Zach Merrett has officially joined the esteem company of Dick Reynolds and Bill Hutchison as the only Bombers in history to receive seven Crichton Medals.

It's impossible to overstate the significance of the achievement for the 30-year-old.

For reference, 'King Richard' sits atop the Champions of Essendon list that was established in 2002 as the Club's greatest ever player. His longtime running mate and fellow superstar Hutchison didn't sit too far behind when he earned the No.4 spot in the same ranking.

Long referred to as Essendon's best player of at least the last decade, Merrett's legacy on the Club's night of nights has now become even greater - 'all-time' levels of great.

Take a look back through his journey in the red and black, from his first honour in 2016 all the way through to the present.

Picked at No.26 in the 2013 National Draft, 18-year-old Zach Merrett landed at the Bombers from his proud hometown of Cobden approximately 200km southwest of Melbourne.

“We were sitting back at my parents’ house in Cobden, you still think that there’s a chance you might not go so it’s a pretty nerve-racking build-up to the draft night," Merrett said at the time.

Merrett hit the ground running, from day one showing off the relentless work ethic that would go on to define him as a player.

Merrett opened the 2014 season in his debut match, taking the field late as tactical substitute alongside brother Jackson, clocking 11 disposals and marking the beginning of a decorated career.

By 2016, it was clear we were watching something - and someone - special.

The young gun upped his average disposals per game by over 15 with more midfield time and very quickly emerged as a star within a Bombers side decimated by the pre-season suspensions of several experienced players.

Named the Club's third youngest gameday captain in history ahead of a win over Gold Coast, Merrett went on to claim a first Crichton Medal for his collection - he was the Club's youngest recipient of the award since 1981.

Merrett turned heads in 2017’s Anzac Day clash as one of the driving forces to securing the Bomberss first win on the special occasion since his draft year - a fixture that he would grow very well acquainted to in future. 33 disposals, a goal and 10 marks painted the picture of his impact in that contest.

“That game, that day, the significance of it for the country. To win that game is so special, to have 60-to-70,000 Essendon fans at our home game is a feeling that is pretty hard to describe," Merrett said post-game.

After receiving All-Australian honours for a truly breakout 2017 campaign which held his second finals appearance, Merrett continued his form into 2018, providing spark in the guts averaging 26.8 disposals per game.

Stamping his presence, Merrett began to add layers to his game and become just as damaging defensively, laying over five tackles per game across two seasons.

By the conclusion of the 2019 season, he was beginning his ascent up the mountain with a second Crichton.

2021 was notable for the inspiring partnership Merrett fostered with teammate Darcy Parish to drive the Dons towards a finals campaign that year.

The chemistry between the pair grew and the results became clear on the stat sheet with both Dons averaging over 30 disposals per game at over 70 per cent efficiency. The duo were rewarded with All-Australian selections.

Another Crichton in the collection.

This approach held Merrett in great stead as he began his first campaign as Essendon Captain - the 41st in its VFL/AFL history.

2023 still stands as arguably his greatest season to date - he inspired a riveting Dreamtime comeback with a rundown tackle on Tigers legend Dustin Martin and earned the Yiooken Award to further elevate his position as a big-game player.

By year's end, he would slide an additional All-Australian blazer to his wardrobe on top of his fourth Crichton while serving his first year as skipper.

30 disposals, nine tackles and six clearances. Merrett's sheer willpower held the 2024 Anzac Day game as almost his finest hour in Bomber colours. His effort in just the fixture's second ever drawn game was a source of inspiration and he has a best-on medal to prove it - his dominance on the marquee match consolidated.

In crunch time, Merrett is never far away. With the clock ticking down in a five-point Dreamtime game, he charged from the pocket - and almost out of nowhere - to scoop up the Sherrin and slot a heartbreaker for Tiger fans.

He would go on to claim his fifth Crichton Medal, a second McCracken Medal for embodying club values and his first Liberty Player of the Year at the end of 2024 in what was another memorable campaign personally.

Even without the captaincy in 2026, Zach did what Zach does.

As a true leader, Merrett embraced his role in the development of the Dons younger brigade - interim coach Dean Solomon praised his ability to make impact as a distributor from the back half.

“He’s developing the youth that we have, so I can’t ask any more of him," Solomon said.

Varying roles certainly didn’t skew Merrett’s impact - averaging 27.3 touches all while remaining sharp defensively with 4.7 tackles and 20.8 pressure acts expected every week.

As Merrett accepts the Crichton Medal for yet another incredible season and earns reward for his borderline manic level of effort, there's not much else to say than:

What an absolute star.