Essendon skipper Zach Merrett has joined the club’s swelling injury list after reportedly breaking his hand during Friday night’s 44-point loss to Geelong.
9 News reporter Nat Yoannidis revealed the setback will sideline Merrett for at least one match, pushing back his 250th AFL appearance, originally set for next week against St Kilda, until the final round of the season, if he recovers in time.
“Understand Zach Merrett suffered a break in his hand last night and will miss at least 1 match,” Yoannidis posted on X. “Friday’s clash with St Kilda was due to be game 250 for the skipper.”
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Merrett’s injury comes amid a fresh spate of fitness concerns for the Bombers.
Promising forward Archer May is expected to miss games after spraining his ankle in the same match, while rookie Luamon Lual was subbed out before half-time following a heavy mid-air collision with Geelong’s Mark O’Connor. His status for the Saints clash remains uncertain.
The triple blow compounds an already difficult period for Essendon, whose finals hopes have been dented by both form and availability issues. The club has not confirmed the full extent of the injuries, but faces a challenging week at selection as it looks to keep its September aspirations alive.