Zach Merrett has elevated himself into the Essendon Football Club’s history books, winning a third Crichton Medal to cap off another extraordinary season in 2021.

The joint vice-captain polled 420 votes to finish ahead of Darcy Parish (339) and Will Snelling (315), claiming the Bombers’ highest individual honour for the third time in six seasons.

The 25-year-old becomes just the third Bomber in the AFL era to win triple best and fairest awards, and the fourth youngest in club history to achieve the feat behind James Hird, Dick Reynolds and Simon Madden.

Merrett’s phenomenally consistent season saw him feature in every game to average a career-high 31.5 disposals, 4.2 marks, 4.9 tackles and 3.7 clearances.

He finished sixth in the AFL for disposals per game and third for total effective disposals, notching up an equal career-high 41 touches against Melbourne in round 15.

Merrett was rewarded for his stellar 2021 campaign with a second All-Australian blazer, while Parish collected his first as the ball-magnets became the Bombers’ first All-Australian selections since 2017.

Senior coach Ben Rutten congratulated Merrett on claiming his third Crichton Medal.   

“There’s no doubt Zach took his game to another level this season and we commend him on his attitude, commitment, leadership and drive to again put together another outstanding year individually,” Rutten said.

“Zach is a strong competitor who demands the best out of himself and his teammates in his determination to take this club forward.

“We know he will continue to lead this young group over the years to come and it’s terrific to see him being rewarded for his campaign this season.”

Elevating himself to the competition’s midfielders in a meteoric rise this season, Crichton Medal runner-up Parish led the Bombers in Sunday’s Brownlow Medal count with 26 votes and equal-fifth place overall.

The 24-year-old averaged 30 disposals and 7.6 clearances this season, claiming the Anzac Medal, Yiooken Award and Tom Wills Medal as best afield in the Bombers' feature matches.

He finished the home and away season as the No.1 player in the League for centre clearances, setting a club record for disposals (44) in the Bombers’ Dreamtime in Perth blockbuster against Richmond.

Snelling’s redemption story continued with a career-best third-placed finish in the Crichton Medal.

Overlooked in the 2018 NAB AFL Draft after three years on Port Adelaide’s list, Essendon’s inaugural mid-season recruit has become a dependable, tough small forward since arriving from SANFL club West Adelaide in mid-2019 and playing 41 games since.

After claiming his maiden Crichton Medal in 2020, unassuming young defender Jordan Ridley finished in fourth place, while Jake Stringer rounded out the top-five placegetters following his impressive season.

The explosive midfielder-forward also claimed the club’s Matthew Lloyd Leading Goalkicker award with 41 majors.

In one of Essendon’s success stories this season, the redeployed Jayden Laverde was named the club’s Most Improved Player, while also collecting the newly established McCracken Medal.

In an initiative from Rutten and presented in recognition of the club’s founding family, the McCracken Medal is voted on by all members of the playing group following each match. The criteria align strongly to the player that has lived the club’s core values and DNA.

Finishing seventh in the Crichton Medal, Kyle Langford was named the Bruce Heymanson Best Clubman for the second year in a row, while fearless captain Dyson Heppell took out the Adam Ramanauskas Most Courageous Player award.

The popular Mason Redman was presented with the John Kilby Staff and Trainers’ Award, while emerging star Archie Perkins was named the Lindsay Griffiths Rising Star in a debut season that saw the 19-year-old play 21 games.

Rutten congratulated all award winners from an encouraging season, and said the Bombers were determined for a strong 2022 pre-season.

“I’d like to extend an acknowledgement to all the award winners on their individual seasons in 2021,” he said.

“It was another interrupted season with the pandemic at large, with many weeks again on the road across the country this season, but our players continued to adjust and perform at a very high level week in and week out, which is a credit to them.

“There’s been a fire that’s been lit by our elimination final result in Launceston, and that will no doubt spur on this developing group over the upcoming pre-season. Good gains were made this year, but we have a lot of hard work ahead of us.

“On behalf of everyone at the Essendon Football Club, we thank our incredible members and fans for their unwavering support of the red and black this season. We hope you enjoyed the ride in 2021 and we can’t wait to see you fill the stands next year to mark our 150^th anniversary year.”

2021 CLUB AWARDS

Bruce Heymanson Best Clubman – Kyle Langford
Adam Ramanauskas Most Courageous Player – Dyson Heppell
Matthew Lloyd Leading Goalkicker – Jake Stringer
Lindsay Griffiths Rising Star – Archie Perkins
Most Improved Player – Jayden Laverde
John Kilby Staff and Trainers’ Award – Mason Redman
McCracken Medal – Jayden Laverde

2021 CRICHTON MEDAL LEADERBOARD – TOP 10

1) Zach Merrett (420 votes)

2) Darcy Parish (339)

3) Will Snelling (315)

4) Jordan Ridley (309)

5) Jake Stringer (286)

6) Jayden Laverde (278)

7) Kyle Langford (253)

8) Nick Hind (223)

9) Dyson Heppell (218)

10) Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (214)

All players are given an overall score for their match performance out of five. They are also given a rating out of five for key Bomber attributes that when combined, give them a maximum of 25 votes per game. Only players that meet the set criteria for the match played get votes awarded to them.

These votes are awarded by the club’s match committee, consisting of Ben Rutten, Blake Caracella, Daniel Giansiracusa and Dan Jordan.

The club's highest individual accolade has been recently won by:

Jordan Ridley (2020)
Zach Merrett (2019)
Devon Smith (2018)
Joe Daniher (2017)
Zach Merrett (2016)
Cale Hooker (2015)
Dyson Heppell (2014)
Brendon Goddard (2013)
Jobe Watson (2012, 2010, 2009)
David Zaharakis (2011)

FULL LIST OF PREVIOUS WINNERS