'As well as anyone I've seen': Why Dons coach ranks skipper's best ...

Essendon coach Brad Scott has lauded the deeds of Anzac Day Medallist Zach Merrett after the Bomber skipper produced another superb performance in the drawn clash with Collingwood at the MCG on Thursday.

Merrett, who is in his second season as Essendon captain, was superb in the midfield for Essendon when gathering 31 disposals, ten of them contested, while also laying a game-high equal eight tackles in the compelling clash.

The 28-year-old has excelled with the added responsibility of the captaincy and claimed his fourth Crichton Medal and third All Australian guernsey in his first season as skipper. He is averaging 30 disposals a game this season, a marginal increase on last year.

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Scott represented Brisbane during the Lions remarkable era and played alongside Brownlow Medallists Michael Voss, Simon Black and Jason Akermanis, among other legends of the club that won three premierships in succession between 2001 and 2003.

During his coaching career he led the Kangaroos to two preliminary finals and coached champions including Brent Harvey, the AFL games record holder. But he said when it comes to his diligence and preparation, Merrett is as accomplished as any of those superstars.

Darcy Moore of the Magpies and Zach Merrett of the Bombers compete for the ball during the 2024 AFL Round 07 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 25, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“He prepares as well as anyone I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen some pretty good ones,” Scott said.

The Essendon coach said that Merrett, who said prior to the Anzac Day clash he was looking at the match as a litmus test as to how much the Bombers have improved this year, was a driven competitor who was determined to improve further.

“I always say he makes my job a lot easier,” Scott said.

“It’s easy to talk and we’ve said a lot during the pre-season (when) you’re sort of forced to get out and answer all the questions about how you’re going to go and ... how the pre-season has been and (how) everyone is flying. There’s a lot of talk but to back it up with action is what really matters and Zach sets the example.

“He backs up his words with action. He should make my job easier, but he doesn’t make it easier all the time, because he’s always pushing me as well. Zach wants to be a better player. He doesn’t want to be the leader that is sort of policing all of his teammates. He wants to get better himself.

“That’s the attitude that we want with all our players. That’s what we want our good players, our experienced players, doing, and he does that at an incredibly high level.

“We were very fortunate to have Dyson Heppell as our captain for a long time, and Dyson and Zach have worked together and Dyson has passed on the baton to Zach and he’s just taken it and run with it. I just can’t speak highly enough of him.”

Zach Merrett of the Bombers leads his team on to the field before the 2024 AFL Round 07 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 25, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images