Overview

• David Barham resigned as president and vice-president Andrew Welsh was appointed to lead Essendon immediately.
• Welsh publicly stated Zach Merrett is "playing at Essendon" and said the situation will be resolved by the start of pre-season.
• Merrett apologized to supporters on Brownlow night, acknowledged feeling "a bit of shame," and said his future will become clearer in coming weeks.
• The captain has met Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell and is exploring a move, yet remains contracted to Essendon through 2027 with talks continuing privately ahead of the Oct. 6–15 trade period.
• Defender Jordan Ridley, contracted to 2029, committed to staying at Essendon, offering a stabilizing note as teammates’ earlier disappointment over the saga lingers.