Essendon have hosed down concerns about the health of young midfielder Zach Merrett after concussion forced the 22-year-old out of the game against Adelaide midway through the first quarter on Friday night.
It was the third head knock to force the talented Bomber from the field in the past two months but the first to be considered concussion, with the incident against Richmond at Wangaratta in the first JLT Community Series game causing blurred vision.
On that occasion the Bombers took a cautious approach as it was a practice match and kept him on the sidelines while the first incident, that reportedly happened at training in January, was considered relatively minor.
Essendon coach John Worsfold indicated that the signs post-game were positive for Merrett.
"I saw him briefly and he was upbeat and he looks really well," Worsfold said.
"In that regard, in the way he looks and the way he was talking he's really excited so that was a good sign."
The incident that left Merrett concussed occurred when Adelaide's Richard Douglas bumped into the Bombers' midfielder as he bent over to pick up a loose ball.
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