Like Merrett, I tried to leave my club. This is why I’m proud of it, and he should be too

It is said that Barack Obama, when was asked what his job entailed as President of the United States, answered: “I make decisions on 51/49s. I turn them into 60/40s in my head, and sell them as 80/20s.” Cool quote, if it’s true.

By my reckoning Essendon’s decision on whether to trade Zach Merrett at the end of last season was one of those 51/49s. There was no clear answer and when new club president Andrew Welsh said Merrett wouldn’t be traded, he sold it as a 90/10 decision. The strength was to be admired, and two factors in the deal allowed us to empathise with Essendon’s view.

One was the picks Hawthorn offered. People talk of first-round selections, but they shouldn’t. There are top 10 picks and there are late first-round picks; they are vastly different.

Had the offer been three picks inside the top 10, I wonder whether Essendon’s position would have changed.

The second factor was the other party involved. The Hawks are bitter rivals, and making a bitter rival immediately better, giving them a far greater chance of winning a premiership, is difficult to swallow.

Hawthorn’s win from the trade would be immediate; Essendon’s would be four to five years down the track. That decision requires enormous courage and political capital.

If pushed, I think my decision would have been to trade Zach. The reason? The Bombers finished 15th last season with him in the team and the next few years looked like they might be similar. But it’s easy from the cheap seats, and the deal probably wasn’t enough.

I faced a similar situation to Zach in 1998, halfway through my career. I still remember where I was when the great “Slug” Jordan, who had coached me in the Teal Cup (the national under-17s carnival) called to say he had heard Richmond were looking to trade me. It came as a bit of a surprise, but it gave me pause to stop and think.

For the first time in my career, I asked myself whether I still “believed”. Did I believe that the current set-up at Richmond would lead to success? Players need to believe. The game’s too hard if they don’t. After a week of contemplation on my cousin’s farm in Wemen, in northern Victoria, I decided I didn’t, and that I would seek a trade myself.

I met with the CEO Jim Malone and the footy manager Gary O’Sullivan to request a trade. Straight after the meeting I called Leon Daphne, a mentor and great friend who was president of Richmond. After explaining my reasons, all he said was, “that’s great, Wayne, but you’ve got a year to go on your contract. You won’t be going anywhere.” Great leadership; that’s why I loved him. I knew the club would still explore it, but he bought them some time.

North Melbourne, Carlton and Melbourne were potential suitors. I met Neale Daniher in a hotel suite and I liked his country intelligence and obvious drive. I met Denis Pagan after a gym workout at the Kangaroos facility. I told him I’d like to play for the Roos and asked him what he thought I could do to improve. “Well, you could start by tackling … We all tackle here, son,” he said with the hint of a smile. I loved his honesty.

Carlton hadn’t spoken to me for the whole trade period, and then with 24 hours to go they said, “we’re in”. Very Carlton. I spent a night in a Dublin hotel room, on International Rules duties, with Stephen Silvagni espousing the Blues’ virtues. For various reasons, no trade was done.

I was immediately relieved. Partly, I think this was because I didn’t have to face the unknown of going to another club, and party because I had made the stand I wanted, and I hoped the club had asked some questions of itself.

The first meeting at Richmond after the failed trade was with coach Jeff Gieschen and assistant coach Ross Lyon. It was frosty at times but productive. I was told that the vice-captaincy would be taken from me. It was the right decision.

The next hurdle was going back to training. Was I nervous? You betcha. I had strong relationships with the players, and whilst I thought my mates understood why I did what I did, there was still apprehension. On the first warm-up lap, my friend Nick Daffy made a joke at my expense. I can’t remember what it was, but the ice had been broken and I didn’t feel uncomfortable for one moment after that.

I was given back the vice-captaincy in March and played the best footy of my career that year. The episode had narrowed my focus. I didn’t worry about things I couldn’t control and this led to me becoming a better player. When I look back on my career, it is the proudest I am of anything I did individually.

I re-signed with the club in the middle of that season which meant I would see out my career at the Tigers. Even seeing North play Carlton in the grand final that year, I was happy with the outcome of staying at Richmond then, and I still am today. I like being a one-club player.

So, what do I think Zach should do? The way the first two weeks of this season have played out at Essendon lends itself to the thought that he was right to ask for a trade. He had earned the right to ask questions of the club and come up with the answer he did. He made a stand for himself, but off the back of this, the club would have asked questions of itself.

The key people at the club were talking to Zach through the process. This is a good thing and there is every chance they agreed with him on some of his thoughts.

But now he can play a critical role in helping his teammates and his club. It might be easier doing that without being captain. Not being the frontman will allow him to go about his business, narrow his focus, whilst helping his teammates more than he ever has. This week he was involved in a leadership group meeting for the first time since his stance. That was the right decision, too.

In 2004, Hawthorn finished 15th in a 16-team competition. In 2005, they finished 14th. By the end of the 2005 season Shane Crawford had played 253 games; would have thought his dreams of premiership glory were gone. Three seasons later, in 2008, he shouted “Thatswhatimtalkinabout!” into the microphone on grand final day. It was fairytale ending very few receive, and Zach may not get that ending, but the option is there for him to lead the way.

There is many a footy story that proves the saying, “the darkest hour is just before the dawn”. The Bombers are in a dark place. But the light is always nearer than you think.

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