Interim Essendon coach Dean Solomon insists Zach Merrett remains engaged at the club, but admits he has "no idea" if the former captain will seek a move away from the Bombers.
Merrett - a six-time Essendon best-and-fairest winner - had just 11 touches in a 90-point thrashing by Brisbane on Sunday.
It was one of the poorest performances of his stellar 268-game career, creating further doubt about his future.
Merrett, contracted at Essendon until the end of 2027, infamously was denied his wish to be traded to Hawthorn while still holding the Bombers captaincy.
The 30-year-old will almost certainly try to get to Dingley this off-season, with Geelong, led by coach Chris Scott, also trying their best to recruit Merrett.
If Merrett has already checked out from The Hangar, Solomon isn't seeing it, saying he is "heavily invested".
"(Wednesday) morning's meeting he was commenting five or six times about his current form, the team's form, what we can do, providing solutions," Solomon said.
"I know there's a narrative around it all, and people have their thoughts and views on Zach.
"If no one believes me, that's OK.
"But internally, he is driving as hard as he can to make himself get back into great form, but also to make us really competitive again.
"Zach's a really proud person and he understands that the weekend's performance wasn't where he wanted to be.
"Like 22 others, they're all expressing their frustration in their current form and the way that they're playing, individually and collectively."
Asked if there was a chance Merrett would stay at Essendon beyond this season, Solomon said he had "no idea".
"I hope so," Solomon said.
"I honestly have no information or insight to what the future holds for Zach, what he wants to do.
"My short-term focus is on the next six games.
"All I ask from all of our players for the next 39 days is we're committed to what we're doing."
