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AFL star Zach Merrett’s wife Alexandra has set tongues wagging by leaving his team’s match at halftime to get a meal and a wine at one of Melbourne’s most upmarket restaurants – and making a TikTok video out of it.
Merrett’s Bombers were outclassed by the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Sunday night, scoring just one goal by the time Alexandra left the ground.
She posted a TikTok video showing her finishing her plate and refreshing her palate with a glass of wine at Gimlet, one of the city’s finest bars and eateries, where a cocktail can cost as much as $65.
Alexandra captioned the clip ‘When your husband’s team is losing by 50 points at half time so you go to gimlet instead’.
Essendon were actually down by 54 points at the main break, but made a comeback of sorts to win the third quarter before being defeated 14.15 (99) to 9.11 (65).
Some footy fans lightheartedly criticised Mrs Merrett for not sticking around to see how the match panned out.
Alexandra Merrett (pictured with husband Zach) has been criticised by two ex-AFL stars turned commentators after posting a TikTok video while his side was losing on Sunday
Mrs Merrett made the clip (pictured) as she ate and drank at an upmarket Melbourne restaurant after leaving Essendon’s match against the Dogs at halftime
Zach Merrett (pictured with Alexandra) has already been under plenty of scrutiny this year after relinquishing the captaincy when his trade to Hawthorn didn’t pan out
‘But that second half! You lowkey missed out girl, we finally won,’ one wrote.
‘Look what happens when you leave,’ another added.
‘Go back GF! We’ve got some fight back in us,’ commented a third.
The video comes after Zach Merrett has come under heavy scrutiny to start the season due to his failed trade to Hawthorn last year.
Widely regarded as one of Essendon’s best since breaking into first grade with the club in 2014, the 30-year-old stepped aside from the captaincy after his move to the Hawks didn’t pan out.
He was added back into the club’s leadership meetings this season and was praised by coach Brad Scott for his play against the Dogs as he came to the fore in the second half.
Bombers skipper Andrew McGrath was asked about Merrett’s TikTok post on radio 3AW on Monday.
‘I wasn’t aware of that,’ he said.
‘I don’t really have too much of a view on it. What people do in their private lives is up to them.
Former Carlton star Sam Docherty (pictured) said Alexandra’s clip would make it harder for Zach to mend his relationship with Bombers fans and the club
Richmond legend Matthew Richardson (pictured with fellow footy commentator Abbey Holmes) said the video is ‘not something I would like out of my partner if I was in that situation’
Merrett (pictured right in action on Sunday) was praised by coach Brad Scott after coming to the fore in the second half as the Bombers hit back
‘We know full well that Zach has really bought into what we’re doing.
‘He’s as passionate as I’ve ever seen him and I think his second half really showed where he’s at mentally.’
AFL legend Matthew Richardson was critical of Alexandra on 3AW.
‘It’s not something I would like out of my partner if I was in that situation,’ he said.
‘But it’s a different time, the social media and the way people express themselves now online is a lot different to when I was playing.
‘It’s probably not something where you want more attention brought to yourself.’
Recently retired ex-Carlton star Sam Docherty also frowned on the clip.
‘The fact of the matter is it’s just really not helping Zach’s relationship to mend with the fans and the club and the playing group,’ Docherty said.
‘Is putting that up really worth the scrutiny that your husband’s going to get?
‘There’s so much media scrutiny already in AFL football, you just don’t need that being added for something that doesn’t really need to be put up.
‘What’s anyone actually gaining from putting that up online? I don’t really know.
‘If anything, it can create little factions off the footy field [with other players and their partners] which just doesn’t help when you’re in a footy club and everything’s going wrong.’
The Bombers suffered their 17th loss in a row when they fell to the Dogs.
Essendon, who next face Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, previously experienced such a run of misfortune in 2016 when players were suspended because of the supplements saga.
The current streak includes last season’s 13-game losing run when they were cruelled by injuries.
‘It’s just a fact that can’t be argued. There’s no point,’ Scott said after the match.
‘No one puts the number up with an asterisk next to it and says ‘For 90 per cent of those games, you could hardly field a team’. No one cares about that. And I don’t care either.
‘It’s just one of those facts that you have to deal with and it potentially can get demoralising, but that’s what we’re fighting against, and that’s the challenge that we’re all faced with.
‘I’m faced with it as coach, our leaders are faced with it and people ask a lot of the time ‘What do you want from your leaders?’ Well, they need to keep the group galvanised, and they need to perform on-field.’
