“But yeah, we’ll welcome him back with open arms. He’s our best player, and there’s no denying that. So he’s going to make us a better team.”
Loading
Reid was unsure when Merrett would return to training.
“He’s still got two weeks until he’s officially back, so I don’t know when he will come back,” he added.
“But when he does, we’ll support him.”
Reid wouldn’t be drawn on whether he would like Merrett to remain skipper, saying he would cast his vote when the time came.
Merrett has yet to officially address his teammates about the trade saga, though Reid said some players “have been in touch with him”.
Zach Merrett’s position as Essendon skipper is sure to be a talking point this summer.Credit: Getty Images
Reid was confident Merrett’s return would go smoothly.
“I think the group just wants to move on. You can’t let that sort of stuff like derail a pre-season or an off-season,” he said.
Essendon finished 2025 with 13 consecutive losses amid an injury crisis that meant 15 players made their AFL debut for the club.
Reid, 23, impressed as a key defender before a hamstring injury derailed his season.
Former Victorian cricketer has joined Essendon as high-performance chief after stints at the Western Bulldogs and West Coast.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
But he is fit and relishing a new high-performance regime under Mathew Inness.
“Mat Inness has been great, and the team he’s put together,” he said.
“I feel like our off-season program has been top-notch, and I think a lot of the boys agree.
Loading
“And it’s really individualised, so I think the boys are liking that, and I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been good.”
Nik Cox was among the main training group after the AFL concussion board ticked off the luckless utility to return for pre-season.
Cox had travelled to the United States for some advice from the UFC about concussions.
