All Australian midfielder Zach Merrett, who collected a team-high 19 Brownlow votes last year, received 15 votes but was ineligible after serving a one-game ban for striking Carlton's Lachie Plowman in round 20.

Captain Dyson Heppell (14 votes) got off to the best possible start with three votes in round one against Hawthorn, while fellow onballer David Zaharakis was next on 11 votes overall.

All Australian Joe Daniher, the 2017 Mark of the Year winner, gathered nine votes, including the maximum for his five-goal haul against Geelong in round eight. Essendon totalled 71 votes this season.

Top Dons

15 - Zach Merrett*

14 - Dyson Heppell

11 - David Zaharakis

9 - Joe Daniher

7 - Orazio Fantasia

4 - Cale Hooker

4 - Michael Hurley

4 - James Kelly

2 - Tom Bellchambers

1 - Conor McKenna*