Essendon coach Brad Scott intends to stay out of Zach Merrett's way as the star midfielder navigates a potentially uncomfortable build-up to the round-one clash with Hawthorn.
All eyes are on Merrett ahead of Friday night's MCG blockbuster, after the 30-year-old's failed attempt to join the Hawks during last year's trade period.
The Bombers held Merrett to his contract and the league has scheduled the traditional rivals to meet in an early-season promoters' dream, which is expected to draw about 90,000 fans.
"In my experience with the best players, they prepare themselves unbelievably well physically but even more so mentally," Scott said on Monday.
"I've seen some strong, resilient characters in my time in footy and Zach Merrett's in the top echelon in terms of guys who have resilience.
"So of course my job as coach is to support him, but with those guys, my experience tells me just to get out of the way and let him do his thing."
Merrett's want to leave after 251 games in red-and-black has been the story of the off-season at Essendon.
The prolific ball-winner won a sixth club best-and-fairest award but stepped down as captain on return, replaced by former deputy Andy McGrath.
Disappointed teammates Mason Redman and Nic Martin held clear-the-air talks with Merrett, and the Bombers have been adamant the playing group has moved on over summer.
It emerged in recent days teammate Jye Caldwell cheekily gave Merrett a Hawthorn jumper signed by Jack Ginnivan as part of the Bombers' 'Secret Santa' gift exchange.
"I loved it. If I'd thought of it, it would've been even funnier I reckon," Scott said.
"It probably speaks to the fact that it's a big deal to everyone, I get it, they're fair questions - but we moved on a long time ago.
"Now we're at the stage where we're making jokes about it."
Decimated by injuries last season, Essendon enter the 2026 campaign in a far better position as they eye a possible climb towards the finals.
Scott indicated it would be a risk to play young gun Isaac Kako (hamstring) against Hawthorn and the club's top draft pick Sullivan Robey (back) is unavailable.
But fellow first-round selections Jacob Farrow and Dyson Sharp are in the mix for round-one debuts.
"Certainly on pre-season performance we're extremely happy with our draftees, but we're not in a position where we have to blood players," Scott said.
"We're not trying to bring players in just for the sake of being young.
"We're going to pick the side that's going to give us the best chance and if that happens to include a couple of debutants, I think that's really exciting for our future."
