Zach Merrett is a professional Australian rules footballer with a net worth of $1.5 million. He currently plays midfield for the AFL team Essendon Football Club.
This article contains details on Merrett’s net worth, salary, earnings, wife, age, and all other related details.
Zach Merrett’s Net Worth Details
Zach Merrett’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million as of 2025. He earns around $750,000 – $850,000 per season, from Essendon football club.
He earns a good portion of his annual income from endorsement deals. Last year, he signed a six-year contract extension with his current club.
Endorsements
Merrett’s successful career earned him several endorsement deals. The player currently has two official AFL sponsors.
This season, his gold sponsor is McPherson Window Cleaning, and his bronze sponsor is CT Solutions Australia. Additionally, he is affiliated with Under Armour through his club, Essendon.
About Zach Merrett
| Full Name | Zachary Merrett |
| Nickname | Zach Merrett |
| Club | Essendon Football Club |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Date of Birth | 3 October 1995 |
| Age | 26 |
| Place of Birth | Cobden, Victoria, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Draft | 2013 National AFL Draft |
| Debut | 2014 |
| Height | 179 cm (5 ft 10 in) |
| Weight | 83 kg (183 lb) |
| Net Worth | $2 million |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Father’s Name | Greg Merrett |
| Mother’s Name | Cathy Merrett |
| Salary | $750,000 – $850,000 |
| Twitter Handle | @zachmerrett07 |
| Instagram Handle | n/a |
From a young age, Merrett participated in Cobden’s Auskick program. During his junior career, he played for the Cobden Football Club.
Later, he participated in and was picked overall no. 26 and 2nd by Essendon in the 2013 National AFL draft.
During the 2014 AFL season, Merrett made his debut against North Melbourne. Replacing Martin Gleeson as a substitute, he made his professional journey debut.
Throughout the season, he collected three tackles and two goals in a round 11 win against Richmond. This earned him a nomination for the 2014 AFL Rising Star.
In 2015, Zach Merrett was picked in the midfield. Unfortunately, he missed most of the season due to a major stress fracture in his foot.
The following year, during round 21, he became the third youngest match-day captain in Essendon history. With his leadership, Essendon won the match six points ahead of the Suns.
Throughout the 2017 season, Merrett served as the vice-captain for his team and had an amazing year.
His breakout performance that year earned him the first selection for the All-Australian team. However, his performance was below average in the following two years.
His ankle injury pushed him back through the first half of 2019, but he made a quick comeback later in the season.
Merrett’s most successful years to date were the 2020 and 2021 seasons. In 2020, he had 26.3 disposals and 4.3 marks per game, which Champions Data evaluated as exceptional. This advanced him to second place in the Crichton Medal.
In 2021, he won the WS Crichton medal and was again on the All-Australian Team. Currently, he is sharing 14th place with 5 other players on the 2022 Brownlow Medal leaderboard with 12 votes.
Wife
Merrett is currently in a relationship with Alexandra Bourne. The pair is often seen together at various AFL-related parties.
However, the AFL star is very secretive about disclosing his personal life and family member-related details.
Career Stats
Career Achievements
| Achievements | Year |
| W.S. Crichton Medal | 2016, 2019, 2021 |
| All-Australian team | 2017, 2021 |
| 22under22 team | 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| AFL Rising Star nominee | 2014 |
AFL Career Stats: 2022 YTD
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Goals | Marks | Tackles | Votes |
| 2014 | Essendon | 27 | 20 | 11 | 67 | 79 | 0 |
| 2015 | Essendon | 7 | 17 | 4 | 60 | 98 | 1 |
| 2016 | Essendon | 7 | 22 | 7 | 110 | 136 | 19 |
| 2017 | Essendon | 7 | 22 | 9 | 95 | 122 | 15 |
| 2018 | Essendon | 7 | 22 | 5 | 69 | 132 | 10 |
| 2019 | Essendon | 7 | 23 | 8 | 90 | 124 | 16 |
| 2020 | Essendon | 7 | 16 | 2 | 69 | 55 | 13 |
| 2021 | Essendon | 7 | 23 | 4 | 97 | 112 | 20 |
| 2022 | Essendon | 7 | 16 | 6 | 69 | 72 | |
| Career | 181 | 56 | 726 | 930 | 94 | ||
FAQs
1. What is Zach Merrett’s background and how did his AFL career begin?
Zach Merrett was born on October 3, 1995, in Cobden, Victoria. He attended Melbourne Grammar School on a cricket scholarship but ultimately focused on football. After playing for the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup, where he averaged 25.7 disposals per game, Merrett was selected by Essendon with pick #26 in the 2013 National Draft. He made his AFL debut in Round 1 of the 2014 season against North Melbourne.
2. What major awards and achievements has Zach Merrett earned throughout his AFL career?
Zach Merrett has established himself as one of Essendon’s greatest midfielders, winning five Crichton Medals (Essendon’s Best and Fairest award), placing him equal third all-time in club history. He’s a three-time All-Australian, won the Yiooken Award in 2023 and the Anzac Medal in 2024. Merrett also holds the record for most possessions by an Essendon player in a season (725 in 2021) and currently ranks third in club history for Brownlow votes.
3. How would you describe Zach Merrett’s leadership style as Essendon captain?
Merrett has described his leadership approach as “challenging the norms” of traditional AFL captaincy. Despite being naturally introverted, he leads through example, hard work, and individual conversations rather than public speeches. He joined Essendon’s leadership group in 2016, served as vice-captain in 2017, and was named club captain in 2023. Merrett focuses on creating an environment where teammates can be themselves while maintaining high standards.
4. What are Zach Merrett’s key strengths and playing style as a midfielder?
Merrett is known for his exceptional ball-winning ability, elite endurance, and precise disposal skills. He consistently ranks among the league’s top players for uncontested possessions and effective disposals. His game combines high work rate with intelligent decision-making and accurate passing under pressure. In 2025, Merrett continues to be one of the AFL’s premier midfielders, averaging over 28 disposals per game and becoming a more dangerous scoring threat.
5. What interests and business ventures does Zach Merrett pursue outside of football?
Merrett has a passion for American sports, business, and fitness. He owns three Body Fit Training (BFT) gym franchises, built on the philosophy that everyday people can train with the same principles as elite athletes. Despite his serious approach to football, Merrett enjoys spending time with his dog Maya and visiting his family in Cobden when his schedule permits.
