Jake Stringer and Zach Merrett celebrate a goal against the Eagles.Credit:Getty Images
He was out of contract and set to become a free agent at the end of the year,with the Brisbane Lions,Port Adelaide,and Carlton among the clubs keen on securing the skilful midfielder.
Merrett’s re-signing thins the field of free agents,with attention turning to Jack Billings at St Kilda,Josh Kelly at the Giants,and injured Crows midfielder Matt Crouch.
Sources say Kelly is presently more inclined to stay at the Giants but his situation is more complicated than others,given the size of his contract and the options included to extend it.
Carlton captain Patrick Cripps is the biggest-name free agent yet to recommit to a new contract but he has been on the verge of re-signing all year and said recently that it “would get done at some stage”.
Similarly,Robbie Gray is certain to remain at the Power and Cam Guthrie is highly unlikely to move,while Swan Luke Parker is also favoured to re-sign.
Star Bulldogs inside midfielder Tom Liberatore is still to put pen to paper on a new deal,while Mitch Wallis is a free agent who has been squeezed out to the fringe of the team.
Billings at St Kilda shapes as an interesting case as the Saints’ poor year may make him and the club rethink their positions. Does he remain at the Saints,or push to go to a club closer to flag contention? And is the club open to the idea of the potential compensation pick they could get,which is tied to their ladder position,should Billings go to another club?