Zach Merrett a runaway winner in Essendon’s best and fairest count

ZACH Merrett wins his first Essendon’s best and fairest as chairman Lindsay Tanner declared the club had passed an “enormous character test” with flying colours.

Zach Merrett was a shining star for Essendon in 2016.

ESSENDON chairman Lindsay Tanner won’t be fooled into thinking the return of some of the club’s biggest names will spell immediate success.

Young gun Zach Merrett was rewarded for a stellar season under tough circumstances on Wednesday night, winning the club’s best and fairest award in just his third season at the club.

Merrett was a runaway victor, ahead of Joe Daniher and James Kelly, who tied in second place.

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Twelve Bombers — including skipper Jobe Watson and Dyson Heppell — were banned for the entire 2016 season, with the majority of them able to return to the club in a training capacity in two weeks’ time.

But Tanner said that while the club has shown “incredible strength and resilience” under what he described as “the most extreme pressure”, he is conscious that there is a way to go beyond welcoming the suspended players back to the club.

“2016 has been an enormous character test for Essendon Football Club, and we have passed that test with flying colours,” he said last night.

Zach Merrett leads Essendon out as captain in Round 21.

“But it takes more than character to win games and premierships. Our comeback is only just getting started. And we have many more challenges to meet than just those arising from the CAS decision. As the process of healing and recovery continues, we must pursue improvement across all areas of activity, on-field and off-field, and not become prisoners of the challenges.”

Ten banned players have indicated they will return to the club next season, with Michael Hibberd the only one to declare he will seek opportunities elsewhere.

Watson is yet to indicate his intentions.

Tanner said that optimism is natural as “normality” looms, but that this season must be used as a platform for greater success.

CRICHTON MEDAL	VOTES
Zach Merrett	378
Joe Daniher	=273
James Kelly	=273
Brendon Goddard	269
David Zaharakis	257
Mitch Brown	245
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti	236
Orazio Fantasia	229
Matt Dea	228
Darcy Parish	224

“There is much to be optimistic about as we slowly return to normality heading into 2017, but nothing is guaranteed,” he said.

“We have shown unbelievable strength and resilience under the most extreme pressure. That’s a great platform from which to launch our comeback and assault on 2017 and beyond, but that’s all it is, a platform.

“How successful we are will depend on how we all apply ourselves from now on, not what we have done up until now.”

He also thanked the players who he said could have been forgiven for saying “it’s all too hard”.

James Kelly was a revelation as a top-up at Essendon.

“But they didn’t, and week in, week out, they competed,” he said.

Merrett, 20, captained the club in Round 21 and has been mentored by Brownlow medallist Chris Judd and coach John Worsfold said he is developing “elite” habits.

“Zach played some exceptional football this season, and that was built off the back of his professionalism living elite standards and a hunger to improve and develop with each game,” he said.

“Zach showed tremendous leadership in a season which challenged our playing group on a weekly basis.

“Zach is an exciting young player and he’s really determined to work hard over the summer in order to come back ready for another big season in 2017.”