EXCLUSIVE 

Matthew Lloyd has spoken for the first time after Essendon captain Zach Merrett’s moved to Hawthorn collapsed.

Hawthorn put forward a deal that included three first-round picks as well as midfielder Henry Hustwaite, but the Bombers wouldn’t relent.

Press PLAY to listen to Matthew Lloyd’s FULL comments on the Merrett deal

“He’s going to take a lot of time to get over this … emotionally, he’s withdrawn himself from the club,” Lloyd said on The Trade Off podcast.

“I respect what they’ve done.”

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