Essendon star Zach Merrett has once again found himself in the spotlight after his wife Alexandra made a polarising social media post on Sunday night.
As the Bombers went into the half-time break with just one goal and a 54-point deficit against the Western Bulldogs, Alexandra revealed she had left the game by posting a TikTok from fancy Melbourne restaurant Gimlet.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Debate rages amid social media controversy
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“When your husband’s team is losing by 50 points at half time so you go to Gimlet instead,’‘ she posted, with the caption “whoops”.
She could be seen sipping some wine in the short video that quickly went viral.
The post adds another chapter to the endless story about Merrett’s relationship with the club.
The former captain and six-time club champion requested a trade to Hawthorn last year in a move that ultimately didn’t eventuate.
Merrett immediately stepped down as skipper after the failed trade attempt and reportedly patched things up with teammates over the off-season.
He has since played every match this year and has been among their best despite the winless start.
Against the Dogs, Merrett had 30 touches, seven tackles and seven clearances in a brilliant display.
New captain Andrew McGrath didn’t buy into Merrett’s wife post.
“To be honest, I don’t really have much of a view on it. What people do in their private lives is up to them,” McGrath told 3AW.
“We know fully well that Zach is fully bought into what we’re doing. He’s as passionate as I’ve ever seen him.
“I think his second half last night really shows where he’s at mentally and where he wants to take this club. His pressure, his connection with guys, is all we go off.
“But nah, I’m not really across the off-field social media stuff.”
The issue was raised on The Agenda Setters with host Craig Hutchison at odds with Caroline Wilson and Kane Cornes during a spirited debate.
Wilson: “Now, I thought that was a really unfortunate TikTok. I don’t really understand why you would do that. I’ve got nothing against Alexandra Merrett, who clearly wanted her husband to move and go to Hawthorn, but that is a poor look for the footy club.”
Hutchison: “Caro, you’re not serious, are you? Of all people, you think this is an issue in 2026?”
Wilson: “I was on air today with Matthew Richardson and with Sam Doherty and they both agreed that it was not something they would have liked their partners to do and it would not have gone down well within the team.”
Cornes: “I would have hated that with all my being.”
Hutchison: ”You don’t have Lucy come to your workplace and you don’t go to hers. It’s 2026, can’t we be mature about it?”
Cornes: “I understand that. You can post not at half-time. You can post whenever you like … at half-time when your team is struggling when he’s demanded to get out and the family clearly is unhappy. Just speaking personally, I would have been ropable for that.”
Riewoldt: “You’re posting that knowing that it’s going to get picked up, aren’t you? The fact that we’re talking about it tonight. So whether it was in fun or whether it was whatever, it’s going to get spoken about.”
The panel went on to talk about the leadership at club level and wondered why they haven’t yet heard from president Andrew Welsh and CEO Tim Roberts.
But Hutchison couldn’t let it go.
Hutchison: “I can’t believe you think there’s an obligation on partners to go to footy games in 2026.”
Cornes: “Not to go. Not to go. Just not to post at half-time. No-one said they have to go.”
Hutchison: “I can’t believe that. I think that’s a throwback for you.”
Wilson: “You are the world’s greatest hypocrite. You don’t even mean what you’re saying.”
Richmond legend Matthew Richardson and Carlton great Sam Docherty both agreed the post was not a good look.
“The fact of the matter is it’s just really not helping Zach’s relationship mend with the fans,” Docherty told 3AW.
“They’re distractions, I know this is how life is these days, but is putting that up really worth the scrutiny your husband is going to get? I don’t think so.
“I wouldn’t have been overly happy with it. There’s so much media scrutiny already on AFL footy, you just don’t need that added,” he said.
“Especially for something like that. What’s anyone actually gaining from putting that up online? I don’t know.”
Richardson added: “It’s not something I would like out of my partner if I was in that situation. We all know the history with Zach, but it’s a different time. Social media and the way people express themselves online is a lot different to when I was playing.”
