Bombers captain Zach Merrett has broken his silence about his desire for a fresh start following his highly-publicised meeting with Hawks coach Sam Mitchell.

Merrett and the Bombers have had a tumultuous fortnight, with Merrett's camp pushing for a contract release. The club publicly says it wishes to hold onto his services, but Essendon has been accused of leaking dirt on the captain as the situation becomes increasingly ugly.

Speaking to 9News' chief AFL reporter, Tom Morris, at the Brownlow Medal on Monday night, Merrett admitted that while it has been a challenging time, he still feels supported by the club.

"It's been a difficult time for me and my family. I've had constant dialogue with the club and have felt their support," he said.

"It's been difficult, but that's the industry

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