Bomber Jordan Riley meets with Brisbane Lions as Essendon CEO Craig Vozzo takes swipe at Sam Mitchell

Essendon chief executive Craig Vozzo has taken umbrage to former colleague Sam Mitchell meeting with Zach Merrett as part of an audacious recruiting raid.

The falling out between Mitchell and the Bombers comes amid reports Essendon defender Jordan Riley - contracted with the Bombers until the end of 2029 - had met with the Brisbane Lions.

Bombers ruckman Sam Draper announced this week he was leaving the club to join the Lions, while Jayden Laverde is also talking to rival clubs about an exit from Winy Hill.

Bombers coach Brad Scott said on Wednesday night Merrett would not be allowed to leave with two years to run on his contract and said the “gloves were off” in how club’s approached players from rival organisations after Mitchell’s meeting with his skipper.

Vozzo and Bombers officials were blindsided when reports emerged that Hawthorn coach Mitchell had met with club captain Merrett in a bid to lure him to the Hawks.

Mitchell also hit the headlines earlier this year when details of his secret meeting with West Coast skipper Oscar Allen leaked.

Merrett is contracted until the end of 2027 and Essendon have declared they won’t trade the 29-year-old “under any circumstances”.

Vozzo on Thursday joined Bombers coach Scott in taking a swipe at Mitchell’s recruiting tactics.

“I know ‘Mitch’ well, obviously having worked with him (at West Coast). It doesn’t surprise me,” Vozzo said on SEN on Thursday.

“But two club captains this year is an interesting one; one with a two-year contract.

“Yeah, I didn’t like that. But anyway, that’s life.”

Merrett’s bid to join a club like Hawthorn is clearly driven by his desire to win a premiership.

Vozzo understands, but said Merrett won’t be traded.

“The strong position of our club is Zach’s contracted for the next two years,” Vozzo declared.

“He’s a really important, critical part of where we’re heading and he’ll be at our club.”

The messy situation has sparked queries over whether the relationship between the two parties can be repaired.

Vozzo pointed to Christian Petracca’s situation at Melbourne as an example of how bridges can be mended within a football club.

“Zach is a highly driven guy so we need to respect the fact that it’s been a long season for him,” Vozzo said.

“He, in his own mind, has spoken to us around where he’s at in his career.

“He’s excited with the young talent that we’ve got on our list. Is it (their development) going to coincide with where he wants to head? We understand and respect that.

“The first point’s always respect for the other person’s opinion and then there’s rebuilding relationship.

“It’s not the first time this sort of thing’s happened at a football club.

“We saw it last year with Christian Petracca ... but I’ve been involved in situations over the years. People move forward).

“You respect people’s opinion, respect the wider position of the club and get on with life.”

Scott told Fox Footy on Wednesday night he wants Merrett to remain as Essendon captain.

But Vozzo said there won’t be a decision around Merrett’s position as skipper while emotions are running high, and most likely not until early in 2026.

“If I was to make an emotional decision I’d just say, ‘No way Zach can be the captain of the club.’ But it doesn’t work like that,” Vozzo said.

“You take the emotion out of it, understanding the honour and the privilege.

“The other critical piece, process-wise, is the position of his teammates.

“In every leadership process I’ve ever been involved in, the position of the senior players and the position of the playing group is critical to that assessment.”

Essendon’s last finals win was in 2004 and they finished 15th this season with a 6-17 record on the back of a horror injury run.