Essendon captain Dyson Heppell has led the way for the Bombers at the Brownlow Medal, polling 13 votes to finish equal 22nd in the overall count on Monday night.

Heppell got off to a flyer, polling the maximum three votes in the opening round for his brilliant 35-disposal performance in the side’s come-from-behind defeat of reigning minor premier Adelaide.

The inspirational skipper then claimed votes in five other matches across the season to match fellow on-ballers Devon Smith and Zach Merrett who also polled in six games.

Smith’s brilliant inaugural season for the club was rewarded with a career-high 11 votes.

The other two members of the club’s key trio of trade recruits – Adam Saad (three votes) and Jake Stringer (one) – also received votes in their first season in the red and black.

Merrett flew home to finish third in the club count with 10 votes, despite not polling until round 12.

Key forward Shaun McKernan claimed three votes across two games and was thrilled to poll his very first Brownlow votes in what was his 10th AFL season.

David Zaharakis impressed with two successive three-voters in rounds nine and 10 before an untimely shoulder injury against Richmond at Dreamtime at the ‘G the following week quashed his purple patch of form.

The count finished on a nice touch, with outgoing veteran Brendon Goddard receiving a vote in his very last game for the club.

Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell took out the prestigious award with 28 votes.

ESSENDON LEADERBOARD
Dyson Heppell 13
Devon Smith 11
Zach Merrett 10
Michael Hurley 7
David Zaharakis 6
Orazio Fantasia 3
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti 3
Shaun McKernan 3
David Myers 3
Adam Saad 3
Brendon Goddard 1
Kyle Langford 1
Jake Stringer 1