Merrett won his fourth Crichton Medal
Zach Merrett continued his promotion into the Essendon history books after winning a fourth Crichton Medal.
The first-year captain received 211 votes, ahead of runner-up Kyle Langford (191 votes) and third-place finisher Mason Redman (163 votes), and the trio was celebrated Thursday night at Centerpiece.
Merrett joins Essendon greats Tim Watson and Simon Madden with four Crichton Medal wins and sits just behind James Hird (five), Dick Reynolds and Bill Hutchison (seven). The award caps off a fantastic year for the 28-year-old, who also won his third All-Australian blazer. 07:33
Merrett enjoyed his first season as club captain, averaging 29 disposals and five tackles per game in the Bombers’ engine room in 22 games on the year.
Known for his relentless work ethic, the skipper recorded at least 30 disposals nine times this season and finished 10th in the league in tackles for loss average.
In a season full of headliners, Merrett saved his prime and won Yiooken’s Best Pitch Award after 39 games in the one-point Dreamtime with the “G” in a win over the Tigers.
Second place reflected Langford’s further breakout season, with the 26-year-old scoring 51 goals to finish as the club’s top goalscorer and crack the Australian squad. 02:52
Langford returned from two injury-hit seasons to carve out a new role at forward in 2023. He collected 20 assists in a campaign that also saw him named the club’s player of the night.
Averaging nearly three points per game within 50 points, Langford was the sixth best in the competition, proving to be a dangerous option on offense after spending time on the floor earlier.
Hear from the third place winner of the 2023 Crichton Medal.
To cap off their impressive seasons, Langford and Merrett also shared the McCracken Medal as the players who best exemplified the club’s values in 2023. The playing group voted after each match. Redman improved on his fourth-place finish in 2022, putting together another stellar season to finish third.
The 26-year-old guard has been consistent throughout the season, averaging 22 disposals and five 50 rebounds per game, while also earning a spot in the Australian national team.
Redman was also named Adam Ramanauskas’ bravest player by his teammates, often putting his body on the line and going the extra mile to support other defenders.
A fan favorite among the red and black faithful, Redman hit the scoreboard seven times and regularly celebrated his ‘Red Dog’ goal, showing his willingness to link the attack alongside his usual defensive prowess.
Defender Andrew McGrath was rewarded for his commitment to the club during the regular season. He finished fourth in the standings and won both the Bruce Heymanson Best Mate Award and the John Kilby Staff and Coach Award. Defender and 2020 Crichton Medalist Jordan Ridley finished fifth despite missing six games through injury, proving his importance in the Dons backline.
First-year forward Alwyn Davey Jnr has been named the Lindsay Griffiths Rising Star after a promising debut season after 10 AFL games.
The club’s VWFL teams were also recognized on the night when the Louis Rowe Medal for best and fairest was presented to Scott van Gemert after a brilliant campaign.
Community captain Ben Milton was also named the Clifford Denise Wise Medalist for the 2023 Best and Fairest Medal.
2023 Crichton Medal Top 10
1. Zach Merrett (211)
2. Kyle Langford (191)
3. Mason Redman (163)
4. Andrew McGrath (160)
5. Jordan Ridley (150)
6. Nick Martin (146)
7. Jay Caldwell (142)
8. Darcy Parish (137)
9. Sam Durham (120)
10. Dyson Heppell (114)
Awards 2023
Bruce Heymanson’s Best Friend – Andrew McGrath
Adam Ramanauskas Bravest Player – Mason Redman
Matthew Lloyd Scorer – Kyle Langford
John Kilby Staff and Teaching Award – Andrew McGrath
Most Improved Player – Kyle Langford
Lindsay Griffiths Rising Star – Alwyn Davey Jnr
McCracken Medal – Zach Merrett and Kyle Langford
Louis Rowe Senior Medal – Scott van Gemert
Clifford Denise Smart Community Medal – Ben Milton
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