Star Essendon midfielder Zach Merrett has shared top votes with Sydney's Tom Papley in the AFL Coaches Association's AFL Champion Player Award for his damaging performance in Sunday's loss to the Swans.
Merrett was a constant presence in attack in an epic shootout with Sydney, setting career-highs for score involvements (13), goal assists (four) and marks inside 50 (two).
He led all comers for disposals (35), metres gained (624), score involvements, goal assists and sprint efforts (20), while also booting two goals in a complete performance.
Merrett's nine votes sees him overtake teammate Darcy Parish on the Bombers' leaderboard, with the prolific ball-winner sitting seventh overall.
"He just gets better and better" ??@MatthewLloyd18 and @barrettdamian discuss the Bomber who's doing what so few can do, plus Nathan Brown takes a look at the top Brownlow contenders.
— AFL (@AFL) August 2, 2021
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Jake Stringer was the only other Bomber to earn votes against the Swans, collecting five for his 19 disposals and two goals.
AFLCA VOTES: BOMBERS v SWANS
9 - Zach Merrett (ESS)
9 - Tom Papley (SYD)
5 - Jake Stringer (ESS)
5 - Callum Mills (SYD)
2 - Luke Parker (SYD)
ESSENDON'S AFLCA VOTES THIS SEASON
77 - Zach Merrett
70 - Darcy Parish
31 - Jake Stringer
21 - Jordan Ridley
15 - Andrew McGrath
12 - Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Peter Wright
8 - Cale Hooker, Sam Draper
7 - Mason Redman
6 - Jayden Laverde
5 - Dyson Heppell, Archie Perkins, Nick Hind
3 - Will Snelling
OVERALL LEADERBOARD
101 - Clayton Oliver (MELB)
94 - Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
90 - Sam Walsh (CARL)
89 - Ollie Wines (PA)
85 - Touk Miller (GC)
79 - Jack Steele (STK)
77 - Zach Merrett (ESS)
