Privately, clubs other than Essendon say Zach Merrett can’t go back to the Bombers, and don’t expect him to be there next year given the relationship has so soured it’s untenable for him to return.

Privately, and publicly, Essendon say it’s easy, and self-serving, for those opposition clubs to say that. The Bombers insist the long-term contracted star is going nowhere .

That brings us to Thursday night’s Crichton Medal. Merrett has to walk back into the club he supposedly leads but wants to leave. At some point of the night, the captain will inevitably stand up and accept his sixth Crichton Medal. And then what does he say? “How ’bout those Hawks?”

Essendon players have made their feelings known about their captain meeting at the popular new eastern suburbs cafe-bar known as “Sam’s p

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