Zach Merrett has stepped down as captain of Essendon following his failed trade request to Hawthorn.

And club great, Simon Madden, has lauded the way in which Merrett opted to hand over the captaincy reins.

Press PLAY to hear what the former great had to say about Merrett’s brutal call

“I don’t think it was easy, but I think he’s done it in a very good fashion,” the former Bombers captain told Tony Moclair.

Press PLAY to hear the full interview on 3AW Afternoons

Image: Getty Images/Josh Chadwick/Michael Willson