Andrew McGrath speaks on the return of Zach Merrett to the Essendon football club

Prospective Essendon skipper Andrew McGrath has welcomed superstar onballer Zach Merrett back into the fold, saying when the six-time best and fairest returned to training on Friday “everyone met him with open arms”.

McGrath is widely tipped to take over the Bombers captaincy from Merrett, who has led the side since 2023 but attempted to force his way to their bitter rivals Hawthorn during a chaotic trade period.

It followed a horror, injury-marred season for the Bombers, who refused to approve Merrett’s request to move on to the flag aspirants – deeming the Hawks’ offer inadequate.

But McGrath said Merrett “dominated” at training upon his return and was committed to the red and black for 2026.

“I didn’t expect anything less to be honest,” McGrath said at a McHappy Day event at McDonald’s in Tullamarine on Saturday.

“It was great to see him get around the lads.

“A lot has been spoken about it, no doubt, but everything seems worse than it is... when he walked through the door, everyone met him with open arms.

“He was the same and just got on with training.

“Zach’s the calibre of player that can compete in any environment, and we are so lucky to have him. He dominated training, which he does most times.”

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McGrath’s name is at the top of the list of likely successors to Merrett as Essendon captain, should the club make the change.

McGrath said it was too early to talk about the captaincy, but also wouldn’t rule out taking on the role if it becomes available.

“It’s something I haven’t really put any thought to yet,” McGrath said.

“We’ve had our break, and I got married a couple of weeks ago, so footy has been on the backburner a little bit.

“Those conversations will happen over the next few months. We’ll sit down with the club and figure out the next way forward, and it will be what it will be.”

McGrath, 27, was among the Essendon leaders – including the likes of Nic Martin and Mason Redman – to speak out in September about Merrett wanting out. McGrath told Seven at the time that there was “disappointment, a little bit of anger and sadness” about Merrett wanting out.

McGrath has experienced plenty of turbulence as a Bomber, but he’s also learnt what it takes to become a leader.

“If you have been in the system for a while, you’ve seen a lot, and seen the good and the bad that footy throws up,” McGrath said.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have so many good leaders above me for my whole career with Dyson [Heppell] and Zach currently. You learn bits and pieces from those guys.

“Everyone my age is a leader at the footy club – we’ve got some great middle-aged sort of guys, but they seem a bit older with how young our playing list is at the moment.

“Guys like Kyle Langford, Mason Redman and Nic Martin are great young, emerging leaders. Sam Durham as well.

“It doesn’t really feel like a big responsibility because we share the load so well.

“It’s something that comes a little bit naturally to me, like connecting with the guys, and I enjoy being around my teammates, but we will see where it all lands.”

A chance meeting for Charlie

Superstar Swans recruit Charlie Curnow admits he’s still adjusting to life in the harbour city, away from Carlton and his former teammates.

And he looked shocked when he took some breakfast out to a car at the McHappy Day event in Tullamarine on Saturday morning, only to find it was former Blues skipper Marc Murphy waiting patiently. For his part, Murphy looked just as shocked – especially when two TV cameras took in the transaction.

“I think he was just using young Maxy [Murphy’s son] as an excuse to come past Maccas,” Curnow said with a wide smile.

“I was surprised to see him but I always see him around Carlton North near the cafes.”

Both Curnow’s friendship groups lit up this week when the AFL announced the Blues would travel to Sydney to face the Swans in opening round.

“I actually thought we were going to play them six times and try to make as much money as we can,” Curnow said with a laugh.

“I was talking to a few of the boys – I’m still getting used to changing up which boys I’m talking about, but I was chatting to some of my Blues mates like Weiters [Jacob Weitering] about the possibility of playing opening round, and it turns out the AFL did it in the end.”

Curnow said he felt fresh and was enjoying getting stuck back into training after injuries ruined his last season with the Blues.

The two-time Coleman medallist has been in his new city for a couple of weeks and found a place to live on the water in Tamarama on the eastern beaches.

“I’m living near the beach in Tamarama, and I’m loving it,” Curnow said.

“The driving is a bit wild, there is a bit of road rage going on up there I reckon – there are a lot of winding roads, it’s not grids like Melbourne.

“I’m not hating on it. They are just in a rush and, I think with the winding roads, it just looks like they are coming around the corner quickly.”

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