Gerard's Editorial | Zach Merrett's New Contract Offer (18.03.26)

0:005 a.m. I'm up with a crisp Celsius energy drink, running 12 miles today. Grab a green juice, quick change, and head to work. Meetings, workshops, one more Celsius, no slowing down. Working late, but obviously still meeting the girls for a little dancing. Celsius, live, fit, go. Grab a cold, refreshing Celsius at your local retailer or locate now at Celsius.com. A.I. Learn more at www.luin.com Kayak gets my flight, hotel, and rental car right. So I can tune out travel advice that's

1:00just plain wrong. Bro Skycoin, way better than points. Never fly during a Scorpio full moon. Just tell the manager you'll sew, instant room upgrade. Stop taking bad travel advice. Start comparing hundreds of sites with Kayak and get your trip right. Kayak, got that right. Wednesday morning. This is your town. This is your station. This is Waitley. Good morning. The Matilda's earned the Asian Cup final secured by a Sam Kerr goal. This is the way back into the national affection and the mainstream attention. Winning and star power Saturday night is a big occasion. More of that is our morning unfolds. On a footy front, Scott Pendlebury was given the dispensation he deserved at the Tribunal last night. His once only absolution from suspension for distinguished and fair service,

2:01just as Craig Bradley and Gary Abla Jr. had been granted before him. The game owes something to its champions who have played in such a way over such a long period of time and it was reassuring to see that honored. And the game's most fascinating relationship remains Essendon and Zach Merritt. Cal Tumias reporting the bombers have put a multi-year contract extension in front of the former captain. It's the for as long as we both shall live contract. Having held the runaway bride to the current union, the bombers are trying to curve his wandering eye once and for all. And this is the idea of the misery tax we floated back in September. It rather memorably gave Nathan Buckley the Ick. You gave me the Ick then, Joe. I think my favorite exchange ever with Nathan Buckley. The concept for Essendon was, we need you, we want you, we love you, we're not releasing you and we will richly compensate you for the challenge of the next two seasons when we won't see finals. And beyond that, a two-year extension to end the annual doubting session.

3:05Lock him for life and see this mission through. Merritt might end up being Gary Wilson or Robbie Flauer. So I'm paying him the misery tax to reward the loyalty. If you can't be happy, then at least you can be rich. And that would appear to be just about what Essendon has done. So does Merritt bury the Ick and accept his fate or does he hold out and make a break for freedom again at season's end? The fact this has become public after one dismal performance that raised questions where the Essendon can hope to even be successful in the course of Merritt's remaining days, well that makes it all the more intriguing. Essendon can't see itself without Zach Merritt, but we know Merritt can see himself without Essendon. Do you accept this club for better, or for worse, or for even worse, for as long as you both shall live? Try answering that after round one of a long season. If Merritt signs, they'll throw a second wedding for the renewal of valves. If he doesn't, it's awkward, really awkward. Think he says I love you, she doesn't

4:11say it back. Forty is most fascinating relationship.