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Zach Merrett dishes off a handball.Credit: AFL Photos
Essendon star Zach Merrett thought he had got “all ball” in his clash with Nick Blakey late in the game.
But whether the match review officer sees things that way remains to be seen.
Merrett gave his side of the incident to Fox Footy post game. He said he was trying to tap the ball over the top so Essendon could run into an open goal, but he appeared to get Blakey in the head instead.
Blakey went off for a head injury assessment and didn’t have time to return to the match.
“I thought I had got all ball, and we were about to kick a goal – I don’t think there is anything to worry about,” Merrett told Fox Footy post-game.
Later, in his press conference, Swans coach Dean Cox confirmed Blakey had an HIA, but wouldn’t say if he passed or failed the test.
Blakey didn’t return to the field after his clash with Merrett, but did walk off the ground with his teammates and was present when Cox spoke to his players post-game.
“I’m not sure. I briefly spoke to the players for a minutes and Nick was one of them – we’ll find out more information when I get back tonight or tomorrow,” Cox said.
“He played a really impressive game, hopefully he is OK.”
Cox said his first thought was both players went for the footy while Bombers coach Brad Scott said he saw it from a distance and didn’t have anything to say about it.
“Both people just going at the ball. Timing. That’s all I can say having watched it live as I didn’t have time to look at it again,” Cox said post game.
The Bombers sing the song after their hard-fought win.Credit: Getty Images
Essendon are a work in progress, that much has been made clear so far in 2025, but in the second term of their win over Sydney on Saturday, the Bombers gave their faithful a look at what they could yet become.
The Bombers were irresistible during that term as they kicked goals from all parts, some via defensive pressure, some through taking split-second chances, and one flowing move from defence which saw a flurry of aggressive handballs end with Archie Perkins booting a goal from open play
That six-goal-to-one quarter set up an eight-point win over an undisciplined and disappointing Swans, who mounted a late comeback attempt but let themselves too much to do in front of 43,799 fans at Marvel Stadium.
Zach Merrett’s late clash with Nick Blakey, which left the Swans star in the rooms undergoing a head injury assessment, could see the Dons captain in trouble when the match review findings drop on Sunday.
The Swans never looked comfortable. They also conceded six 50-metre penalties. Whatever they were doing wrong on the mark has to be fixed as the umpires are clearly on to it.
Zach Reid, Merrett, Mason Redman and Andrew McGrath were among the best for Essendon. Sam Durham was too, while they had winners in every part of the ground as the lesser-known Dons made a good fist of their roles.
While the returning Jye Caldwell showed his usual hard edge, the one moment of heartbreak for Essendon came in the third term when first-gamer Lewis Hayes, who took two years in the VFL to earn a debut, landed awkwardly as his knee buckled under him.
He was helped off the ground, scans will tell the tale, but it looked bad on replay.
The Swans looked off the mark from the start as they gave up four 50-metre penalties in the opening term, which directly led to three Essendon goals – two of them to Nate Caddy.
The visitors gave up another just minutes into the second term and their rearguard couldn’t hold the Dons back as they booted six goals straight and built a 39-point lead at half-time.
Zach Merrett dishes off a handball.Credit: AFL Photos
Essendon star Zach Merrett thought he had got “all ball” in his clash with Nick Blakey late in the game.
But whether the match review officer sees things that way remains to be seen.
Merrett gave his side of the incident to Fox Footy post game. He said he was trying to tap the ball over the top so Essendon could run into an open goal, but he appeared to get Blakey in the head instead.
Blakey went off for a head injury assessment and didn’t have time to return to the match.
“I thought I had got all ball, and we were about to kick a goal – I don’t think there is anything to worry about,” Merrett told Fox Footy post-game.
Later, in his press conference, Swans coach Dean Cox confirmed Blakey had an HIA, but wouldn’t say if he passed or failed the test.
Blakey didn’t return to the field after his clash with Merrett, but did walk off the ground with his teammates and was present when Cox spoke to his players post-game.
“I’m not sure. I briefly spoke to the players for a minutes and Nick was one of them – we’ll find out more information when I get back tonight or tomorrow,” Cox said.
“He played a really impressive game, hopefully he is OK.”
Cox said his first thought was both players went for the footy while Bombers coach Brad Scott said he saw it from a distance and didn’t have anything to say about it.
“Both people just going at the ball. Timing. That’s all I can say having watched it live as I didn’t have time to look at it again,” Cox said post game.
Essendon have held off a frantic comeback attempt by the Sydney Swans to win their clash at Marvel Stadium this afternoon.
The Dons battled to score in the last term, but they hung tough as Zac Reid was stellar and Zach Merrett his usual assured self.
The Swans got within eight points but paid dearly for their struggles earlier in the match.
A few moments ago Merrett attempted to batter the ball towards the goal-square and made contact with the head of Nick Blakey.
Blakey went down and won a free kick, he looked sore and was taken from the ground for a head injury assessment.
Merrett could be in some trouble, despite not having any intent to hurt Blakey.
We will wait and see how the match review see it tomorrow.
Will Hayward has booted a classy goal, his second of the day, and now the Swans need two goals in the last five minutes to have a chance at the win.
Sam Durham has gone off favouring his foot for Essendon, just to add to tehe drama.
Dons 71, Swans 62 with five minutes to go.
The Dons are battling hard but the Swans have created and then botched two goals attempts that looked certainties.
Both times their kicks missed the mark while Zac Reid has also made two vital plays to stop forward attacks.
Dons 71, Swans 56 with six mins to go.
Brodie Grundy of the Swans and Todd Goldstein of the Bombers compete in the ruck.Credit: Getty Images
Oh snap. Justin McInerney had the footy and saw an open goal square in front of him so he kicked long and watched the ball roll through for a goal.
The Swans are inside three goals now. This is not a drill.
Dons 70, Swans 54 with 12 mins to go.
Angus Sheldrick has booted a goal and Marvel Stadium has gone a little quiet, the Swans are within 22 points with 13 minutes to play.
Surely they can’t come back from here.
Dons 70, Swans 48 with 13 mins to go.
Angus Sheldrick has booted a goal and Marvel Stadium has gone a little quiet, the Swans are within 22 points with 13 minutes to play.
Surely they can’t come back from here.
Dons 70, Swans 48 with 13 mins to go.
Dylan Shiel will come into the game with Lewis Hayes subbed out with a knee injury.
There’s been no word yet on the severity of the injury for the first-gamer but, as we wrote earlier, it did look like a serious knee injury when he went down.
Dons 70, Swans 40 as the last term begins.
