Essendon won't have a player who challenges for the Brownlow Medal this year after an indifferent season that saw the Bombers fail to reach the top eight. The predictor suggests the Bombers will poll 68 votes this season across 13 players, which would be quite an even spread. 

Best chance: Dyson Heppell
The Bombers captain helped turn around the club's season at the mid-point of the year and had some stellar games. He leads the red and black for predictor votes with 15, which would be a career-high season tally for the midfielder after previously registering 14 votes last year and in 2014. Heppell averaged 27 disposals a game this season, including an excellent 35-disposal effort in round one.

Fast starter: David Zaharakis
The midfielder could snag an early vote or two for his round one performance against Adelaide. Zaharakis had 35 disposals that night in Essendon's win over last year's grand finalists. But he won't be a big vote-getter given he missed seven weeks with a shoulder injury in the second half of the year.

One-vote wonder: Shaun McKernan
McKernan's four-goal effort against North Melbourne in round 15 could see the versatile big man win a Brownlow Medal vote for the first time. He also played well against Geelong in round nine with four goals and the following week against Greater Western Sydney, so is a good chance to get off the mark after nearly a decade in the system.