It is difficult to fault Zach Merrett’s football performance, his professionalism, his singular devotion to self-improvement and desire for team success.

The query, for some time, has been over his leadership. Does he understand how to lead a group? Merrett knows the words, but can he carry the tune?

Zach Merrett has met with the Hawks.Credit: Getty Images

His actions suggest tone deafness to the essence of captaincy.

Merrett has flirted with the notion of leaving Essendon in the past. Now, as captain, he has inflamed the club and its supporters by meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell and his key lieutenant Rob McCartney, who did most of the leg work for Hawthorn’s approach.

The Essendon hierarchy is adamant that Merrett will not be traded, and that position did not change on Wednesday when it emerged, via Nine’s Tom Morris, that Merrett had met with Mitchell and McCartney on Tuesday (this did not surprise the Bombers, either, they were well aware of his wanderlust beforehand).

When clubs say that a star will “not be traded in any circumstances” that is really code for, “unless the deal is highly favourable”.

Carlton’s position on Charlie Curnow is less adamant, but the upshot is the same - only if the deal is exceptional.

In the........

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