Essendon is “very, very confident” of re-signing Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish and Jake Stringer, reports SEN’s Sam Edmund.
In-demand star Merrett qualifies as a restricted free agent this year while Parish and Stringer also remain unsigned beyond 2021.
“I’m told negotiations are ongoing with all three of those players,” Edmund told SEN’s Whateley.
“While there’s some toing and froing with Jake Stringer and what he might be worth and obviously Zach Merrett given he was so close to wanting to leave last year, it is so positive with all three at the moment.
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“It is impossible to see any of those three going anywhere. I think in the second half of the year you’re going to get pen to paper put by all three of those players.
“The club is very, very confident on all three of them.”
Merrett and Parish have flourished together since the latter was moved into a permanent midfield role, while fit-again Stringer kicked three goals in Essendon's come-from-behind win over West Coast on Saturday night.