalf of the Essendon board, members and supporters, Bombers president Andrew Welsh thanked Merrett for his "immense contribution" as captain.
"His tenure has coincided with a vital period of cultural growth for our club," Welsh said.
"His passion, elite standards, and dedication to his teammates and drive to win showcases him as one of the best on-field leaders in the AFL.
"This decision is an example of a selfless leader prioritising the best interests of the club moving forward.
"Zach and I have had many long discussions recently and he is absolutely all in on our vision and can clearly see the direction we're heading. He knows what we are building, and this decision supports that long-term goal with a focus on allowing the next wave of leaders to take control of this club.
"While he steps away from the captaincy, his influence on this playing group will not diminish. He remains a critical leader for us, and we know he will be integral to leading the next phase of our journey on field."
