After Zach Merrett all but farewelled Essendon, the focus will turn to whether the Bombers relax their hardline stance on trading their contracted captain.

Merrett won his sixth Crichton Medal as Essendon's best and fairest winner on Thursday night, mere weeks after his interest in joining the Bombers' fierce rivals was made public.

The Essendon skipper met with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell and football boss Rob McCartney in September, despite being contracted until the end of 2027.

In his speech, Merrett, 30, addressed the speculation around his future and stressed he understood the Bombers - who have been adamant publicly they won't trade him - could yet hold him to his contract.

"The past few weeks have certainly been difficult for me, my family and for many people in and around the

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