Matthew Lloyd's plea to Bombers as 'flat' skipper Zach Merrett endures form slump
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd has called on his old side to quit experimenting with captain Zach Merrett and his role.
The skipper has been used across the flanks and wings over the past month, as the Dons work out how to balance their glut of inside midfielders, including Will Setterfield, Darcy Parish, Sam Durham, Jye Caldwell and Merrett himself.
Lloyd believes Essendon's best player has had "nearly the worst month of his career" and has urged the Dons to stick him back on ball.
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Zach Merrett of the Bombers looks dejected after a loss. AFL Photos via Getty Images
"I think Merrett has got to go back in there. What they've tried to do is protect other areas of the ground, but Merrett has had nearly the worst month of his career, in my opinion," Lloyd told Nine's The Sunday Footy Show.
"Someone asked me if he had checked out. No, he hasn't, but I think he's probably just flat with where it's at.
"I know they're playing a bunch of kids and have a lot of injuries. He gets tagged, now he's playing half-back, he started on the wing; he's an inside player.
"Get him in the midfield. Sam Durham will be back from suspension. Get him in.
"The best game they played last year, they went after Marcus Bontempelli, they went after Tom Liberatore. It was Durham, it was Caldwell, it was Merrett, and everyone else should work around that."
Lloyd, a former Essendon captain, and Merrett clearly have a deep bond.
The pair met up at a Melbourne cafe this year along with Dyson Heppell, James Hird and Jobe Watson, as the group looked to help guide the Essendon skipper through a rough patch.
Essendon has been smashed with injuries this season. The Bombers haven't had a player over 194cm play in 11 games as of yet.
They were out classed by Fremantle on Thursday night at Optus Stadium, going down by 41 points.
Merrett only had 17 disposals. A fortnight ago against Carlton he only had 14, while dealing with a heavy Alex Cincotta tag.
He is averaging 27.4 disposals per game this season, his lowest (discounting shortened COVID quarters) since 2018. He's also at near-career lows for clearances and tackles, given his role shift.
